Could you help please?

Hi everyone-

I'm a college student and I have a term paper due in a couple weeks about hinduism. The reading given to me is very confusing. I have to answer these prompts:
o Considering that Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, what makes up the Hindu religion?
o What are the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated?
Explain the desire for liberation from earthly existence.

Is there anyone who can offer me guidance so I can understand and be able to write my paper?

Thank you!!!!!!

I would say that the premise of the first question is completely wrong. Hinduism, which is not even the right name of our religion (it's Sanatana Dharma) is an umbrella term for a family of religions. These religions do have a unifying belief and it is Dharma, Karma, and Moksha. Each religion has it's own beliefs around these and levels of adherence but these are the core unifying principles.

As for the second question, I'll leave that one to you because it would take up too much space for me to answer :)

The desire for liberation is pretty straightforward in a round about way. However, Moksha is not bound up only in earthly liberation. In some Hindu traditions the desire is to complete give up rebirth in the material world. In other traditions moksha is not dependent on this but on the deep desire for a loving relationship with God. In my tradition for example, the desire is to be completely consumed by the love of from and of God. Therefore earthly liberation doesn't really matter. But again, this all depends on tradition.

Hope this was helpful and good luck on your project :)

KP

Thank you so much for your input.

The first questions was difficult for me to understand, and your input helps to clarify things.

Thanks again!!