Karen M

Hello all

I have a question about Hinduism and I was wondering if someone could answer it:

Some other main world religions tend to believe anyone who is not in the religion should be either killed or converted. I was wondering what Hinduism's stance on this was? I was always under the impression that it was more peaceful...


Also, I am looking for a good Hindu messageboard to ask them more about their religion, and I would appreciate it if anyone could point me to one.


Thanks,

Karen

Seeker196

I think the Hindus believe that, whatever you worship, you're still worshipping Brahman. Thus we are all Hindus by default.

I wonder what they think about people who don't worship anything and don't believe in Brahman (or, at least don't believe he is intelligent. Brahman is everything, unity, the universe).

Probably don't care. Brahman is supposedly nice, and doesn't do much.

The parts of Hinduism which rest on 'faith', making it a religion as opposed to philosophy:
-Brahman is intelligent
-Brahman is sane
-Brahman is 'holy'
-It is possible for a human being to 'know Brahman' or be at one with the universe.

Faith=believing in something because you wish it to be so.

Ron Singh

Brahma has qualities. In the Vedas there are many human-like qualities attrbited to him. He composes the Hindu Trinity. I believe he is the 'creator' in which there is also Vishnu, the 'mantainer', and Shiva, the 'destroyer'. Hinduism is heavily endowed with mythology and such, and this reminds me of a story in which Brahma masterbated into a pot and then had his semen leak into a pond, giving rise to many other Gods. In the core and essence of Hinduism, Brahma is the unity of everything and the one essence of all.
Hindus are very tolerant. They do not impose punishment upon disbelievers. On the other hand, there are passages in the Vedas I believe regarding the darker Dravidian Indians as sub-human. They apparently are not allowed to read a word in the Vedas. They inhabit the lowest caste in today's Hindu society. They believe that all people should stay true to the religion that they are born into however, because this is their destiny.
Not all religions are hateful towards 'infidels'. I think Bhuddism is an example. Hinduism would also be one. Sikhism is extremely tolerant of all religions. In fact, at the beginning of Guru Nanak's preaching, he did not aim to create a religion, rather reform the existing ones to displace the empty ritualistic practices. The Baha'i faith is also tolerant, and so may be the Zorastrian also.

Thor Q. Mada

Yes, hinduism is very tolerant and peacefull however they have also their problems such has the present sectarial violence in Gujarat, which I however think is more politically inpired than anything else.
The abrahamic religions are the only real curse.

Godless Dave

Tolerant and peaceful to non-Hindus, unless they want to build a temple on your land. That's only some Hindus, and I don't think they have a problem with non-Hindus, just with non-Hindus who live in India.

They can also be pretty violent to Hindus of lower castes and women in general.

Corwin

Yup. Hindus are completely non-violent and peaceful.

Unless you're a Muslim. Or a Sikh. Or a woman. Or an Untouchable.

Oh and all American Indians are deeply 'spiritual' warrior types... very new age neopagans. Deep reverence for nature.... they'll never do anything to change or harm it.

thppppppppppppppt

(Got in this discussion on another board I get on.... white liberal stereotypes on aisle one please....)

Seeker196

"Oh and all American Indians are deeply 'spiritual' warrior types... very new age neopagans. Deep reverence for nature.... they'll never do anything to change or harm it."

LOL I lived next to an Indian reserve for 9 years.

There didn't seem much difference between 'warrior' and 'punk' to me...

But in reference to the question about Hinduism, I thought that it would only be honest to represent the true religion of Hinduism, not the rat worshipping polytheism of the lower classes.

Hinduism is not polytheism. It is not even monotheism. It is MONISM.

BTW, Hinduism has gone through many changes and schools, the Hinduism of 500 BC would be very difficult to distinguism from modern Mahayana buddhism.

Karen M

Thanks for the info all

Corwin

Actually seeker my comment was directed more at our modern image of indians (convieniently dead for long enough that they can't defend themselves) and making them out to be dark skinned wiccans.

I AM part indian and this whole disneyfication of the entire situation annoys the hell out of me.

Marduk

"I AM part indian"


Which part?