Wikibooks:Learn Hinduism/Top paragraph

Hinduism is a religion from the Indian sub-continent. Hinduism is a polytheist anthropomorphic way of life where in most followers tend to practice highly ritualized forms of worship; at the same time the Hindu way of life offers ample liberty and choice to create or adopt philosophy and/or rituals at individual, family and social group levels. Respect for different perceptions and plurality of thought are essentials.

People watching Hindu practices from a distance tend to think that Hindu's worship multiple things, the perception is only partially correct since most Hindus accept at back of the mind that the creator is only one. It would be easier to understand usually one finds a Hindu is either just respecting or worshiping different powers or facets of omnipresent creator, the nature around himself and various values he belives in.

The canon of books and poems that define Hinduism were written in Sanskrit and are of ancient origin. They range from Epics about the lives and loves of the Gods, philosophical treatises on metaphysical questions, and law books. The Hindu religion has provided the roots of Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. In the West it can be found in the Hare Krishna movement. Hinduism is the majority religion of India, Nepal, and Mauritius and a significant minority religion in Fiji, Suriname, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore.