Charles Haynes wrote:
So I can see that someone born into a Hindu family in a Hindu society will be considered Hindu - culturally if not religiously. But that raises the next question - just how "sticky" is that cultural Hinduism? If that person rejects their Hinduism, moves out of Hindu society, and raises their children without Hindu traditions, are their children Hindu? For how many generations?
Good question. Apparently you can't shake it off. I'm a firm atheist (as is my brother) but my mother insists that I am a Hindu (the folks are both very religious.) I don't go to temples, I celebrate almost none of the Indian festivals, and don't really care too much about meaningless (to me) rituals and customs.
There are also the "Hinduism is a way of life" people who tell me that I can be a Hindu despite my atheism, but I've never been able to get a straight answer from anyone about what exactly that way of life entails. I begin to wonder whether merely breathing is sufficient.
M -- <<< * >>> Madhu Menon Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine Indiranagar, Bangalore Visit us @ http://www.shiokfood.com Phone: (080) 4116 1800 My food photos: http://flickr.com/photos/themadman
