Hinduism may lack a uniting belief system that is associated with Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. Even so, there are distinctive attributes to Hinduism that are consistent with describing it as a belief system because Hindu thought includes scripture and ritual. Indeed, there is a complexity to Hindu thought that can be directly compared to complex doctrines of other religions. But the focus of Hinduism is less on gods and more on the quality of experience. In that regard, what makes up Hinduism above all is an approach to making one's way through life in a manner that encourages the getting of wisdom and spirituality, with spirituality being contrasted with concern over materiality.
If Hinduism does not have a uniting belief system that may be compared directly to a belief system in Christianity, Judaism, or Islam it nevertheless does contain a body of thought that is meant to govern and order life experience. Indeed, it has been noted that "political history of the Indian nationalist movement has . . . always been associated with religion" and that country's "corporate existence" (Lannoy, 1974, p. 245).
Further, there is a scriptural basis for Hindu thought. That begins with the traditional Vedic or Hindu scripture texts, which posit four varnas, or stations of life, which in turn correspond to the demographic structure of traditional Hindu society. Beginning at the top of society, there are the Brahmins, comprising priests and scholars; Kshatrias, who are characterized as warriors and rulers; the Vaishyas, whose lot in life is said to be to pursue commerce and trades; and the Shudras, who are described as serfs whose duty it is to serve and support the three higher groups (Kinsley, 1993, p. 153). A fifth group, below the Shudras, is called untouchable, although it is not only the untouchables but all groups who are not meant to marry out of caste, or jati. The relevant point, however, is the clarity of social organization, al...