GCSE Religious Studies — Hinduism: Beliefs, Teachings, and Practices

Led by Śaṅkara Simulacrum

One of the five religions of OCR GCSE Religious Studies — Hinduism studied in both halves the exam requires, hosted by the great teacher of Advaita Vedānta who mapped the relationship of the self to the ultimate reality.

1. Module 1

   Hinduism: Beliefs and Teachings

   Led by Śaṅkara Simulacrum

   The question

   What is the self, and how does it stand to the ultimate reality? You will study atman and its relationship to Brahman, the cycle of samsara (with maya, detachment, and moksha), the law of karma, the nature of reality (the gunas, the realms, the cyclical universe), the manifestations of the divine (Saguna and Nirguna Brahman, the Trimurti, Avatara, and Murti), the four aims of human life and dharma, and the Hindu virtues — each tied to scripture.

   Outcome

   You can explain Hindu beliefs and support them from scripture, accounting for the divergent understandings of different Hindu groups — above all on the relationship of atman to Brahman.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 Atman, Brahman, and the Cycle of Samsara Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Karma and the Nature of Reality Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 1.3 The Divine: Brahman, Trimurti, and Avatara Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 1.4 Dharma and Human Life Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   Hinduism: Practices

   Led by Śaṅkara Simulacrum

   The question

   By what paths does a Hindu seek liberation, and how is the divine approached? You will study the four margas (jnana, bhakti, karma, and raja yoga), the forms of worship (puja, japa, bhajan, darshan) and the sacred places, the role of gurus and sadhus, pilgrimage to Varanasi and the Ganges, the festivals (Holi, Diwali, Navaratri, Maha Shivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Raksha Bandhan), and Hindu ethical concerns about the environment, animals, and society.

   Outcome

   You can explain Hindu practices and their relationship to the teaching, and account for the divergences between Hindu groups in the paths to liberation, worship, and ethical life.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 The Four Margas and Ways of Living Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 2.2 Worship, Holy People, and Pilgrimage Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 2.3 Festivals and Ethical Concerns Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion