whats ur oopinion abt hinduism?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

Being a hindu i am curious to know other peoples opinion abt my religion…whether it is good or bad,i would like to get u peoples opinion abt this religion.i know in pakistan there many hindus living and i have always tried to know abt their livings…

  i respect islam and christianity and i believe islam has nothing to do with the audacious and ruthless attacks by the hijackers to W.T.C in u.s.....



 the reports which i received from pakistan show that there is a growing bitter hatred fuming up against religious minorities especially against hindus and christians.....

oin this critical juncture of our time i would like to know what u people think abt my religion hinduism…

so comments are welcome…

2

hinduism good-----followers bad
christianty good-----followers bad
judism good-----followers bad
ISLAM good-----followers bad

The only religion that i know that have good followers and is a good religion, Buddish.

3

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[This message has been edited by Yemeen (edited October 29, 2001).]

4

[quote]
Originally posted by Yemeen:
**hinduism good-----followers bad
christianty good-----followers bad
judism good-----followers bad
ISLAM good-----followers bad

The only religion that i know that have good followers and is a good religion, Buddish.**
[/quote]

ohhhh......may be u r true...but do not forget not all the religiuons are free from some sort of malices......even in budhism there are two distinctions...hEENAYANA AND Mahayana and often the differences between these two groups resulted in to fights with each other..........

BUDHAM SARANAM GACHAMI....DHARMAM SARANAM GACHAMI.....SANGHAM SARANAM GACHAMI.......

5

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

I have almost same feelings. Some Hindu fellows here on this forum have said that Hinduism is a ‘social practice’ and is not a ‘religion’. May be their definition of RELIGION is different from what is a dominant one and found in today’s dictionaries.

Mr.Great:
“the reports which i received from pakistan show that there is a growing bitter hatred fuming up against religious minorities especially against hindus and christians…”

Everytime a community in a neighboring country are targeted, ‘victim’ community tend to attack the representing community in their country. Same is true for so called Muslim community in Pakistan. Everytime Muslims are targetting in India by Hindus, they attack Hindus in Pakistan (a pathetic show, simply idiotic), now when Muslims are under attack by US (a Christian dominant country) Chrisitian are attacked in Pakistan (again, idioti mentality). These days its only Christian under pressure, not Hindus, I beleive.

We oughta be Changez like, don’t we?

[This message has been edited by Changez_like (edited October 29, 2001).]

6

mr.great,

I honestly don't know much about Hinduism as a religion as I tend to get Hindu friends who avoid this question altogether. Mostly, we tend to hear bad things about Hinduism like "satee", caste system promoted in religion, a lot of gods with three main gods and one head god and similar things like that. I am sure there would be good things in Hinduism as well which are not communicated very well to muslims.

At this particular time, my assumption is that only traditional people follow the hindu religion.

Tell us some things which you think we ought to know. Also, tell us the basic belief of an average Hindu.

7

It might come as a surprise! But I condiser Hazrat Krishna (as) as any other prophet of the Abrahimic religion. Who came to the people of 'hind' from God.

Hinduism being an old religion is not in the e present days, what was preached by Hazrat Krishna or other 'Avatars' but still holds some divinity. Just like any other religion in this world, its followers come in many faces & ideas!

8

[quote]
Originally posted by ahmadjee:
It might come as a surprise! But I condiser Hazrat Krishna (as) as any other prophet of the Abrahimic religion. Who came to the people of 'hind' from God.
....
[/quote]

what makes you say that "Krishna" was a Prophet from GOD and was of Abrahimic religion? Any source / reference (web especially) would be nice.

We oughta be Changez like, don't we?

9

[quote]
Originally posted by mr.great:
**

  Being a hindu i am curious to know other peoples opinion abt my religion...whether it is good or bad,i would like to get u peoples opinion  abt this religion.i know in pakistan there many hindus living and i have always tried to know abt their livings.....

  i respect islam and christianity and i believe islam has nothing to do with the audacious and ruthless attacks by the hijackers to W.T.C in u.s.....



 the reports which i received from pakistan show that there is a growing bitter hatred fuming up against religious minorities especially against hindus and christians.....

oin this critical juncture of our time i would like to know what u people think abt my religion hinduism......

so comments are welcome.....**
[/quote]

It is the base of all religions,
human life started from hinduism

one example:when great swami vivekanada went to newyork he was called in meeting and one person who is christian piled up all religious books keeping hindu holy book at bottom and said look where is ur hinduism it is at bottom and our bible on top
then suddenly vivekanada removed the bottom hindu book and all fell down and now he asked that person where is your bible now

10

[quote]
Originally posted by khan_sahib:
**mr.great,

I honestly don't know much about Hinduism as a religion as I tend to get Hindu friends who avoid this question altogether. Mostly, we tend to hear bad things about Hinduism like "satee", caste system promoted in religion, a lot of gods with three main gods and one head god and similar things like that. I am sure there would be good things in Hinduism as well which are not communicated very well to muslims.

At this particular time, my assumption is that only traditional people follow the hindu religion.

Tell us some things which you think we ought to know. Also, tell us the basic belief of an average Hindu.**
[/quote]

thank you khan sahib...brother, i carefully read through your post and i am happy that you have given me a chance to say you a few things abt hinduism....

sure khan.....first i will start with sati......although it was banned in the late 19th centuary by William Bentikk,the then viceroy of british india,it is practised by hindus in Rajasthan ..(very rarely....among illiterate people....)....sadly.......

   hinduism believes in 33 crore gods with three main godsBrahma ,Vishnu and Siva....hinduism find god in all the createures and the main idea behind it is treating every thig with equal status and give every thing a `god'nature.......more precisely hinduism worship the nature which gives us everything.the food,shelter and even our life....


 hinduism is way of life rather than religion and great hindu epics and scrips have done a great impact on the life of the people of the sub continent to a great extentone of the hindu books `Bhagavath Geetha' which was written thousands of years back (during B.C era) touch every -abt life and modern science...it has even referred abt Nuclear Science....worlds ever greatest scientist Albert Einstein said `for all his inventions ,the enlightment was Bhagavath Geetha'...and remember what Oppen heimer did just after seeinfg the first nuclear test by u.s in Arizona deserts in 1945...he chanted a slogan from Bhagavath Githa..!!!..it starts with bhivi surya sahasrasyya.......(it is a sanskrit slogan)..

that was the influence great hinduism has among the scientists and every year many people ,especially scientists in u.s embrace hinduism......

   what ur assumption abt the practise of hinduism is not right.Now ,in this modern era the number of believers is increasing and when i discussed with some of my elders regarding the new generations involment in the religious related matters ,they said they are amazed with the kind of response from the youths and in india especially in my state kerala number of believers are getting increase every year .....(i was pro -communist and now i have changed my beliefs and the amazing and interesting thing i noticed here is even communist leaders too started going to temples and those communists with christian names have started going to churches too!!!)

so i foresee a great future for hinduism but in my view it has to bring in some considerable changes and it has to be free from the grips of caste sysyetm fully......

 thank you
11

[quote]
Originally posted by Changez_like:
** what makes you say that "Krishna" was a Prophet from GOD and was of Abrahimic religion? Any source / reference (web especially) would be nice.

**
[/quote]

changez...i too have heared abt it...infact read abt it...and i will try to come back with reference.....

12

[quote]
Originally posted by Humanity:
** It is the base of all religions,
human life started from hinduism

one example:when great swami vivekanada went to newyork he was called in meeting and one person who is christian piled up all religious books keeping hindu holy book at bottom and said look where is ur hinduism it is at bottom and our bible on top
then suddenly vivekanada removed the bottom hindu book and all fell down and now he asked that person where is your bible now

**
[/quote]

thank you humanity.........for a nice reference....ofcourse great Swami Vivekandan is considered as one of the reformers of hinduism...........

13

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif

you guys are funny. you use an incident to prove that you are right.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif

We oughta be Changez like, don’t we?

14

it was not merely an incident but he was trying to make others realize where is hinduism and whats its place.

15

Ok here it goes! Hinduism.I have many friends who are,at least claim to be Hindus, but they dont discuss Hinduism. Most of them feel it is very confusing, the idea of gods fighting other gods, and not to eat meat incase you end up eating a god..and so on.Please I know it sounds really bad,but this is what I have heard. In Islam,I am a muslim, associating other partners to God is the biggest crime you can ever do, I mean Muhammad estabished Islam after destroying a form of hinuism which were praticed by the qurashi tribes of Makkah. Hiniduism is probably the most confusing religon ever created by man! That is what I have to say in the matter. No offence intended.

16

mr.great, sorry I had completely forgotten about it.

Thankyou for a brief insight into the Hindu religion. I am sorry I didn't know that the number of hindus are increasing but my point was that I haven't seen many educated Hindus into religion especially in the UK. I might be wrong.

I was quite surprised to read that Hinduism is a way of life rather than religion. I assume that the sati part (wether practiced or not) is part of the Hindu Religion. I have also heard that the cow is holding the earth and things like that. I wonder how do they make sense with daily life of a Hindu.

Interesting part is the number of Gods. I don't understand what Hindus mean when they use the word God. I know that a lot of people act like God and do whatever they want. It could be good or bad but it doesn't make them God. God is someone that can do anything and everything without anyone's help so why he would require some small gods is beyond my understanding.

A lot of people including some scientist, professors, musicians have converted to Islam but it can't be used as an arguement to say that Islam is the best religion. I am sure that there will be a better criteria to judge any religion.

17

Hi, I've got these questions for our Hindu guest:
1. If scientists have proven that the world will come to an end (Day of Judgement)
what will happen to all the Vedas followers who believe they will be reborn into another life form on this earth ? If there is no more life forms on this earth, what will happen to them ?

  1. If the Ancient Egyptians believed that their souls will go to Heaven, and the ancient Egyptians had Scripture centuries before the Vedas, then why do vedas followers claim their scripture is the oldest and therefore reincarnation is the right way ?

  2. Low caste members (untouchables) are born into certain families, for example, everyone born into the Juppy family, automatically becomes a untouch able. The woman in the Juppy family, Mrs. Juppy is the aledged door way for bad people in previous lives who did not follow the Vedas to be born through Mrs. Juppy and hence be also a untouchable like the rest of Mrs. Juppy's family members.

If Mrs. Juppy converts to Islam or Budduism which thousands are doing daily in India, what then will happen to the enterance gate for the non-Vedas followers to be reborn into?

If there are no longer any untouchables becuase of either conversion or finacial fortune, then the entire caste system would collapse (as it slowly is doing thanks to the help of humanitary workers.) then there would no longer be a earthly Hell as the Vedas followers imagine, and no longer a reward or punishment, why then are the Vedas gods not maintaining there reward and punishment systems?

Inconclusion, if there are Two doors, (door A) and (door B) the good go to (door A) and the bad go to (door B), what will happen to the bad if (door B) becomes sealed up or has disappeared ?

  1. If the Vedas followers desire Unity, why is it that they enforce a system where the their own members are divided into 5 levels where certain levels are not allowed to talk to, eat with, or even Touch Other Vedas followers ?

  2. How do Vedas followers claim they desire love and harmony when they think it is Absolute Justice that fellow Vedas followers includeing women and children die daily in India under the current caste system?

  3. How is it a punishment to become a animal or a insect or a tree if some people can consider this to be a reward rather than a punishment ? As said before, Insects are born They Fly, they Run, They Mate and they die, is that so bad ?

For example, Ants have the about 200 times their own body weight strength, is it so bad to be that strong and Unified as ants are?

  1. How is it a reward to be born into the world as children are screaming and crying and live years before having any comprehension, and then to grow old and to again loose comprehension, where is the reward to be reincarnated into that over and over?

  2. Why would God show us the Many stars and galaxsies if we are only limmited to this world over and over?

Why would God Direct our Attension to Heaven if we are only limmited to earth ? Why would God make Heaven so appealing and so Majestic if we are never to leave from being born as earthly creatures over and over?

  1. Would it not be a better reward to come back as a dolphin who has a higher mental capabilites than humans ?
18

Quote:

I was quite surprised to read that Hinduism is a way of life rather than religion.

Yeah! The concept of religion comes into being when there are more than one religion. Obviously Hinduism being the oldest religion, it encompasses different cultures and beliefs which mould the way of life. People of different languages, and way of living adopt their living to suit their environment. That's profounded in the basic tenets of Hinduism. Only when other beliefs started coming up, did the concept of religion come up.

Quote:

I assume that the sati part (wether practiced or not) is part of the Hindu Religion.

I would like to clarify for all of you guys, Hinduism never, I repeat never, said that the women should be burnt on funeral pyre. However, we find that the practice is mentioned in the Mahabharatha (where Madri, committed Sati unable to bear her husband's death, here no one forced her). Afterwards, the practice has vanished in history only to bounce back with the Muslim invasions.

The Rajput women who wanted to save their purity preferred to die with their husband's funeral pyre, then turn into a concubine of a invader. You can see that this practice is more prevalent in North India, which is more affected by the Invasions.

Quote:

I have also heard that the cow is holding the earth and things like that. I wonder how do they make sense with daily life of a Hindu.

There are many more stories, but many of them are Puranas, related to the exploits of Avataras (Incarnations). I think currently religious Hindu's adhere to this views, that Earth is floating in a maha Sagara (Ocean).

Quote:

Interesting part is the number of Gods. I don't understand what Hindus mean when they use the word God.

Let me make clear. Hinduism believes in only One God, "The Shakti" as it is denoted. The Shakti is a Genderless, shapeless power which created trimurthi's Viz: Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Krishna, Rama etc are only the variants of Vishnu. So, the concept of 33 or 300 crores of Gods is very wrong.

Quote:
I know that a lot of people act like God and do whatever they want. It could be good or bad but it doesn't make them God. God is someone that can do anything and everything without anyone's help so why he would require some small gods is beyond my understanding.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Exactly, All these swami's and Baba's are just Guru's. Their duty is to enlighten people and help people realise God. They are never Gods. Some Baba's / Swami's do really succeed in fooling people.

I would like to conclude that Hinduism is not just a religion started by a single person. It evolved along with the evolution of human kind. Hence we do find the conflicts with History and science.

But, the plus point of Hinduism is the protection of the cultures. You find that Islam and Christianity have destroyed the Beautiful tribal cultures of the world. But, Hinduism encompassed them as a way of life the people have adopted for their survival.

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Hence we do find the conflicts with History and science.<<<

If you say that God is the source of all shakti (power) then how can you say that there will be conflicts in his actions or sayings. It leaves us with two options either there is something wrong with that God who cannot control his actions or some changes have been made in the word of God.

Islam has not destroyed culture of any region. Anything that doesn't contradicts with the teachings of Islam but were part of the local culture remained the same wherever Muslims went. I suggest you should look at the history of Spain, Malaysia, Morocco. These people have their own culture but they are still muslims apart from Spain where one of the best government in the Europe existed but later Muslims were slaughtered.

20

Quote:
Hi, I've got these questions for our Hindu guest:
1. If scientists have proven that the world will come to an end (Day of Judgement)

what will happen to all the Vedas followers who believe they will be reborn into another life form on this earth ? If there is no more life forms on this earth, what will happen to them ?

Dear Laparva,
Infact, Hinduism believes in the end of Kaliyuga. The period of Earth is divided into four yuga's
1. Thretha Yuga
2. Dwapara Yuga
3. Kaliyuga
4. Kruthayuga

Currently we are in Kaliyuga. All these four yuga's put together form one kalpa. For the end of each Yuga there will be severe destruction on the Earth. Then Kalki, an Avatara of Krishna is born who will save the Good and the Bad are penalised. If you see, you can find that Islam and Christianity have a similar theory of Hinduism. I think this answers your query.

2. If the Ancient Egyptians believed that their souls will go to Heaven, and the ancient Egyptians had Scripture centuries before the Vedas, then why do vedas followers claim their scripture is the oldest and therefore reincarnation is the right way ?

Vedas Existed well before the Advent of Egyptian civilisation, but the practice of propagation was through learning. Egyptians were better in noting down things in hard copies and thus were better preserved.

Re-incarnation is the belief of Hinduism.

3. Low caste members (untouchables) are born into certain families, for example, everyone born into the Juppy family, automatically becomes a untouch able. The woman in the Juppy family, Mrs. Juppy is the aledged door way for bad people in previous lives who did not follow the Vedas to be born through Mrs. Juppy and hence be also a untouchable like the rest of Mrs. Juppy's family members.

Mr Laparva,

This untouchables and domination of Brahmins started after manuSmrithi and the Gupta Dynasty. The Brahmin authorities in order to keep up their superior position came up with wild theories of Upper and lower castes and used their political power to stay on top. Hinduism never preached difference. It was over the course of time, things crept in. If you read The Gita, which is the revelation for Hindus, you find that no where the caste discrimination is mentioned.

