Question

On a practical level, what function did the notion of reincarnation serve? It increased the popularity of buddhism. It destroyed the caste system. It prevented the assimilation of the poor into indian society. It weakened the authority of jainism. It provided hope for the lower class. Previous next

Answer 1

I provided hope for the lower class

Answer 2

The correct answer is E) It provided hope for the lower class.

On a practical level, the function that the notion of reincarnation served was that it provided hope for the lower class.

for the Indian people, reincarnation is the possibility to be born in a future life with better opportunities than the actual. It is attached to another important concept for the Hindu people: the idea of karma. Karma is the belief that what you do in this life has direct consequences in other further lives. If you were bad in this life, karma is gonna make you live bad consequences in the next. The same with positive things.

Many scholars think that these concepts only served to exert control over the people and provide hope for the lower class that were suffering in their lives.