Aug

18

Is America adopting Hinduism’s ways?

August 18, 2009 posted by indiatime |

This week’s Newsweek has an interesting take on America’s changing religious identity. Although more than three-fourths of the USA still identifies itself as Christian, the article argues that America is slowly adopting Hinduism’s values. Recent trends show that more than 65% Americans (including 37% white evangelicals) now acknowledge the validity of other paths towards God. More than a third Americans now choose cremation instead of burials after death. And one in every four Americans, now believes in reincarnation.

There are more than a million Hindus who currently call the United States their home. But Hinduism came to this country way back, more than a century ago. In his book Hinduism Invades America, Wendell Thomas describes the various ways Hinduism slowly made way into the American psyche. Brought to America by liberal Christians who wanted a world view of various religions, Hinduism came via religious congresses and conventions. Vivekananda in early 1890s, Yogananda in 1920, Shiva Yogaswami in 1940s, Yogi Mahesh in the late 1950s, Abhay Charan De aka Swami Prabhupad in the 1960s (and even the notorious Acharya Rajneesh in the 1980s), established movements, which over several decades, became the backdrop for America’s interest in Hinduism and its various forms like yoga.

Some have attributed the quiet rise of Hinduism to the quiet ways of its practitioners. D. M. Murdock (aka Acharya S.) credits Hinduism’s success in America to “its practitioners (in the US) do not rabblerouse, set up terrorist camps, call for destruction of the US constitution, bilk the American public for millions, establish bogus charities, engage in unethical & seedy televangelism, lobby congress for special favors and considerations, challenge constantly the principle of separation of church and state, abuse the First Amendment and all of the fun stuff (sarcasm) we are used to seeing from fervent religionists in our country and elsewhere“.

Still, nothing works like first impressions, they say, and sure enough, I’m sure America’s romance with Hinduism started with its first glimpse of Vivekananda who had this to say to his American audience in his first meeting with them in Chicago:

“…I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth…

The present convention, which is one of the most August assemblies ever held, is itself a vindication, a declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in The Gita: Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form, I reach him. All men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me… ”

Incidentally, two Indian names that the Americans have become most familiar with during the last year, Bobby Jindal and A. R. Rehman, were both born Hindus but adopted other religions - Jindal choosing Christianity and Rehman choosing Islam.

And interestingly, a hundred-plus years after that speech in Chicago, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, recently placed India on a watch list of nations that have failed to prevent increasing communal violence. India has called that report regrettable.


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9 Comments so far

  1. sharmaji on August 18, 2009 7:52 am

    very interesting. I had no idea ar rehman was a hindu. Of course I still love his music and i am still a big fan of him.

  2. seloo on August 18, 2009 8:04 am

    @sharmaji, tell the truth, you almost changed your mind about rehman didn’t you? Just kidding.

  3. Vinoy on August 18, 2009 6:03 pm

    Forget about the pervert ritualistic hinduism and the social evils that have become a part of the Hindu society.The real Sanatan Dharma happens to be the only DHARMA in the world.It is based on certain universal truth principles and is free from any bias and division of humanity.Religion, on the other hand,is the product of a given social condition and is invariably based on the teachings of a particular scripture(e.g.Koran, Bible, Guru granth etc.etc) and a particular individual(e.g.Mohammad, Christ, Nanak, Buddha, Mahavira etc.etc.).Hindus too have Vedas, Upnishads,Geeta etc but it is not mandatory to stick to the priciples enshrined in those books and one can be a Hindu even without being a follower of those books.In religion,however, it is mandatory to regard each and every word of the scriptures and the so called prophets as the word of some god and anybody questioning the veracity of the teachings enshrined in them is either a heathen or a kafir(non-believer).
    You have quoted Vivekananda. Yes, he was a great proponent of Advaita philosophy but with due respect to him, he has contradicted himself on numerous occasions.On the one hand he regards all religions as true(and wrongly so)on the other hand he says that if a Hindu converts to some other religion, it is not one Hindu less but one enemy of Hindu society more(and that’s true)! Obviously he hadn’t studied the different scriptures and failed to make a distiction between Religion and Dharma which are two different things altogether.
    About the cremation of dead bodies, I found that in UK nearly 50% dead bodies are in fact cremated by the funeral directors in the electric crematorium.By cremating the dead bodies, I don’t think they are following the Hindu ways.Hindus carry the bodies of their dear departed on their shoulders and their siblings offer MUKHAGNI before consigning them to the flames.Can you find a greater culture than the Hindu on this planet?

  4. challa on August 18, 2009 9:54 pm

    America hates indians thats a fact.

    When aericans think india they think Apu off the simpsons.

    Get over it you are all a bunch of losers.

  5. belaa on August 18, 2009 10:09 pm

    Most americans I know are into one or other form of yoga class. Pattabhi in New York has had great influence on many New Yorkers.

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