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The Daily Telegraph has published today a number of
letters on this subject. I reproduce one of them below for our netters'
information.
**** ***** ***** ****** ********
Hindus need not be offended by
the new Christmas stamps
Sir - As a Hindu I welcome this year's Christmas stamps (News, November 1), which return to the real focus of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ, who is respected and revered by people of several major faiths. I was saddened to hear the criticisms raised by the Hindu Forum of Britain. Many Hindus worship Christ, though of course they have different views about his significance. But you will find pictures of Jesus in some Hindu temples, as well as in many restaurants and shops, alongside pictures of other deities and great persons. Hinduism is a way of life and a culture. So the marks on the forehead of the man and woman on the stamp, which are said to be "exclusively used by Hindus", are in fact used by others as well. They originally had a religious significance but are also part of the very broad Hindu culture, or even part of fashion. I have seen women of all backgrounds wearing them - Muslim, Sikh and Christian - while not all Hindus do. These are days when people of all faiths need to come together and identify what we have in common, as well as respecting our differences. We must learn to live together in peace. This week we celebrate Diwali, the victory of good over evil, as well as Eid. We can also meditate, as we prepare for Christmas, on the teaching and example of Christ. Dr Prem Sharma, Reading |
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