On Friday 21 Aug 2009 12:29:32 pm Supriya Nair wrote: > I want to know how many advocates of cremation, vegetarianism and so on > explicitly stated or were aware of its implications of Hinduism (for the > value of Hinduism assumed by the writer). Surely (electronic) cremation is > gaining popularity because it's less of a bother on several levels than > burial? And vegetarianism - which is so dubiously a 'Hindu' requirement, > anyway - is being pushed by activism and/or the health foods industry? You > can't attribute these to any religious sentiments. > > Reincarnation is interesting. Perhaps someone has been giving copies of > *Karan Arjun* away for free on iTunes or wherever Americans buy films. > > It seems like a fairly spin-heavy article, stats notwithstanding. It's > amazing what they pay magazine writers for these days.
Like I have stated before Hinduism (minus the philosophy, folklore and epics) remains the single largest collection of pagan faiths in the world. Both Christianity and Islam were designed from the outset to cut down the laxity afforded by motley beliefs of such pagan faiths (a great way to concentrate power in the hands of a few IMO) A general reversion to paganism in the US certainly makes the behavior seem "Hindu-like". Perhaps a century or more ago the Church would have come down heavily on such behavior - but the Church has lost power now. Reincarnation is easy to believe in if you are not forced to believe in a heaven. It gives you solace just like the concept of heaven can, when applied right. As regards "vegetarianism" - India is only 40% vegetarian - but even that is a huge percentage. However that does not mean Hindus are vegetarian. Cremation is burning. The method matters little as long as the ritual is concucted before and some ash/residue is available to throw into some river. shiv
