{"id":9296,"date":"2017-06-09T06:21:50","date_gmt":"2017-06-09T10:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/whitehindu\/?p=9296"},"modified":"2017-06-16T14:16:45","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T18:16:45","slug":"thats-racist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/whitehindu\/2017\/06\/thats-racist\/","title":{"rendered":"That’s Racist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

As I\u2019ve expanded my Youtube channel<\/a> I have come into contact with a new audience. The majority of my viewers are in India and the second most viewers are in the UAE. So through the comments I\u2019m getting a much closer look at the way Muslims and other non-Hindus in India view Hinduism. I must admit I find it quite shocking.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The challenges facing Hindus in the U.S. are very different from those facing Hindus in India. Here in America Hindus make up less than 4% of the population so not much is known about Hinduism. Many people either don\u2019t know any Hindus or don\u2019t realize that they do<\/strong>. Since Hindus don\u2019t proselytize, even those with Hindu friends may not know much about its philosophy and practice. Still, educated liberals tend to view Hinduism favorably, recognizing that it is a religion with a long history of peace and kindness. Those who are not attached to the idea of the \u201cone true path\u201d usually like and respect Hinduism<\/p>\n

But what I hear from non-Hindus in areas where Hinduism is well entrenched? That it is uncivilized, tribal, barbaric, uncouth. One Muslim told me that he respects every religion on Earth\u2026except Hinduism.\u00a0<\/strong>Here\u2019s another example:<\/p>\n

\"racist<\/p>\n

I am so stunned and saddened to see this prejudice. (Also Swami Vivekananda was Hindu and said many wonderful things about Hindu practices. I don\u2019t believe for a second that he ever said that)<\/p>\n

Hinduism has some of the most elegant philosophy ever put forward by any human in history.<\/strong> It has philosophies and practices that the West has been recognizing for a few centuries as having tremendous value. Westerners such as Ram Das <\/a>have seen Hinduism\u2019s greatness and helped bring its gifts to a wider audience.<\/p>\n

For the very basics you\u2019ve got the concept of karma, meditation, yoga, the knowledge that we are all connected, more personal responsibility than any other religion<\/strong>, the value placed on self-control and controlling one\u2019s mind and emotions, the power of the present moment. It also values diversity and encourages new thought, exploration, and discoveries. without Hinduism many of the world\u2019s most beloved spiritual practices would not exist.<\/p>\n

\"hindu\"<\/a>
By Vinoth Chandar from Chennai, India (PRAYER) [CC BY 2.0 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>Yet it is dismissed, it\u2019s practitioners made fun of and in many cases harassed until they abandon it for an Abrahamic faith.<\/p>\n

No wonder Hindus in India are struggling with a lack of pride and young people not learning and continuing traditions. Being one of the oldest (perhaps the oldest) religion in the world is an amazing feat to me, but many people now want modern everything. It seems many don\u2019t know how Hinduism grows and expands to continue to keep up with everything we learn in the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope that the awe with which the West has seen Hinduism will be reflected back to the East<\/strong>. I hope that Hinduism can gain the respect that it richly deserves.<\/p>\n

The Abrahamic religions have set up a zero-sum game.<\/h2>\n

They have declared that there is only one correct path (which one it is they cannot agree on, of course). In order to maintain that worldview followers of Abrahamic faiths have to discredit and smear Hinduism. They have to lie about it and prevent people from discovering its greatness.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t have to be that way. The world is not as people in Abrahamic religions want us to believe it is. It is not a world of \u201cmy way or the highway.\u201d It is not a world of \u201cbow down to this one petty, jealous God or else you\u2019ll be beaten, burned, and punished for all eternity.\u201d It is not a world of \u201cdon\u2019t you dare question anything, that\u2019s what faith is for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinduism can help the world grow.<\/h2>\n

It encourages peace, interconnectedness, and respecting diversity. We need more of the Hindu worldview. It is time for people to set aside the racist cliches and assumptions they have about Hinduism and allow themselves to see its beauty and greatness.<\/p>\n

How do Hindus view other religions? We respect them and all we want in return is to be given that same respect back.<\/p>\n