Why do you look down on Hinduism?

Question

I've just noticed a lot of criticism, disregard and intentional degradation of the religion, so I was curious

glitterin- thanks for that answer, even though it's quite obvious, i never really acknowledged that fact

no matter what you believe in, there will be others who will always criticize and not agree

that's the answer I was looking for =)

Answer 1

Understand the true purport and meaning of hinduism and thy shall gain the pearls of wisdom!


Hinduism: can be best defined as Sanatana Dharma... something which exists from times immemorial. Hinduism does not have a beginning... it exists ever since Humanity came into existence. The bane of Hinduism is Dharma... which also forms the base of all Religions existing on Mother Earth. No Religion can ever survive without a Dharma. Dharma is the root of all Religions. Why?

Talking of Jainism we cannot understand the basics without delving into the Life of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira. It was only in the time of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira that Jainism rightly came into existence. Whatever form of Jainism existed before the 24th Tirthankara was limited to the Spiritual Masters only. All that was knowable to these Spiritual Masters was not available to the masses for the prime reason that the intellect of a common man was not as developed as was required to fathom the depths of the Sacred Wisdom we know as jaina doctrines.

During the times of Bhagwan Mahavira... the common masses came to understand what was being taught by the masters of the era. Gradually as the momentum picked up... the followers of Jaina doctrine came to be known as Jains and the following Jainism. Before Bhagwan Mahavira the existence of Jainism as such did not hold good as it was only limited to the Spiritual Masters of the day.


Similarly, the Teachings of Gautama Buddha came to be known as Buddhism and its followers Buddhists. Buddhism is also known as the eightfold path. Gautama Buddha advocated the eightfold path also known as the middle path for he realized that not while living in the family and nor while attempting the Life of the dense forests could one gain knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. He advocated maintaining a balance between the two and advised the common man to take the middle path. Neither getting totally immersed in family Life nor practicing austere practices to its extreme.

We need to understand that before the advent of Gautama Buddha... there was nothing we can call as Buddhism. The Teachings of Gautama Buddha primarily form the core Teachings of Buddhism. The existence of Buddhism Religion... the following of Gautama Buddha came into being only after the advent of Gautama Buddha.

In Christianity also, the core Teachings of the Bible contain the Essence of the Teachings of Jesus Christ and his trusted followers. Before the advent of Jesus Christ nothing existed on Mother Earth we could call as Christianity. The following of Jesus Christ is known as Christianity and the followers Christians. More on hinduism here- http://www.godrealized.com/Hinduism.html

Answer 2

I don't. In fact, I think that most of the eastern religions, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Hinduism, are far better than Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The Bar is my church. We have an alter, used for serving drinks. We go to confession...to the bartender, also known as a priest. And we even have a prayer. It's a place to have fellowship with my fellow man and to break bread (liquid bread, Guinness). The best thing about my religion, is that we don't kill each other like Sunnis and Shia, or force our beliefs on others by telling them we are going to hell if we don't, or let a man in Rome tell us what is wrong and what is right. Now let us pray:

Our Lager which art in barrels, hollowed be thy drink.
Thy will be drunk, I will be drunk, as home as I am in the Tavern.
Give us this day, our foamy head and forgive us for our spillages as we forgive those who spill against us.
And lead us not into incarceration, but deliver us from hangovers.
In the name of the bitter, the lager, and the pale ale,

Barmen

Answer 3

Please excuse this excerpt from my book:

Judhism is the cheapest religion per day. Each day you simply pay a few tears, a few worries, an ounce of guilt, and an ounce of confession. Then, the rest of the day you can plan and plot and make a lot of money. "I should be so lucky." a la God forbid

Atheism is economically cheap, but socially very expensive. It will cost you a cup of loneliness and two cups of rejection (considering that 90% of Planet Earth believes in God, or at least a supernatural power or concept).

Hinduism costs you a few cups of humility. The liberal would say "a few cups of tolerance". Of course, Hinduism is not really a religion; it is a philosophy with the following set of instructions.

