Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > Forwarding the following item FYI and as requested.. > > Keval > > > > > Greetings & Namaste, > > > > I've just completed a major paper on the question of > > whether or not > > Hinduism actually teaches that all religions are the > > same, an idea that I > > call Radical Universalism. This issue has become > > the most paralyzing and > > crucial philosophical issue that Hinduism has faced > > in the last 200 years. > > > > The on-line version of the paper is located here: > > > > http://www.dharmacentral.com/universalism.htm Namaste, His first mistep is considering Hinduism as a Religion > in the Western sense, when in fact it is an umbrella. He talks about > not persecuting Jews or Parsees without understanding that Hinduism > or Sanathana Dharma predates Religion. Nor does he mention the persecution of castes and other religions, by fundamentalists. > > It is only in the last few thousand years of human history that > organised religion became a fact. More particularly in the last two > thousand years with especially Judaism, Islam and Christianity. One > cannot measure this as a template against Hinduism for Hinduism is a > spiritual more than a religious base. > > He obviously doesn't understand what Hindus mean when they say all > religions are equal. He has no idea of who and what Ramakrishna was > or even Vivekananda. He even misreads the idea of Jesus who became > the Christ. > > He misunderstands the attitude of the British Colonialists during > this time as well. Some of the more evangelical types no doubt > considered any non Christian religion, or their version anyway, as > idolatry, and there was much racism as well. However many of the Colonialists understood well the > situation, learned the languages and Sanskrit, and even participated > in the establishment of pre-independence movements. > > I haven't finished going over it but so far it seems more suitable > to the academic rather than the practitioner. Not that this is wrong > but it is just apples and oranges. From an academic point of view it > is no doubt a good paper. Frank also omits the millions killed in communal riots in the 1940s, but he does mention the RSS. The RSS, Bal Thackery's Siva Sena and the BJP, who were the last government, have many members who espouse the Hindtva or Hindu Fundamentalism combined with Nationalism. This is against the all inclusiveness of Sanathana Dharma, and has resulted in the last ten years,in the sacking of the Mosque at, Ayodhya, the buring of Mosques and massacre of Muslims in W.India and the burning of Churches and massacre of Christians, particularly in South India. I remember an entire Australian family were massacred and they had been doing charity work for many, many years. This fundamentalist tva is putting the Sudras/Vaisyas in the chair, which is of course the norm in the West anyway.It goes against all the traditions of Sanathana Dharma really. Frank goes on about the only true Hindu is a follower of the Veda. Well that'll cause a lot of trouble for many sects that haven't read them. Also Siva probably predates the Vedas as written down. Although the Upanishads reveal the truth. I don't know what he thinks of Buddha being regarded as one of the Dasa-Avatars either. Frank seems to be much in the Hindutva camp and as such IMO > > is missing the essence of Sanathana Dharma. As you know this type of > > thinking, Bal Thackery etc, has brought nothing but sectarian riots > > and killings in India, particularly in the last ten years or so, > > beginning with the Mosque at Ayodhya. I found it rather non > > representative of Hinduism. In fact anything that creates > > fundamentalism and exclusiveness where there was none before is > > unhealthy.......I really don'nt think he has penetrated the Dharma for > > meaning notwithstanding the fact he does pujas......Universalism is the essence of Sanathana Dharma not Fundamentalism.......ONS..Tony. ONS....Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Dear Keval, I'm curious why you posted this here, and what you believe Amma would say about it? Namah Shivaya, Iswari Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > Forwarding the following item FYI and as requested.. > > Keval > > > While the paper is > > certainly meant to be read by each and every > > concerned Hindu, it has been > > especially created with Hindu leaders, Hindu > > intellectuals and Hindu > > activists as its main audience. > > > > If you find the paper helpful and informative, I > > would ask that you please > > assist me in distributing it to as large and wide an > > audience as possible. > > > > Please forward this information to any friends, > > lists or discussion groups > > that would find it interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Tony, I have been reading news on India pretty regulalrly.One mosque had been borught down(the one in ayodhya) yo claim burining of mosques(infact it is just one).As far as burning of churches,massacre of chirstians in S India where did you get the news.I am from S India there has been no massacre of chirstians there or burinign of churches.Yes 2 missionaries where killed in Orissa(only one such incident happened in the last 10 years or so).But it doesnt amount to massacre.2 christians getting killed is not a massacre.Please get your facts checked up. Rajan Frank also omits the millions killed in communal riots in the 1940s, but he does mention the RSS. The RSS, Bal Thackery's Siva Sena and the BJP, who were the last government, have many members who espouse the Hindtva or Hindu Fundamentalism combined with Nationalism. This is against the all inclusiveness of Sanathana Dharma, and has resulted in the last ten years,in the sacking of the Mosque at, Ayodhya, the buring of Mosques and massacre of Muslims in W.India and the burning of Churches and massacre of Christians, particularly in South India. I remember an entire Australian family were massacred and they had been doing charity work for many, many years. This fundamentalist tva is putting the Sudras/Vaisyas in the chair, which is of course the norm in the West anyway.It goes against all the traditions of Sanathana Dharma really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.