Thou Shalt not worship a Swastika?

Question

In India, Swastika is a holy symbol, just like a cross in western world; it has been worshiped there for more then 5000 years,
In all major Hindu festivals they decorate their houses with huge swastika drawing called "rungoli".

Do you think American government should ask Indian Hindus to stop worshiping Swastika because it is Anti-Semitic?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/DiwaliSwastika.jpg

Answer 1

You mean using a swastika as a symbol? Because Hindus don't "worship" a swastika. They aren't so ridiculous as to worship a symbol that they themselves created.

Answer 2

I don't know too many American's who worship Crosses, let alone Swastikas. Christians look to the Cross as a reminder that their Savior and Lord died for them, and He is no longer on the Cross but reigning above in the Heavens.

Your question is also misleading - the Hindu Swastika is not the same as the one used by the Facist Nazis. In the Hindu symbol there are four dots within each of the arms of the broken cross.
Also - they do not Worship the symbol, as the Cross is a symbol for Christianity, so is the Hindu Swastika a symbol for theirs.

The Government would not ask such as question - and it is not anti-semitic, as it is not the same symbol used by the Nazis.

Answer 3

The Swastika is not anti semitic. It is an ancient Hindu devotional device symbolising the confluence of Ganesh and Sarswati, the son and daughter of Shiva. When the Swastika spins it creates light. Hitler used it as a power symbol, which is what it is. I can see it daily on temples in Japan, and also at the front of the dohjo where I practise martial arts. What is even more confusing is why Christians worship the cross. I think that is awful.

Answer 4

Symbols and their meanings change over time. For instance (to stick with your Nazi theme) the Germans also used an eagle as one of their symbols, as a result should America adopt a new national animal? The peace symbol that gained so much fame in the 60 & 70 was originally carried by the army of Nero as he persecuted and murdered the christians (it originally was a broken cross). If you look carefully the holy symbol that Hindus use is not quite the same as a swastika (its arms turn in the opposite direction). Or try the Celtic cross its the cross with a circle around the intersection, that circle was the symbol for Cerrunnunos (sry sure i butchered that spelling) does that mean christians who use that cross are idolators? just a few examples of how symbols and their meaning have changed. What should be looked at is not the symbol but the intent behind the usage of said symbol.

Answer 5

The swastikia Altho globally known to represent the Nazi socialist party, infact does have,,many different meanings

hindu- evolution of universe
buddhism- eternity

There are obviously more meanings i just only gave you two but if you need more check out my sources

I dont think our government has any place telling hindu's what to decorate with and what not to decorate with. The Swastika used in that way isnt promoting anti-semitism, it has a completely different meaning

for the record, hitler was a butthole and so is anyone who is proud to call themselves a friggin Nazi

Answer 6

the swastika was also a symbol of aryan prosperity and good will. the american govt can't change that. but the claim that it is anti-semitic is false. it was the symbol of the german spirit, but has been perverted to mean Nazi-ism because it was the symbol the nazi party took for its own. and it would be hard to say that jews can tell the difference between a relgious symbol, and the symbol of the perpetrators of the holocaust. remember, what one may see as something good, can be seen as very evil by another. the same thing is being done by the arabs when they talk about the U.S. the flag is a symbol of pride here, but as a symbol of evil in the arab world. should it be banned because arabs don't accept it as we do?

Answer 7

The American government never asks anyone to stop worshiping anything, or to stop writing or displaying anything. Nor should they.

Even when neo-nazis use the swastika as a deliberate display of anti semitism, it's perfeclty alright. It's not agreeable, and not necessarily moral, but they're free to do that.

In case you're wondering about this sort of thing, you should read the First Ammendment of the American Constitution. It's rather explicit about freedoms of speech and religion:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti

Answer 8

The Nazis copied the Swastika from Hinduism.

The Nazis were also working to reinstate the old polytheistic Nordic religions (which are similar to Hinduism) and New-Age nature worship within Europe.

The current New-Age movement is in large part a re-working of Hindu concepts in western format.

So these things are all linked to each other.

Cordially,
John

Answer 9

It's a manjii, not a swastika. And they shouldn't stop worshiping it because of what it was used for. Should Christians stop using the symbol of the cross, because a lot of disgusting things were done in the name of Christianity?

Answer 10

A symbol is a symbol. It can mean different things to different people. The government should put no connotation or law impeding on said symbol.

The Bill of Rights doesn't say we have the right not to be offended.