Charles Haynes [31/07/07 09:58 +0530]:
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.
Let us put it this way - hinduism is the sort of amalgam you get when you get a huge country with widely different religions and cultures, all of whom formed more or less a common religion, integrating elements from smaller religions or cults that it superseded. There are strong elements of animism, phallic worship, worship of tree spirits etc, just as much as there is arcane and mystic philosophy. Hinduism is kind of like saying "European" - a turk or a spaniard is rather different from a swede, you'll grant.
