On Wednesday 23 Jul 2008 11:34:18 am Madhu Menon wrote: > Can you please tell me what Hinduism is defined by? It seems to be an > ever-evasive thing. I keep hearing it's not this and it's not that, and > even that it can be anything you want it to be (which seems like an > unfalsifiable claim.)
In fact reductionism can be used: Is Hinduism Christianity? The high priests of Christianity don't seem to think so, although some Indian Christians have no problem calling themselves "Hindu", perhaps because Hindu is not a religion label that denies you any particular god. Is Hinduism Islam? No Does Hinduism exist as a single entity that can be defined? Probably not except in the minds of people who first described all people to the east of the Indus as "Hindus". Hinduism is probably the most widespread, indolent and indelible set of pagan practices (kufr in Islam) that still exist in the world today. Does one find Hindus in the land east of the Indus? The people to the East of the Indus river had, and still have a unique code for life that has multiple characteristics. Probably no group has all. Many have some, and probably all have one or two. Many of the traits that are shared by many of the groups that are called "Hindu" are common to many faiths and regions outside of India. These include rules of social conduct like automatic respect for elders, and a joint family system. Other traits of Hindus that have by and large been eliminated by Christianity and Islam over most of the world are animism, worship of natural entities and forces like the earth, moon, sun, fire and wind, ancestor worship and idol worship. Christianity and Islam, as far as I know specifically forbid these acts, but they are accepted as normal by people who are called Hindus. One specific subset of Hindus, the followers of Brahmanical Hinduism have developed all these pagan/kafir traits into a fine art and have built up philosophy, literature, dance, folklore and mythology that revolve around animism, worship of natural entities and forces like the earth, moon, sun, fire and wind, ancestor worship and idol worship. The latter refinements of Hinduism are probably among its most significant contributions to humankind if you exclude the caste system and assorted math and astronomical works. The philosophy defines a basis for all creation and existence in terms that do not require the involvement of a god at all. From this follows the code for living a human life (dharma) which has certain guidelines. Whether anyone wants to have a god or not, in the form of an idol or a virtual being is left entirely to the individual. Typically "the individual" is influenced by what his family follows but he need not stick to that. Hope that helps :) shiv