If Mrs. Juppy converts to Islam or Budduism which thousands are doing daily in India, what then will happen to the enterance gate for the non-Vedas followers to be reborn into?

Hinduism believes, that what ever exists, is due to the pleasure of the divine. Each existence is the manifestation of the divine Supreme. So, whether he is a Hindu or a Muslims or a Buddhist or anyone or whether he accepts the theory or not, he is going to the ultimate God after death, where he is judged. So, Hinduism says the power is one, that is Shakti and Muslims call It as Allah and Christians the God.

Quote:

If there are no longer any untouchables becuase of either conversion or finacial fortune, then the entire caste system would collapse (as it slowly is doing thanks to the help of humanitary workers.

Thank the Government. Humanitarian workers are just exploiting the poor.

then there would no longer be a earthly Hell as the Vedas followers imagine, and no longer a reward or punishment, why then are the Vedas gods not maintaining there reward and punishment systems?

The concept of punishment is not like a teacher scolding the student or you being beaten up after chained. The theory of karma teaches that everyone is responsible for their actions and they alone will pay for their deeds.

4. If the Vedas followers desire Unity, why is it that they enforce a system where the their own members are divided into 5 levels where certain levels are not allowed to talk to, eat with, or even Touch Other Vedas followers ?

These divisions were created by some individuals to meet their political ends. Contrary to the belief, you will find that Ramayana was written by Valmiki, an Non-Brahmin. The greatest devotees are Non-Brahmins, like Bhakta Kannappa, Tukaram, KanakaDasa, etc. So, Vedas are not the property of Brahmins, but every human.

5. How do Vedas followers claim they desire love and harmony when they think it is Absolute Justice that fellow Vedas followers includeing women and children die daily in India under the current caste system?

Hitler Killed millions, but Christianity did not teach it.

Osama is killing thousands, but Islam did not preach it.

Kashmiri militants are raping and killing hundreds, but Islam did not promote it.

Japanese, massacred and raped and looted millions in Korea, and china during second world war, but Buddhism never proposed it.

So, You should understand here that the actions of few People, in the name of caste should not be construed that Hinduism preaches it. Infact Hinduism is so peaceloving that even killing of animals, without proper reason is unjustified, which no religion preaches (except, branches of Hinduism).

6. How is it a punishment to become a animal or a insect or a tree if some people can consider this to be a reward rather than a punishment ? As said before, Insects are born They Fly, they Run, They Mate and they die, is that so bad ?

Here I would like to tell you, a basic point in Hinduism. We believe that, Humans are the most brilliant and they are special creations of God. Man has independence of thought and brains to act accordingly. Man has to use his judgement and live accordingly to liberate his soul so that after death, his soul is liberated and merged with the almighty. Birds, etc. are lower life forms and they still have some time before they can be liberated.

7. How is it a reward to be born into the world as children are screaming and crying and live years before having any comprehension, and then to grow old and to again loose comprehension, where is the reward to be reincarnated into that over and over?

As being born as a human itself gives you a special status on earth, that is a reward. If you are in trouble, that's the making of your neighbour and who is going to pay for it.

  1. Why would God show us the Many stars and galaxsies if we are only limmited to this world over and over?

Why would God Direct our Attension to Heaven if we are only limmited to earth ? Why would God make Heaven so appealing and so Majestic if we are never to leave from being born as earthly creatures over and over?

We are not limited to Earth. Humans by their acts and deeds can ascend heaven, the abode of God. Why God does these things is a question out of our Human Comprehension.

  1. Would it not be a better reward to come back as a dolphin who has a higher mental capabilites than humans ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dolphins are never better than humans. They have some special sensors which are its adaptations for its environment. Humans have better reasoning than any other living being. Hence the onus on humans to act in a manner, that helps in his liberation. ========================================================================================== I would like to conclude, that every religion has some drawbacks crept into it. Some theories are very wild. Like christianity believed that earth is flat and Galileo was imprisoned for speaking against.
    Similarly Islam has some wild theories that if any Mujahid dies in Jehad, he will be getting 73 virgins to enjoy in Heaven.
    The basis of the religion is to create order in an disordered society. If you think deep into the aspects of the other religions without prejudice, you will find a striking similarity in the basic concepts. However the verbal rules do change according to the preachers and environemtal conditions at the time of the arrival of the religion.