On 7/30/07, shiv sastry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When I look at definitions of animism, and compare that with what I have been > taught as a Hindu, the only conclusion I can reach is that Hinduism is > animism - perhaps organized animism. Does that make it religion?
Animism is a religion so that syllogism is obvious. But even if Hinduism is not animism it's clearly a religion. Is anyone seriously suggesting that Hinduism is not a religion? FWIW it seems to me from admittedly casual observation that while Hinduism might have animistic elements, it clearly has worship of non-animist gods as an important, seemingly primary - even central element. To clear up terminology, if you hypothetically believed in a supreme being who created all things, and that all things had retained some aspect of the godhood, that would not make you an animist. Animism is both more and less than that. -- Charles -- Charles
