On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 12:46 PM, ss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > say. The people who turn you away from temples think that they are the > arbiters of Hinduism, But they are not the arbiters of Hinduism any more than > the people who are turned away from temples.
They call themselves Hindu, and who are you or I to say otherwise? > Your statement seemed to accept that the people who turned you away from > temples were the arbiters of Hinduism. I accept that they call themselves Hindu, and that they have set themselves up as arbiters of Hinduism. Do you *not* think they are Hindu? It seems very straightforward to me. If Hinduism is the ultimate decentralized religion, then these people are as Hindu as any other - and they pretty obviously do think there is some standard of Hinduness (and that race and skin color are a component.) Now perhaps I'm confused, but it seems to me that the "ultimate" in decentralization would not have quite so many authoritarians. I wish Hinduism were as decentralized as you say, but my experience of it was different. I also think you may be unaware of other rather more explicitly decentralized religions. Quakers and Unitarian Universalists come immediately to mind. > Furthermore I get the impression that > you think I somehow belong to the group that turns you away from temples. However did you get that impression? I think you may be reading more into what I'm saying than I intend. > That is why you make a rather strong accusation that "I am trying to have it > both ways" in which there is centralization and I am claiming > decentralization. > > If you take a deep breath and read what I am trying to say before shooting off > a reply - it is entirely possible that you might see what I am trying to get > at. Let me try again. > > Hinduism is decentralized. In that decentralized environment any number of > people have taken it upon themselves to claim ownership of Hinduism. And one > group among those self appointed owners of Hindusim are the people who have > made you so worked up and angry (with me too?) - i.e the people who turn you > away from temples. > > shiv > >
