Why do indians

Majorities among all major religious groups believe in God. But unlike most other religious beliefs, Indians from General Category castes are slightly more religious in this way.

While belief in God is nearly universal in India, the kind of God s that Indians believe in varies. Respondents were shown 15 images of gods on a card as possible options though they could also name other deities , and they could select up to three gods. In Hindu temples, Shiva is represented both through his male form as well as a symbol, known as a lingam. In fact, destruction is considered central to creation as it may pave the way for beneficial change. Krishna is more popular in the Northeast than in any other region.

And Hanuman and Lord Ram, the god of chivalry and virtue and hero of the epic Ramayana, find far less affinity among Hindus in the Northeast than they do elsewhere. Hindus are much more likely than those in other religious communities to believe that each of these manifestations is possible.

Indians who have a favorable view of the BJP are significantly more likely than Indians who disapprove of the ruling party to think God can manifest in any of these ways. Urban Indians are less likely than rural Indians to say God can be manifested in nature, animals and people. And Southern Indians are the least likely to say that God can be manifested in people.

Survey respondents who said God can be manifested in people were then asked if God can be manifested in people who belong to a lower caste or, separately, who have done bad things in their life.

But there are no significant differences in responses by caste on whether God can be manifested in people who have done bad deeds. Hindus are more likely than members of other religious groups to say that God can manifest in lower-caste people and in people who have done bad things, in part because Hindus are more inclined than people from other religious communities to say God can be manifested in people at all.

Indians who expressed a belief in God were also asked if they ever ask God to give them or their families several things: good health, prosperity and forgiveness. In times of uncertainty, good decisions demand good data. Please support our research with a financial contribution.

It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. Even in a polarized era, the survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics. Pew Research Center now uses as the last birth year for Millennials in our work.

President Michael Dimock explains why. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Newsletters Donate My Account. Research Topics. Share this link:. Jonathan Evans is a research associate focusing on religion research at Pew Research Center.

Neha Sahgal is an associate director of religion research at Pew Research Center. Facts are more important than ever. Most Indians, including most Hindus, do not practice yoga. Follow Us. Trust in religious rituals also varies widely by region.

Members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other lower castes are more likely than others to hold a variety of religious beliefs. This pattern certainly applies to the Hindu majority. But the belief gap between lower and upper castes is considerably larger among Christians — and this applies to beliefs that are typically associated with Christianity as well as with those that are not.

In both cases, these gaps in belief are much less pronounced among Hindus. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Newsletters Donate My Account. Research Topics. Most Indians across different religious groups believe in karma Most Indians of all religions surveyed believe in karma, the idea that people will reap the benefits of their good deeds, and pay the price for their bad deeds, often in their next life.

Belief in reincarnation is not widespread in India Reincarnation is a mainstream teaching in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. Lower-caste Christians much more likely than General Category Christians to hold both Christian and non-Christian beliefs Members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other lower castes are more likely than others to hold a variety of religious beliefs. While reincarnation broadly is understood as a belief that after physical death, the essence of a being will be reborn into another physical body, there are many interpretations of how this occurs.

Pagination Next: Religious freedom, discrimination and communal relations 2. Diversity and pluralism 3. Religious segregation 4. Attitudes about caste 5. Religious identity 6. Nationalism and politics 7. Religious practices 8.