hinduwoman

Myron Weiner, "India's minorities: who are they? What do they want?" India 2000, Riverdale publication, James Roach ed:


According to this sociologist, the diffuse and syncretic nature of Hinduism makes it a psychological threat to Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. In Hinduism reformist and heterodox movements are not regarded as threatneing [theologically] and new sects are regarded as proof of spiritual vitality. But this "tolerance for internal diversity and a readiness to incorporate others" becomes a source of distrust to others, because the 'revealed' religions depend on exclusion, specific rules for membership, destroying dissent and rigid adherence to dogma. Each of these communities try to prevent their communicants from adopting Hindu customs, but not always successfully. The readiness of Hindus to adopt rituals and gods of other religions makes these religions, feel that Hinduism will erode away their religion. So when Hinduism is present on a daily basis, they feel psychologically threatened.

Ex-Xians: during your religious phase, if you had to deal with Hindus everyday in great numbers, in all kinds of situations, would you have felt that your identity as a Christian is under siege?

philechat

Interesting, especially with regards to the also inclusive religions like Roman Paganism. In the Roman times many foreign gods were instituted into the Roman state religion, and even the exclusive Jews were (generally) tolerated. Christianity, on the other hand, harbored a resentment against the Pagans which became full-blown persecution once it acquired power.

Old Man

The greatest threat to Christianity today is from deism and gnosticism, rather than paganism (deism and gnosticism often go together).

Both deism and gnosticism can seem attractive to Christians, because of their appeal to advanced reasoning, and esoteric knowledge, respectively.

The danger in both lies in the fact that the reasoning and knowledge which is inherent to Christianity, is put aside and cast off, in favour of that which is in fact antithetic to the essential truths of Christianity.

I guess Hinduism could also pose the same threat in India as deism and gnosticism, though outside of India, Hinduism appears merely as a set of fables similar to the tales of Greek mythology, and presents no more of a danger to Christianity than the classical paganism/pantheon worship of old.

Sabine Grant

Hi Hinduwoman... as a presently christian I do not feel threatened by other faiths or even absence of faith. That a particular dogma or doctrine feels threatened... but as an individual, it does not affect me.

Mad Kally

They are too busy trying to convert the world to xianity. They also thrive on the idea that they are being persecuted for Jebus. Remember those two moron girls from Waco, TX who went to Afghanistan for the specific purpose of telling Muslims about Jesus. They landed in jail where they belonged. They also endangered many lives with their antics when they were trying to be rescued. They should have had to pay for all the costs involved. I've never really felt like a xian. I was forced to go to church against my will.

It would be interesting to have a USA National poll to see what, if anything the majority of Americans know about Hinduism. My guess would be next to nothing.

hinduwoman

Sabine, you don't seem to me to be the type who would rant about Satan or urinate on Hindu idols. So I am not sure if you count.

hinduwoman

Well not many Hindus are present in america, so they might not yet feel threatened. But perhaps there is some substance to the charge. Australia does have a number of Hindus, and the Church do not like hinduism at all.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...144873211.html
[QUOTE]Reverend Phillip Jensen, the 11th Dean of Sydney spoke of his anger at a Hindu student who had talked of Jesus as one of history's great spiritual leaders. But rather than forsake his Hindu gods, he simply wanted to "add Jesus to the list".

"Therefore he did not like the exclusiveness of Jesus. In fact he tried to argue that all religions were right," he said. "He left me very disturbed by our conversation, but so far has continued in his Hindu religion not because of what is true or right but because of tribal family pressure. We must not be Christians because of tribal family pressure, but
because it is true."[QUOTE]

Notice it is the willingness to turn Jesus to an Avatar that really got the Dean upset.