What do you think of Hinduism?

[SiderealExalt]

Christians should not be allowed to say such blasphemies against other faiths in this forum, just as non-Christians are not allowed to in Christian sections; in fact I am sure that they are not.

Hinduism is the oldest continuous faith in the world. It contains many wisdoms concerning enlightenment and life and though I do not agree with all of it, I respect it greatly and enjoy reading Hindu holy texts.

Actually they AREN'T supposed to by rule, but they do and can anyway. I don't know much about Hinduism, only a little more I'm afraid than popular references. The artistry it's inspired is just amazing though I have to say. Definitely a religion I'd like to learn more about. The closest I got to learning about it so far is through some learning about the origins of Buddhism.

And I've never met a Hindu who said I was going to burn for eternity for not believing in their faith, so there's that.

 

[MichaelNZ]

Hi, let me clear up some misconceptions.

For a start, HINDUISM IS NOT POLYTHEISTIC.

Hindus believe in ONE SUPREME BEING. This Supreme Being reveals itself in different forms. These different forms are the various Gods and Goddesses. For example, one single beam of light is refracted through a prism. This ONE beam of light splits into seven colours. However, these aren't separate beams of light - they are still the one beam of light. Likewise, the One Supreme Lord reveals Himself in a multitude of forms. The Rig Veda states: "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti" - Truth is one, the wise perceive it in different ways. Lord Krishna, an incarnation of God, states in the most widely read Hind)u Scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita: "Whatever form any devotee with faith wishes to worship, I make that faith of his steady. Endowed with the faith, he engages in the worship of that form, and from it he obtains his desires, which are being actually ordained by Me". (Bhagavad-Gita 7:21-22 There is no such concept of "multiple Gods" in Hinduism.


There are some Hindus who believe that Lord Krishna alone is the Supreme Lord, and that the other Gods such as Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha are His servants. However, they still believe that Krishna is the One Supreme Being without a second and put the other Gods in the position that angels occupy in Christianty.. This is the position held by the "Hare Krishnas" (International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON).

Was it the religion that says; when you die you reborn and every single human is a reborn?

I wonder how do you explain population growth.

Reincarnation and population growth are easily reconciled in Hinduism. This world is only one of many according to the Hindu Scriptures. This material world is among the lowest of the worlds. Maybe souls are falling from the slightly higher worlds or mabye those souls in Naraka (hell) are being reborn here after being punished for what they did.

I'll also add that Hinduism references a lot of geographic locations specific to the Indus Valley area. The Ganges River, for example, doesn't have quite the same 'oomph' to me as it would someone who lives in India.

And the Bible references a lot of geographical locations specific to Israel. Jerusalem doesn't have quite the same "oomph" to Western Christians as it does to someone living in Israel. Mecca doesn't have quite the same "oomph" to Western Muslims as it does to someone living in Saudi Arabia. However these are still treated as holy sites by the followers of these religions. Ganges water is available in other countries.

There are Hindus all around the world who happily practice their religion. Nothing says you must live in India to practice Hinduism. (I, however, would like to move to India because it is the holy land of Hinduism, and also because there are more vegetarian restaurants and things like soap etc there don't contain animal fat.)

It seems that any godform that brings a human closer to Brahman (or Vishnu, or Shiva, whatever your choice high god might be) would be valid. If all of the gods of India are simply masks or facets of Brahman, then why wouldn't all godforms be facets of Brahman, even self-created ones?

Some Hindus do believe that - you can worship any form you want and still get the same results. I read about one man in India who keeps a picture of Elvis in his prayer room and observes his birthday and day of passing. I'm assuming that he offers puja to Elvis the same way he offers puja to the Gods.

Why couldn't the Tennessee River be a holy river?

Well, no-one has ever created a religion with the Tennessee River as a holy river!

The Ganges River is regarded as Goddess Ganga, who flows through the hair of Lord Shiva. The Ganges is regarded as a Goddess and that is why the river is so sacred. But Hinduism teaches that God is situated within the hearts of all living beings, and within every atom.

Hinduism seems both very ethnic and culture based, yet universal at the same time. Gives me a headache.

The teachings of Hinduism are universal. It is the oldest religion in the world. However, the Hindu religion and Hindu culture are inseparable. Indians know this. Indian Muslims in Malaysia have tried to be recognised as "Malays" because they know that Indian culture IS Hindu culture and they reject the Hindu religion. I've heard that Indian Muslims in India claim that they are descended from Arabs for the same reasons.

