HinduismHinduism is a very complicated religion from the perspective of outsiders. When I think about it I have never really thought about what Hinduism is, so what is this religion, what do they believe in, what are the social and cultural influences and what is the desire for liberation from earthly existence? Hindus lack a unifying belief system, so what is the system they use. Hinduism is as much a social class as it is a religion. They use what is called the caste system which is a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity (Dictionary) each caste has its own rules of life. Four basic castes or social classes are known to exist: the first is a Brahman, a member is of the highest, or priestly, class among Hindus. Then there are the Kshatriyas or warriors known for advocating for justice and social harmony. The third are the Vaisyas or merchants and farmers, and last but not the least are the Shudras or workers, there is also another group outside this system known as the untouchables. Now you cannot choose your caste, it is the one you are born into (beliefs). Now that we have covered the social classes which are the main point of the belief system, well, they have several principles that almost all Hindus believe in. The three-in-one god known as "Brahman", consisting of: Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer). The caste system. Karma. The law according to which good begets good and evil begets evil. Every action, thought or decision you make has consequences – good or bad – that will impact every person in your present or future life. Reincarnation. It is also known as "transmigration of souls" or "samsara". This is a journey through the "circle of life", in which each person experiences a series of physical births, deaths and rebirths. With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste or even divinity. Bad karma can relegate a person to a lower caste or even live like an animal in the next life. Nirvana. This is the goal of the Hindus. Nirvana is the liberation of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths (Beliefs). These five core beliefs are what constitute the Hindu religion.