Hinduism

Hinduism has no single founder and no single sacred text. It began when the Aryans added the gods of the Indus civilization to their own. After that, people started adding in their gods, beliefs and practices to it, making it one of the most complex religions in the world. It has certain basic beliefs even with countless gods and goddesses and many different forms of worship. The most important Hindu gods are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. For hundreds of years, Hindu teachings have been recorded in the Vedas. To Hindus, each person has an essential self, ataman, which is believed to be a form of brahman. The ultimate goal of existence is to each moksha, union with brahman, by releasing yourself from worldly desires. Hindus believe in reincarnation and that it is hard to achieve moksha in just one lifetime. In each life, you are expected to obey the laws of karma. The better you do, the higher rank you are in your next life. To escape the wheel of reincarnation, Hindus value dharma, religious and moral duties, and ahimsa, nonviolence.

Chapter 3 Section 2