What turns me off is how distant and unapproachable it seems. There are so many names of devas, so many different cultural practices throughout India's history. It's such a diverse religion that it seems untouchable. I feel like I'd have to be born in India's culture to understand it with any depth. There are (were?) caste system issues. Nearly every time I talk to a Hindu, they go against everything I heard the last Hindu tell me about Hinduism, including the very core, most fundamental concepts like what the end goal is or what god really is.

I have had similar sentiments before. Especially here in Malaysia, Hindu pujaris may only speak Tamil. Most books about Hinduism are in Tamil (although there are quite a few English ones). However, it's not impossible for a Westerner to become a Hindu. You just need to know Hindus who will help you on the path. If possible, marry a Hindu who was brought up in a religious family. My wife is Hindu but she doesn't know mcuh about the religion as her family aren't very religious (except for her grandfather, who lives in another state). Kauai's Hindu Monastery has many online books about Hinduism written in English, and they publish a quarterly magazine called Hinduism Today in English. However, I've noticed that there are many books about what Hindus believe, but almost none about how to actually practice the religion - how to set up an altar, how to perform puja, what all the prayer instruments you see in shops are for, how to celebrate Deepavali, Holi, Thaipusam and the other Hindu festivals, and other information that is usually passed on from parents to children (so obviously wouldn't be available to a convert). I'd like to write such a book myself (when I've found out all of the above!).

 

[Eudaimonist]

I don't subscribe to -Polytheism- ~ the erroneous concept of multiple "gods" . . .

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is as polytheistic (or as monotheistic) as Hinduism.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[redwards]

What the Nicene Creed says and what is described and believed in appear to be two different things.

How do you define a "god"?

In Christianity, there is God the Father, who is the creator. Then there is Jesus, his son, who says the Father is greater than him. But he's God also, apparently. Then there's the Holy Spirit. These three are called "God", yet they interact with each other (like, Jesus prays to the Father), and sacrifice themselves to each other or themselves or however it is defined.

Then there is Satan, this enemy of God that is powerful enough to lead millions of people away, create false religions, oppose God for thousands of years, and cause all sorts of trouble.

So far that looks like four gods.

Don't forget that the Nicene Creed is the work of the one and only Catholic Church, which professes a dizzying array of 'Saints,' all treated like little demigods. One could argue that Catholicism is more polytheistic than Hinduism.

 

[Penumbra]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I find vegetarianism, supported by many Hindus, to be a very good idea. I think it's good for health, the environment, and for minimizing suffering.

When a religious person aims to be nonviolent, I find it to be more consistent if they try to avoid animal violence as well.

Don't forget that the Nicene Creed is the work of the one and only Catholic Church, which professes a dizzying array of 'Saints,' all treated like little demigods. One could argue that Catholicism is more polytheistic than Hinduism.

You only quoted the top half of my post. In the other half, I mentioned an array of Saints.

I never even really understood the concept of saints when I was Catholic.

-Lyn

 

[SiderealExalt]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I find vegetarianism, supported by many Hindus, to be a very good idea. I think it's good for health, the environment, and for minimizing suffering.

When a religious person aims to be nonviolent, I find it to be more consistent if they try to avoid animal violence as well.


You only quoted the top half of my post. In the other half, I mentioned an array of Saints.

I never even really understood the concept of saints when I was Catholic.

-Lyn

On the subject of that(vegetarians) could someone in the know tell me. Isn't Jainism an offshoot of Hindu faith?

 

[Saint Nihilo]

I am creating this thread just to know and understand your views and impressions about Hinduism. What do you think of this ancient and third largest world religion with billion adherents.

1) What do you like in this religion, what you don't like, what look strange to you, any concept that attracts you most or any concept that you think is very difficult to grab.

2) and what do you think about your level of knowledge related to Hinduism. Have you really study Hinduism or your good, bad and confused impressions/Views are because of media, friends and gossips?

I am by no means an expert on Hinduism but I have studied it quite a lot at my university and also have Hindu friends (although many of them are not very religious). To me there is a problem with Hinduism's perception. As was stated, Hinduism is technically monistic or henotheistic not harshly polytheistic. Everything is the great Bhraman. However, and this is just personal opinion, I do not believe for one second that this belief trickles down through out all Hindu believers. The average devotee of a particuliar Hindu god or incarnation probably looks to that god as many pagan religionists look(ed) at their gods: as individual intelligent beings with agendas and personalities. They may recognize the teachings that all gods are facets of the one supreme being, but I personally think many Hindus don't focus on this out of practicality and devotion.

