One of the most noteworthy changes in the religious makeup of Australia and New Zealand is the growth in Hinduism over the past two decades, mainly driven by inward migration from India and Nepal. Here are the numbers:
Australia: According to census data, there were approximately 45,000 people (0.24% of the population) who identified as Hindus in 1991. By 2021, this number had risen to 684,000 or 2.7% of the population.
New Zealand: 17,000 people (0.5% of the population) identified as Hindus in 1991, rising to 155,534 in 2023 (2.9% of the population).
This means that we are increasingly likely to encounter people who are deeply influenced by Hindu beliefs. As Christians who are called to share the love of Christ with people from all backgrounds, we should therefore seek to equip ourselves to minister the gospel to people from this background. This is obviously a huge topic, but I trust that I will be able to sketch some basic points of departure in this article.
Before we continue, it is worth noting that it can be hard to pin down what Hinduism actually is. Those who describe themselves as Hindu embrace a bewildering variety of beliefs, practices and rituals. It may therefore be helpful to think of it as a ‘family of religions’ rather than as a unified, monolithic religion. It is also worth noting that some people whom we would regard as Hindus reject the label. They point out that the name was imposed by outsiders (i.e., the Muslim invaders of India) and that it is a geographical description (related to the Indus Valley) rather than reflective of their beliefs. Some, therefore, prefer alternative descriptions, with one of the most popular being Sanātana Dharma (the eternal law). However, for the sake of simplicity, we will stick with using the word Hinduism for the rest of this article.
While acknowledging the wide diversity in beliefs and practices within Hinduism, there are certain things that most within this broad movement would be able to identify (although there will of course be exceptions):
Belief in the Divine: There are, famously, thousands of deities that are revered within Hinduism. These are all believed to be expressions of the ultimate divine reality, known as Brahma. Committing to the worship of an individual deity, or group of deities, can therefore be seen as different paths to honouring the ultimate divine reality.
Reverence for Sacred Texts: Hinduism does not have a single sacred book like the Bible or Qur’an. Instead, a range of sacred texts are revered. These range from ancient religious instructions (the Vedas), philosophical and moral explorations (the Upanishads), and epics relating the exploits of the gods (the Ramayana and Mahabharata). Except for the epics, these texts are not necessarily well known by ordinary Hindus. They are, however, central to worship and the Hindu worldview.
Samsara, Karma, Moksha and Nirvana: These four linked concepts are central to the way in which Hindus think about life and death. Samsara refers to the endless cycle of rebirths all of humanity is subjected to according to Hindu teaching. Karma is what keeps people trapped in this cycle. It is the belief that all actions and thoughts can influence future rebirths, and often this tends in a negative direction. So, the goal is to somehow be liberated from the wheel of Samsara. This is known as Moksha. At the other end, Moksha is a state of bliss, or nothingness, known as Nirvana. (As an aside, the fact that most people are aware of what these concepts mean is an illustration of how deeply Hindu ideas have penetrated Western cultural consciousness through the New Age Movement.)
Following Disciplines or Paths (Yoga): In the West, we often think of yoga as physical exercise. In Hinduism, yoga can have a physical element, but the word actually refers to much more — namely, to any spiritual discipline or path followed by a devotee in pursuit of moksha. This can take multiple forms, with people preferring different ‘paths’. These include:
- Focusing on knowledge and wisdom (Jnana Yoga)
- Emphasising the love and worship of the gods (Bhakti Yoga)
- Choosing a life of action and responsibility (Karma Yoga)
- Engaging in meditation and mental discipline (Raja Yoga)
Fulfilling the Dharma: Hindus believe that there are principles that should undergird all thinking and behaviour. This is sometimes referred to as the dharma (duty, law). Human beings have the duty to fulfil the dharma in ways that are appropriate for them, especially for the caste they were born into. This is one of the central messages of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important texts of Hinduism and part of the Mahabharata.
It should be clear from this incomplete list of Hindu beliefs that several of them are fundamentally at odds with biblical teaching. These include the idea that there are many ways to gain access to the divine, the belief that humans will go through multiple rebirths, and the commitment to somehow attaining spiritual liberation through one’s own efforts. It is therefore vital that we present the life-giving, gracious message of our utterly unique Saviour to Hindu people.
As with any kind of gospel witness, we need to carefully think through both the content of the message we will be sharing and the way in which we should share it. We will start by considering attitudes and approaches before briefly looking at the content of our gospel proclamation.
Prioritise Relationships: People from a Hindu background have a lot of rethinking to do when they encounter the message of Jesus. It is best that this is done within the context of an open, trusting relationship with Christians who are not only able to explain the gospel but who are also committed to showing the love of Christ in acts of kindness and friendship.
Seek to Understand: When we witness to Muslims or Orthodox Jews, we will in most cases have a very good idea of what the person we are speaking to believes, and what questions and objections they are likely to raise. Because of the astonishing diversity within Hinduism, this is not true for Hindu people. In fact, it is often said that ‘Hinduism is what a Hindu believes’. It is, therefore, very important that we seek to know people and understand their actual, sometimes highly idiosyncratic, belief systems. This will enable us to better articulate the gospel and answer possible objections.
Be Patient: Hinduism can be an all-encompassing worldview, a community, and a culture, all rolled into one. Considering the gospel, therefore, brings with it not only the truth-claims of Christ but also questions about a possible loss of identity and the fracturing of relationships. It may take a lot of time, and many conversations, to work through all of these questions. So, be prepared to be in it for the long haul, and to seek answers (perhaps particularly from Indian-background Christians) if you struggle to answer some of them.
Make Use of Stories and Parables: Many ordinary Hindus encounter the gods they worship primarily through stories (especially those found in the Mahabharata and Ramayana). As Christians, we can make use of the opportunity to ‘tell a better story’ by finding ways to retell the key stories of the Bible in ways like Christ. Of course, Christ himself made use of stories in the form of parables to bring home his message (Matthew 13:34). These can be used to communicate key gospel truths in ways that address some of the key questions asked by Hindu people.
Be Prepared to Say Some ‘Hard but True’ Things: The gospel will always have within it an element of offence, as it challenges us in our conviction that we can make our own way into eternity. Depending on existing beliefs, people will often struggle with different aspects of the Christian message. In the case of people from a Hindu background, some truths may be hard to hear and will have to be patiently and respectfully (cf. Col 3:15–16) explained:
- God is beyond all human efforts to depict him and condemns worship that is focused on material objects (Exod 20:4–5; Isa 40:18–25; Acts 17:29)
- Even our best efforts to improve our eternal prospects are doomed to failure (Isa 64:6; Rom 3:10–12; Eph 2:8–9)
- Human beings will not get multiple chances to ‘get it right’ but will face judgement after death (Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10)
- Christ is utterly unique, not just another way to God who can be slotted in next to other deities (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Col 1:15–20)
- The cross and the empty grave were the most important events in human history and were actual historical events (1 Cor 15:3–8; Luke 24:1–7; Rom 5:6–8)
One of the key convictions of Hindu belief is that humans are all struggling under the immense burden of karma. May we, as God’s people, be diligent and compassionate in pointing the way to the true Liberator, whose stirring invitation echoes through the centuries: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)