1. Don't step in my flower garden.
2. Don't tug on Superman's cape.
3. Dont pull the mask off of the Lone Ranger.


I thought you would like to know, Hinduism is not a specific religion, and yet is the closest to Harmony. It allows all beliefs, as long as they get along with each other while they are in India. And, of course if you don't kill their animals or eat meat in front of them.

Answer 4

I try not to look down on any religion. I do look unfavorably upon worshipers of a few faiths but that is because of the way they treat other faiths. I haven't had the pleasure of talking to anyone from the Hinduism faith but I would like to know more about it at some time.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 5

I don't. I actually just got done taking a class about Hinduism. Also, don't feel alone on the entire criticism thing. Just remember that no matter what you believe in, love, care about, look like, speak about, etc. there will ALWAYS be someone that will be negative about it.

Answer 6

Only a few verbally loud people do...Most people who have traveled and absorb some education to earn a level of sophistication come to learn to respect other people's cultures. Great era such as Alexander the Great, Pax Romana and the Renaissance are periods of culture exchange that have lead to upsurge in human advancement. The Dark Ages where religious and ethnic intolerance lead all of us to a degree of unhappiness for the masses. Most people are Renaissance people not Dark Ages people (but the Dark Age People are a lot more vocal to make up their lack of numbers.)

Answer 7

people cannot accept y hindus worship idols, and they find their rituals too extreme....but on the other hand, not all look down on hinduism, some of them do...as a matter in fact, i m impressed by Hinduism, whenever i visit india, i fell an attachment to the land...something is there in india...something tht cannot be explained....Hinduism is the most peaceful religion in the world...

Answer 8

Some people are too quick to make judgments about something without first investigating and understanding it first. It's pure laziness and a lack of care to try to understand other cultures, beliefs and way of life.

I'm a Western Hindu. I was born into a Christian family, that was not the right path for me. I was not attracted to it. I fell in love with Hinduism. It felt like coming home to it. I had read about spirituality for many years before starting to practice Hinduism, so when I started to read and learn about it, it was easy for me to crasp its concepts and underlying spiritual principles. For someone that does not have a very good understanding of spirituality, one can have a hard time understanding the Hindu religion because it is quite a complicated religion covering many branches of schools of thought and philosophies spaning a large history in humanity.

Here's a story I like:

Once Krishna called Duryodhana, the eldest among the Kaurava princes and Yudhishtira, the eldest among the Pandava princes and said:
"I'd like to know exactly how many bad people there are in this world. So both of you must travel around the world and give me this information."

Duryodhana and Yudhishtira set out. After a while, Duryodhana returned and Krishna asked him how many bad people he found. He said, "Everyone I met in the world was bad. I was not able to find a single good human being."

Krishna only smiled in reply. Soon after Yudhishtira also returned and Krishna repeated this question to him too. Yudhishtira said, "Bhagavan! I was able to find only one bad human being in this whole world. But later I realized that this man too was actually good. Hence I was not able to find even one bad human being."

He then elaborated. He said, "The bad man I saw was a Brahmin. Despite being a Brahmin, he was not observing his acharas and spiritual practices. He was not even practising shouchakarmas or cleanliness rituals before he left for work in the field. When it was midday, his wife went to the field with his lunch and I saw that he sat down to eat his food, without even washing his hands! At that moment I felt that this was indeed a very evil man.

Just before he started eating, however, he asked his wife, "Did you feed our blind parents?" When I heard this I felt this one question was enough to wipe out all evil in him. And therefore, Bhagavan, I was not able to find even one bad man in this world."
Each person sees the world in accordance with what is within his or her own mind. Duryodhana was filled with sinful, negative thoughts, hence he saw the whole world as evil. Yudhishtira, on the other hand was the epitome of dharma and goodness. Hence he was not able to find even one bad human being. It is only goodness of heart that can take us close to God.

Answer 9

I don't look down on Hinduism, I am currently reading the Bhagavad-Gita, so I can understand your beliefs better.

Answer 10

Many religious people on this site believe all other beliefs are invalid or even evil. They have chosen to be spoon fed their philosophies. It is sad and surprisingly common.