Stephen Dias wrote: This is in response to one called Eugenio Correia this is an answer for him: "Some would say that no scholar can be called simple in his or her own field. But I think every scholar with a passion is simple in the sense that they don't see how others can misinterpret and twist their passion."..
GL responds: Hinduisms is not a cult or only a philosophy! It is a religion! Its various subgroups are no different from the various denominations seen in the Christian, Muslims and Jewish faiths. Hindus do not worship idols and are not pagans. Hindu veneration of various incarnations of their deity as statues and paintings is similar to the Christian veneration of various saints and images of their deity. What we have is selective application and interpretation of semantics. At one time the Christian religion was termed a cult by the Grecco-Roman "pagans" and others who did not understand the Christian religion. IMO, Catholics (including padres) would do themselves a 'por favor' by not presenting themselves as authorities on Hinduism. I thank Hindus for taking some off-the-wall comments by Christians for what it is - "Off the wall." For similar reasons, IMHO former and / or married catholic priests (Goan or European) would do a "por favor" by not presenting themselves as authoritative on Catholicism. Their religious and other views on the Catholic Church, however intellectual, are more similar to those of a person talking about their ex-spouse. Their views on or about their former associate, occupation, workplace, etc. may be correct, but are more likely to be biased, exaggerated (overtly or covertly) or downright wrong depending on the circumstances of their parting. This is common sense. It can be a matter of dialog if these renegades became biased before or after their transition. Regards, GL