When it comes to the general beliefs the one that bothers me is Karma. I really dislike the idea that past lives make people paupers, cancer-victims, rape victims, etc. Societal woes, bad decisions, mental disorders, and lack of education cause these problems not the supernatural force of past sins and their weight in current lives.

I also dislike that Hinduism is spared being criticized by intellectuals in the West because it is seen as some glorious alternative to the wickedness many people see in Islam or Christianity. I don't really agree with this personally. Hinduism has quite a large stain on its history with the karmically-based idea of the caste system. Also, Hinduism may be the world's oldest ongoing religion but it is vastly different from its earliest forms, just like any other religion that has a long history. The earliest forms of Vedic religion really were polytheistic. Indra was a god, not an incarnation or symbolic face of one god. It didn't come until later with the Upanishads, wandering sages, Hindu philosophy, etc. that the polytheistic ritual fire/sacrifice religion of the Veda became the mystical and hyper-spiritual form of worship we now call Hinduism. I also think the idea of asceticism practiced by many devotees of Hinduism (particuliarly Shaivites) is a bit anti-life and harsh.

I do, however, really appreciate the respect that I find in most Hindus. They are generally very kind towards other religious faiths and do not (as mentioned above by someone else) go around condemning everyone to hell for not believing exactly the way they do. I think that the general stance of Hinduism to not cause harm and to be a force of good is a very admirable stance. I also agree with above posters that the art and architecture forged by Hindu faith is absolutely gorgeous. Even the neon-lit brightly painted altars in shop fronts are so intriguing and moving. I have a friend from Pondicherry who goes to university with me and I have been invited to visit India with him and his family should I ever wish too. I might just take up that offer!

 

[Sphinx777]

Hinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span from folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as in Vaishnavism; Hinduism also includes yogic traditions and a wide spectrum of "daily morality", based on the notion of karma and societal norms such as hindu marriage customs.

Among its roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India, and as such Hinduism is often stated to be the "oldest religious tradition" or "oldest living major tradition." It is formed of diverse traditions and types and has no single founder. Hinduism is the world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam, with approximately a billion adherents, of whom about 905 million live in India. Other countries with large Hindu populations can be found across southern Asia.

Hinduism's vast body of scriptures are divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered"). These scriptures discuss theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide information on the practice of dharma (religious living). Among these texts, the Vedas and the Upanishads are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Other major scriptures include the Purāṇas and the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa. The Bhagavad Gītā, a treatise from the Mahābhārata, spoken by Krishna, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of the Vedas.

 

[Chesterton]

Christians should not be allowed to say such blasphemies against other faiths in this forum, just as non-Christians are not allowed to in Christian sections; in fact I am sure that they are not.

I have nothing against these concepts to be honest I just don't like the hypocrisy of mocking other faiths when your own is somewhat inconsistent in many such regards.

Are ya'll talking about the following blasphemy and mockery?:

I like most features of this religion. I like the fact that one is not saved due to some belief in a dead messianic carpenter or some-such...

The OP asks "What do you think of Hinduism?" and Proscribe simply said "I don't subscribe to -Polytheism- ~ the erroneous concept of multiple 'gods'". Nothing blasphemous or mocking about that. And you both accused me of being insulting when all I said was that Odin is fiction. If someone doesn't want to hear what Christians have to say I think they could specify that in the OP. You two are the hostile ones; you ought to chill out.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Are ya'll talking about the following blasphemy and mockery?:



The OP asks "What do you think of Hinduism?" and Proscribe simply said "I don't subscribe to -Polytheism- ~ the erroneous concept of multiple 'gods'". Nothing blasphemous or mocking about that. And you both accused me of being insulting when all I said was that Odin is fiction. If someone doesn't want to hear what Christians have to say I think they could specify that in the OP. You two are the hostile ones; you ought to chill out.

It's only blasphemous or mocking if you are referring to Chr...*is mysteriously kidnapped*

 

[indianx]

I am by no means an expert on Hinduism but I have studied it quite a lot at my university and also have Hindu friends (although many of them are not very religious). To me there is a problem with Hinduism's perception. As was stated, Hinduism is technically monistic or henotheistic not harshly polytheistic. Everything is the great Bhraman. However, and this is just personal opinion, I do not believe for one second that this belief trickles down through out all Hindu believers. The average devotee of a particuliar Hindu god or incarnation probably looks to that god as many pagan religionists look(ed) at their gods: as individual intelligent beings with agendas and personalities. They may recognize the teachings that all gods are facets of the one supreme being, but I personally think many Hindus don't focus on this out of practicality and devotion.

