Is Yoga Hinduism?

Spirituality Religion
#781

[QUOTE=Indra Deva;45720]If you’re going to deliberately misquote me, we’re done.
Have fun with your racist isolationist agenda. :rolleyes:
(of course, Eastern Philosophy is all over the west, there’s no taking it back, & railing against it is pretty pathetic and pointless, but you keep going, okay?)[/QUOTE]

Misquote? Lol, I am so sorry I forgot to place the preposition “of” between “all” and “these.”

I will have fun with my “racist isolationist agenda” racist, even though its more of a “limit interactions with those Westerners/nations that seek to undermine us.”

Sadly, I have to agree with your second point. However, what I am railing against is the lack of respect (and the spreading of ignorance) for India/Hinduism despite the good our teachings have done (like yoga). And your thinking its foolish to argue against such degradation shows how much of a bigot you really are.

#782

i think its better stop this argument.

Already enough proof is given by surya deva and prompt replies from other members.

Everyone knows what is yoga? what Hinduism is? its not a good idea to enlighten fools who don’t know all this but just saying something for the sake of argument.They are just like that.

The world knows the truth.

#783

What makes you think “everybody knows”?

I barely have a clue.

I have no motivation to believe anything but the truth, though I’m finding it hard to sift through all the rhetoric. Nietzsche and SD seem to be experts somewhat, though they have lost credibility with me because of unnecessary attacks on other faiths, and because they repeat the same old distortions. Their understanding of Christianity is very two-dimensional. So their unfairness in dealing with Christianity makes it seem to me that they have an axe to grind, and has caused me to question whether their statements about Hinduism are likewise distorted, and motivated by an agenda.

But I’m perfectly cool with Hinduism, and have never criticized the religion or its followers.

#784

Their understanding of Christianity is very two-dimensional.

Posted by me in the “Yoga the source of religion” thread:

Christianity is a destructive religion: It is valid, and noted by many intellectuals from Volatire to Neitzshe that this religion has been responsible for immense destruction through crusades, inquisitions, witch burnings, colonialism(wiping out Native Americans, Australians aboriginies) It and Islam has the most violent history of all religions in the world by a wide a margin. This history has happened, we know of it and have recorded it in gory detail, so this fact cannot be denied. It also cannot be denied that the OT is one of the most savage and barbaric scriptures in the world ordaining everything from infanticide, to rape, murder and what not.

The invalid point is, is that Christianity is through and through bad. There is a lot to be admired about the life, teachings and works of Jesus in the bible. There is a lot to be admired about good Christians and catholics, many of whom I have met, who believe in tolerance, love and forgiveness. I stayed with a catholic family in India once for a few days, and their kindess and purity was beautiful. There have also been some great saints from this tradition(I mean actual saints, not just people who were called saints, but were mass murderers) and a lot of work has been done in charity and helping the poor and needy.

#785

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;45857]Posted by me in the “Yoga the source of religion” thread:

Christianity is a destructive religion: It is valid, and noted by many intellectuals from Volatire to Neitzshe that this religion has been responsible for immense destruction through crusades, inquisitions, witch burnings, colonialism(wiping out Native Americans, Australians aboriginies) It and Islam has the most violent history of all religions in the world by a wide a margin. This history has happened, we know of it and have recorded it in gory detail, so this fact cannot be denied. It also cannot be denied that the OT is one of the most savage and barbaric scriptures in the world ordaining everything from infanticide, to rape, murder and what not.[/quote]

So, there are NOT Hindu scriptures that endorse things like sexism & misogyny, rape & sexual slavery, bestiality, racism, etc etc?
In my experience, when man writes scripture, his human frailties stain the work, no matter how extreme & pure the truth that motivated them.
Take a Great Truth, any Truth, and man can and WILL warp, sully, pervert and ruin it with his “religion”… me, I put stake in none of them.

#786

[QUOTE=Indra Deva;45889]So, there are NOT Hindu scriptures that endorse things like sexism & misogyny, rape & sexual slavery, bestiality, racism, etc etc?
In my experience, when man writes scripture, his human frailties stain the work, no matter how extreme & pure the truth that motivated them.
Take a Great Truth, any Truth, and man can and WILL warp, sully, pervert and ruin it with his “religion”… me, I put stake in none of them.[/QUOTE]

None that is considered authorative. The OT is authorative and it ordains sexism, misogyny, rape, sexual slavery, bestiality, racism, idol smashing, temple burning, genocide, amongst many other things. There is no equivalent even remotely close in Hinduism.

#787

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;45890]None that is considered authorative. The OT is authorative and it ordains sexism, misogyny, rape, sexual slavery, bestiality, racism, idol smashing, temple burning, genocide, amongst many other things. There is no equivalent even remotely close in Hinduism.[/QUOTE]

So… Hindus can decide what is “authoritative”? They can pick and choose what scriptures to follow & which ones to discard, for whatever reason? Huh, who would have thought… :wink:

& do you think that modern Christians who follow the New Testament message consider the particular portions of the Old Testament you are referring to be “authoritative”? Because New Testament Christians, by definition, do not consider the Old Testament “authoritative”. For them, the Gospels are the ultimate authority.

#788

[QUOTE=Indra Deva;45891]So… Hindus can decide what is “authoritative”? They can pick and choose what scriptures to follow & which ones to discard, for whatever reason? Huh, who would have thought… :wink:

& do you think that modern Christians who follow the New Testament message consider the particular portions of the Old Testament you are referring to be “authoritative”? Because New Testament Christians, by definition, do not consider the Old Testament “authoritative”. For them, the Gospels are the ultimate authority.[/QUOTE]

Nope we do not just arbitarily choose which one to choose and which to discard. We have a canon which is called Sruti(Vedas) which is the highest authority in Vedas. Then we can supplement that with other scriptures which are support sruti. If it contradicts Sruti it is rejected. Sruti is divinely revealed and Smriti is what humans have written later.

