Varna & Castes

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The Traditional Varna System

The traditional Varna System

The Varna System is part of Hindu teachings.
- It probably originated in the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE).
- The Vedas describe the Varna System.
The Varna System was a social system in which people are born into groups called varnas (social orders).
- Each varna had its own dharma (duties and responsibilities).
- This system helped people understand their role in society and how to live ethically.

Four Varnas

Brahmins, the priests → Lead worship and provide spiritual guidance.
Kshatriyas, the rulers and administrators → The government and civil service that maintain an ordered society.
Vaishyas, the merchants and farmers → Responsible for production and trade.
Shudras, the labourers → Do the main manual work needed in any community.

The Caste System

Castes

Over time, the Varna System developed into a rigid caste system.
In the caste system, people are born into a group and can not change it.
- The family a person is born into dictates their caste. To a great extent, it also dictates what work a person will do.
The caste system led to inequality and unfair treatment for many people.
- Some groups, called “Dalits” or “outcastes,” were treated very badly and denied rights.

Modern views

Many Hindus today reject caste discrimination, seeing it as against true dharma.
Modern Hindu leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi, taught that all people are equal before God.
The Indian Constitution has made caste discrimination illegal and promotes equal rights for everyone.

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God

1.2.2Creation

1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?

1.2.4Moses

1.2.5Abraham & Moses

1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud

1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature

1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law

1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law

1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate

1.2.11Orthodox Judaism

1.2.12Reform Judaism

1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews

1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life

1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews

1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship

1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law

1.2.18Afterlife

1.2.19The First Temple

1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End

1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues

1.2.22The Daily Service

1.2.23What is Shabbat?

1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat

1.2.25What is Pesach?

1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?

1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?

1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History

1.2.29The Black Death

1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 2

1.2.32The Holocaust

1.2.33Genocide

1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

1.2.35Holocaust Memorial

1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews

1.2.37Jewish Practices

1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals

1.3Christianity

1.4Disciplinary Knowledge

1.4.1Scripture and Religious Authority

1.4.2Interpreting Data

1.4.3Forms of Expression

1.4.4Shaping and Being Shaped by Wider Society

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.3Buddhism

2.3.1Roots in Hindu Dharma

2.3.2Siddhartha Gautama

2.3.3Siddhartha's Four Sights

2.3.4Asceticism, Enlightenment & The Middle Way

2.3.5Buddha's Authority & Personal Experience

2.3.6Core Belief

2.3.7The Three Marks of Existence

2.3.8Cyclical Time

2.3.9The Four Noble Truths - Dukkha and Samudaya

2.3.10The Four Noble Truths - Nirhoda and Magga

2.3.11The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

2.3.12Karma, Samsara & Nirvana

2.3.13The Three Jewels

2.3.14The Five Precepts

2.3.15Meditation

2.3.16Theravada & Mahayana Buddhisms

2.3.17Puja

2.3.18Buddhism in the UK and Across the World

2.4Sikhi

2.4.1Origins of Sikhi

2.4.2The Ten Sikh Gurus

2.4.3The Guru Granth Sahib

2.4.4Waheguru

2.4.5The Sikh Concept of God

2.4.6Creation of the Universe

2.4.7The Khalsa

2.4.8Sewa

2.4.9Samsara & Mukti

2.4.10The Gurdwara & the Langar

2.4.11Different Interpretations

2.4.12Sikhi Across the World

2.5Atheism

2.5.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.5.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.5.3Plato's Cave

2.5.4Challenging the Bible

2.5.5The Enlightenment

2.5.6Evolution

2.5.7Evolution & Religion

2.5.8Morality & God

2.5.9Morality Without God

2.5.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.5.11Militant Atheism

2.5.12Humanism

2.5.13The Future of Atheism

2.6Philosophy of Religion

2.6.1Who is God?

2.6.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.6.3Faith & Empiricism

2.6.4The Design Argument

2.6.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.6.6The Cosmological Argument

2.6.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.6.8The Problem of Evil

2.6.9Free Will Theodicy

2.6.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.6.11Religious Experience

2.6.12Types of Religious Experience

2.6.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

2.7Disciplinary Knowledge

2.7.1Theology

2.7.2Social Sciences

2.7.3Changing Roles of Men & Women

2.7.4Divorce & Remarriage in the Church of England

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion & Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism & Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality & Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

4Additional Concepts

4.1Non-Religious People in the UK

4.1.1Statistics & Reasons

4.1.2Main Tenets on Non-Religious People

4.1.3Allegations Against Religious People

4.2Believing in God Oustide of Religion

4.2.1Non-Religious Believers & New Age

4.2.2Stay-At-Home Christians

4.2.3Agnosticism

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