Radboud University
What is Hinduism? This polytheistic religion, in which cows are sacred and there are many colourful festivals and rituals, appeals to the imagination here in the West. When do you call someone a Hindu, and do Hindus themselves all agree on this? How does Hinduism view the cosmos, time and the place of humans within it? What about the caste system and what is the position of women? Join this six-part course by the enthusiastic religious scholar Paul van der Velde and learn all about the Vedas, Hindu rituals, gods, philosophy and more.
In this course, you will learn about the most important characteristics of Hinduism. You will gain an overview of its history and developments. Attention will also be paid to the position of the various sacred scriptures of the Hindus. Are you also curious about the living practice, the rituals and sacraments that guide Hindus in their lives, and the relationship between man and woman, individual, group and society? Then register for this course.
Want to know more? Email cursussen-reflects [at] ru.nl (cursussen-reflects[at]ru[dot]nl)
When do you call someone Hindu, and do Hindus themselves all agree on this? And what is the relationship to the country of India?
What different layers can you distinguish within the rich diversity of Hinduism?
Ideas from the ancient religion of the Veda continue to influence Hinduism to this day. Even today, many Hindus describe their religion as “Vedic”.
Like many other religions, Hinduism has ideas about the cosmos, about time and about the position of man within it. What actually makes a human being human?
Hinduism has many practices and rituals, from colourful weddings to pilgrimages and temple rituals.
The world of gods is complex in Hinduism. On the one hand, Hindus sometimes claim that there are 330 million gods – as many as the hairs on a cow's body – and on the other hand, that there is only one god.
Paul van der Velde is a professor of Comparative Religious Studies, specialising in Asian religions, at Radboud University. He is known as an enthusiastic storyteller. He regularly visits Asia, and his lectures are peppered with anecdotes. He will undoubtedly bring one of his many images to the meetings.
This course is intended for anyone with a broad interest in religion and culture. No prior knowledge is required.
Participation costs € 210.
The course consists of five two-hour lectures. In addition to the 13,5 contact hours, you will optionally spend a few hours on self-study by reading the reader.
After completion, you will receive a LinkedIn badge for participating in this course.
You can register for this course until 27 January 2026. Your registration is valid once the required amount has been transferred.
If you are unable to participate, please cancel before 27 December 2025 and you will receive a 100% refund of your registration fee. After that date, you will receive a 50% refund of the registration fee, or you can register for a subsequent course. Please send an email to cursussen-reflects [at] ru.nl.
No refund will be given if you are unable to attend one or more sessions.
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