I didn't realise that there was anything such thing as Hinduism. I thought it was just a blanket term that the British used to describe all the various religious forms that they found in India, many of which stood in contradiction to others.

If there was no invading Aryan race, then please can you tell me how the caste system originated.

[b] Caste is defined as a rigid social system in which a social hierarchy is maintained generation after generation and allows little mobility out of the position to which a person is born (Encarta Encyclopedia). The word caste was first used by 16th century Portuguese traders; it is taken from the Portuguese word casta. Varna, the word for caste, means color and referring to the old racial differences between conquerors and conquered. The basis of the caste divisions was social and economic rather than racial.
The original caste system, Varna, of India came about when the Aryan-speaking nomadic groups migrated from the north to India about 1500 B.C, The Aryan priests divided society into a caste system of four parts. Between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D., the Manu Smriti, or Law of Manu, was written. The Aryan priest- lawmakers created in it four hereditary divisions of society, putting their own priestly class at the head of this caste system with the title of earthly gods, or Brahmans (priests and teachers). Second in rank were the Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors). Then their were the Vaishyas (merchants and traders). The 4th was the Sudras (workers and peasants) born to be servants to the other three. The four groups are from divine origin and emerged from a portion of the Creator symbolically appropriate to its activities. Brahmans from the mouth of God, Kshatriyas from His arms, Viaishyas from His thighs, and Shudras from His feet. Far lower than the Sudras and out of the social order are the Harijans or Untouchables. They did all the dirty work (Lamb 135).
The Indian caste had hereditary membership. Marriage was only permitted within the same caste. There were restrictions on the choice of occupation and on personal contact with members of other castes. Central to the caste system were the ideas of samsara (reincarnation) and karma (quality of action). The belief is that if one obeys the rules of caste, reincarnation into a higher caste is possible, but women may only have the privilege of coming back as an animal if they are good enough. Are you okay with this Pastor[/b]

Consequently, it does not require its adherents to accept any one idea like a dogma imposed on every one. It does not accept any dogmas or dictatorial religious guidance. It encourages every one to think, analyze, question and accept the faith with true knowledge and intuition.

Not true. There is man-made fundametalism and dogma within the beliefs of Hinduism just as there are with any other religion.

I didn't realise that there was anything such thing as Hinduism. I thought it was just a blanket term that the British used to describe all the various religious forms that they found in India.

Spot on.

ROIC007:

Marriage was only permitted within the same caste. There were restrictions on the choice of occupation and on personal contact with members of other castes. Central to the caste system were the ideas of samsara (reincarnation) and karma (quality of action). The belief is that if one obeys the rules of caste, reincarnation into a higher caste is possible, but women may only have the privilege of coming back as an animal if they are good enough. Are you okay with this Pastor

Well, as a Good 'hindu' do you obey the rules of caste and refrain from coming into contact with white people in the hope that maybe in your next life you might be white.

Am I okay with this? Actually, I'm not. I detest any system whose function is to inhibit the chances of every human being to explore and express their full potential. The idea that if I am not a brahmin I cannot study religion but must stick to a restricted profession that I may or may not be skilled at. I think the sheer fact that a shoe maker can have a son that will go on to be a scientist and a soldier can have a son that can go on to become a priest is enough for me to see the utter fallacy and evil nonsensicality of the caste system, or varna system if that's what you want to call it, and subsequently the Hinduism (whatever that is) from which it stems.

I didn't realise that there was anything such thing as Hinduism. I thought it was just a blanket term that the British used to describe all the various religious forms that they found in India, many of which stood in contradiction to others.

Why didn't the blanket term include Sikhism and Islam?

I don't know about sikhism but I do know that the islamists will not like being lumped together with the others. Besides the british were already aware of Islam. Why not Sikhism? I don't know.

I believe it is because Hinduism was based around the Vedic belief system and is thousands of years old, whereas Sikhism is totally different - both in content and the fact that it is relatively new.
More than enough to make a distinction between the two.