hinduism
Hinduism embraces a diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to westerners accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded belief statements. One can believe a variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu. Perhaps the most well-known Hindu saying about religionis: "Truth is one; sages call it by different names." (Go here for Hinduism Facts and here for Hinduism symbols.)
Still, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefsare generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion. These fundamental Hindu beliefs include: the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law ofkarma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next. (See Karma here and Cows in Hinduism here.)
Still, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefsare generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion. These fundamental Hindu beliefs include: the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law ofkarma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next. (See Karma here and Cows in Hinduism here.)