There is certainly some diversity of thought among Hindus. I think this occurs, and I view it as a positive, because there tends to be more of an emphasis on individualism in Hinduism (that simply declaring yourself to be saved by someone isn't enough and that you need to actively seek out God)and also because we do not have a central institution that issues decrees declaring practices and beliefs to be heretical. As for your claim that the average Hindu devotee regards the divine in a similar manner to the adherents of another religion, I can't speak to its veracity, and I don't consider it to be a problem if one invests love and devotion in a particular deity while not focusing on the supremacy of Brahman. It is still a form of bhakti yoga, albeit an early, incomplete one.

When it comes to the general beliefs the one that bothers me is Karma. I really dislike the idea that past lives make people paupers, cancer-victims, rape victims, etc. Societal woes, bad decisions, mental disorders, and lack of education cause these problems not the supernatural force of past sins and their weight in current lives.

I don't think the Hindu scriptures support the description you have provided for the concept of karma. As an example, a person don't suffer the fate of being a cancer victim because he stole an object in a previous life. The result of his stealing the object is not separate from the action. It's not like the action is registered and a result is then meted out as punishment or reward in the next life. An action and its consequence can't be separated. When you peform an action, you set in motion a natural process the consequences of which you then face. As I understand it, I think this is why Buddhism contains the concept of karma even though it doesn't really posit the existence of a "supernatural force."

I also dislike that Hinduism is spared being criticized by intellectuals in the West because it is seen as some glorious alternative to the wickedness many people see in Islam or Christianity. I don't really agree with this personally. Hinduism has quite a large stain on its history with the karmically-based idea of the caste system.

I have to disagree with you on this issue. I think if you ask most people in the West what they know about Hinduism, their answers will primarily consist of the idea of cows being sacred, the prevalence of vegetarianism, and the caste system. Most textbooks, at least the ones I studied in elementary and middle schools, really don't go beyond these things in the cursory review of the religion they provide to students.

 

[MichaelNZ]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I find vegetarianism, supported by many Hindus, to be a very good idea. I think it's good for health, the environment, and for minimizing suffering.

When a religious person aims to be nonviolent, I find it to be more consistent if they try to avoid animal violence as well.

Yes. Vegetarianism is essential to non-violence, which is necessary for true spiritual progression. By eating meat, you are engaging in a conspiracy of violence against helpless animals and turning your body into a graveyard by consuming their flesh. According to the Hindu Scriptures, the soul inside every living being is eternal, and is not a "human soul" or "cow soul" or "sheep soul". I might have been a sheep or a cow in one of my past lives. Only the body differs - the soul is still a soul. It's just like a BMW driver, a Toyota driver and a Ford driver are all still people. Yes, the kind of cars they have are different - some are better models - but they are still people. Likewise, the body is like the car and the soul is the driver. We have different bodies but we are ultimately still the same. Therefore, killing an animal to eat would be like killing our brother and eating him, since we are all ultimately brothers and sisters.

According to Hindu culture, the cow is one of our seven mothers. When we are young, we drink our mother's milk. When we grow older, we drink cow's milk. So therefore the cow is like our mother. When our mother gets old, it would be disgusting to slaughter her and eat her. But that is what people do to cows. The Rig Veda states: " Do not harm the cow, for in so doing, you are harming the earth and all of humanity." (Rig Veda 8.101.15). So please, even if you eat meat, don't eat beef and hurt cows.

Unfortunately, many Hindus don't care about harming animals these days and eat meat, caring only about their own sense gratification. If people want to eat meat, then God may give them the body of a tiger or a lion in their next life so that they can live out their desires.

 

[Penumbra]

Yes. Vegetarianism is essential to non-violence, which is necessary for true spiritual progression. By eating meat, you are engaging in a conspiracy of violence against helpless animals and turning your body into a graveyard by consuming their flesh.

I agree with that. I also think the environmental, economic, and health benefits are very strong. I think if large amounts of people went vegetarian, it would solve many of our problems, ranging from healthcare cost issues (healthier population), global warming, world hunger, and so forth. I think the ethics of animal suffering are a big reason, but there are so many more. I am vegetarian but not for religious reasons.

According to the Hindu Scriptures, the soul inside every living being is eternal, and is not a "human soul" or "cow soul" or "sheep soul". I might have been a sheep or a cow in one of my past lives. Only the body differs - the soul is still a soul. It's just like a BMW driver, a Toyota driver and a Ford driver are all still people. Yes, the kind of cars they have are different - some are better models - but they are still people. Likewise, the body is like the car and the soul is the driver. We have different bodies but we are ultimately still the same. Therefore, killing an animal to eat would be like killing our brother and eating him, since we are all ultimately brothers and sisters.

I have a question then. I asked this to a Buddhist on these forums before, and I'd like your answer as well.

If humans have a soul, cows have a soul, sheep have souls, does every living creature have a soul? Do spiders have a soul? What about plankton? Do single-celled creatures have souls? If the human being has a soul, and is made up of billions of living cells, and billions of symbiotic bacteria (on us and in us), do they have individual souls? Do the living cells in plants have souls, and is eating them violent?

Or is there a cutoff at some point? Do only creatures of a certain complexity have a soul?

According to Hindu culture, the cow is one of our seven mothers. When we are young, we drink our mother's milk. When we grow older, we drink cow's milk. So therefore the cow is like our mother. When our mother gets old, it would be disgusting to slaughter her and eat her. But that is what people do to cows. The Rig Veda states: " Do not harm the cow, for in so doing, you are harming the earth and all of humanity." (Rig Veda 8.101.15). So please, even if you eat meat, don't eat beef and hurt cows.

Unfortunately, many Hindus don't care about harming animals these days and eat meat, caring only about their own sense gratification. If people want to eat meat, then God may give them the body of a tiger or a lion in their next life so that they can live out their desires.

What are your thoughts on using animals for their products? Is it ethical to have a cow, take her offspring away from her, and use her milk for humans? Are there certain ethical ways that a cow must be treated if it is being utilized for humans?

-Lyn

 

[Aethelfrith]

The Nicene Creed clearly states One God.

I see what I was saying got lost on you...

Someone has said it better than I. Claiming it is one God and actually being one God are completely different things.

 

[Dharma Wheel]

Are ya'll talking about the following blasphemy and mockery?:

No, I am talking about the blasphemy that many Christians have spouted on this board - I remember your blasphemy against Germanic heathenism very clearly for instance.

You two are the hostile ones; you ought to chill out.

On the contrary, I find that Christians talking blasphemy about non-Christian religions in a non-Christian debating board to be more hostile. If you have a debate that you want to share with non-Christians that is fine (it is the reason that this board is here), but the shallow insults with no debate involved is very hostile and not acceptable.

 

[Dharma Wheel]

On the subject of that(vegetarians) could someone in the know tell me. Isn't Jainism an offshoot of Hindu faith?

Jainism, Hinduism and, of course, Buddhism are offshoots of Vedism.

 

[Dharma Wheel]

It's only blasphemous or mocking if you are referring to Chr...*is mysteriously kidnapped*

Yes, that is a good point. A lot of the Christians here act upon hypocrisy; they blaspheme against non-Christian belief system but when someone ''blasphemes'' against Christ they cry out and complain that it is blasphemous.

 

[canukian]

from what i can tell, i like hinduism.

as a side note i do not like, comunism, socialism, or islam, from what comes to mind.

 

[Celticflower]

We have different bodies but we are ultimately still the same. Therefore, killing an animal to eat would be like killing our brother and eating him, since we are all ultimately brothers and sisters.

......................................................................................................

If people want to eat meat, then God may give them the body of a tiger or a lion in their next life so that they can live out their desires.

So if you may have been a sheep or a cow in a previous life, it is conceivable that you may have been a tiger as well. So the tiger is part of the family too, correct? So how come when you are a tiger it is okay to eat your brothers and sisters (sheep and cows),but not when you are a human? Wouldn't it be the same thing? And if not, why not?

 

[Völuspá]

Yes, that is a good point. A lot of the Christians here act upon hypocrisy; they blaspheme against non-Christian belief system but when someone ''blasphemes'' against Christ they cry out and complain that it is blasphemous.

Such behavior is not limited to this board. I once had a woman make fun of my beliefs and then start prying tactlessly, but when others called her out for her rude proselytizing methods, she spent the next few months moaning about how she was always being persecuted for her "true Christian beliefs" until she finally got banned. It's ridiculous, but I guess it happens when a majority religion develops a persecution complex.