Now Christians do not have a choice to accept or reject the OT. The OT is considered authorative and is part of the bible canon.

So if we compare fairly between Hinduism and Christianity by looking at our canon and their canon, we find that nothing even remotely close to the violence, death and destruction in Christianity is found in our own.

If we compare the history of our religions we do not find anything even remotely close to crusades, inquisitions and witch burnings that were done the religion of Christianity.

Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being a peaceful and tolerant religion. It is the only religion that has human, animal, women and civil rights. Even the idea of killing innocent people is abominable in Hinduism.

#789

In a Church that teaches any sexual conduct outside of marriage is a serious sin, and that use of contraception and masturbation are also serious sins, it is not possible that rape would be on the list of “good deeds” to do.

The OT is the inspired word of God, but the Christian is not bound by the old covenant. There are no longer the same dietary restrictions, for example. And just because Moses parted the Red Sea and the Egyptians which followed behind were drowned, does not mean Christians are supposed to drown Egyptians. Those deeds were for a certain time, place and reason.

But where in the scriptures is anyone practicing “bestiality” as if that were commanded by God? I’ve never heard of that one. Please cite the verse and chapter.

#790

[QUOTE=Indra Deva;45889]So, there are NOT Hindu scriptures that endorse things like sexism & misogyny, rape & sexual slavery, bestiality, racism, etc etc?
In my experience, when man writes scripture, his human frailties stain the work, no matter how extreme & pure the truth that motivated them.
Take a Great Truth, any Truth, and man can and WILL warp, sully, pervert and ruin it with his “religion”… me, I put stake in none of them.[/QUOTE]

Oh no, watch Indra Deva post more anti-Hindu propaganda links!

No. I have read Hindu scriptures and I have never seen it condone rape (on the other hand, the Bible does contain verses condoning the rape of women captives), sexism, sexual slavery (the keeping of mistresses was a common norm even in the West until the 20th century), and bestiality (what the heck. I have never even seen or heard such a thing in any scripture, even the Bible).

As for racism, are you referring to caste-caste racism? If so, then yes I have seen quiet a few verses that talk about caste discrimination. Even more odd, I have seen right alongside verses that talk about the equality of all caste members and the mobility between castes. I have no idea whether these were later additions but I cannot deny they are there (despite their relatively few numbers). There are bad apples in every text. However, some texts have even more bad apples than others (like the Bible and Quran). In any case, the caste system as we know it went from a system of high mobility to a rigid one. These things happen with the development of civilization. Someone needs to do the manual labor, someone needs to protect the kingdom, someone needs to uphold the religious customs and traditions, and so forth. Then there’s the sad fact that some “in power” justify this using religion…

As for polygamy, yes it s sanctioned (just like in Islam, an Abrahamic faith though everyone, for some reason, ignores it and focuses on Hinduism). At the same time, I don’t see what is so wrong with it if you spread your love equally. I never understood the aversion most Westerners have towards it (but it is clear they get it from their Christian biases). For example, this is a typical discussion I end up having about Mormons with those who like to ridicule them.

Them: (Making fun of Mormons).
Me: What is so bad about polygamy?
Them: Its just weird…
Me: Why?
Them: Well…no one really does it…
Me: So that makes it wrong? Conformity to a society with obvious Christian biases makes things right?
Them: Uhm…I don’t know.

If anyone can explain to me what they think is so bad about polygamy, I will appreciate it.

#791

There is nothing inherently wrong with polygamy. As you say spread the love :wink:

#792

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;45910]There is nothing inherently wrong with polygamy. As you say spread the love ;)[/QUOTE]

Precisely. And yet, it is scorned in the West and laws were formulated for its prohibition. It is sad that we get hounded in these forums for saying “most Westerners have Christian biases behind their cloak of secularization and humanism” when this is yet another example supporting that assertion.

Another case is abortion. While I am not a big fan of abortion in general, I do believe people should have the right to do it in certain circumstances.

Oops, I supported abortion. I guess I will be shot like that one doctor who had a practice which did abortions (and who refused to shut it down when receiving threats from Christian bigots). And you know what Christians/Christianized Westerners said after he got murdered? “He had it coming to him.” “He deserved it.” “He will go to Hell.”

#793

I also support abortion in special circumstances.

Morality is not cut and dry.

#794

We have a million abortions in the US every year. How many of them are acceptable? How many of them should have been forbidden by law?

#795

Is polygamy for men only in Hinduism, or may women have multiple spouses too?

#796

SD, please respond about bestiality in the Bible. You clamied it is there and that it is “ordained.” Where is it? I would like to read those passages for myself.

#797

So if we compare fairly between Hinduism and Christianity by looking at our canon and their canon, we find that nothing even remotely close to the violence, death and destruction in Christianity is found in our own.

What authority determines your canon?

#798

It is for both. A famous Hindu woman Drupadi had 5 husbands.

#799

If you can provide to Surya Deva and I the specific details of each and every case, we can answer those questions.

I haven’t seen a specific verse ordaining multiple spouses, but from what I have read in the Mahabharata, a woman can have multiple spouses. Once again, as long as the love is shared equally.

#800

[QUOTE=thomas;45924]What authority determines your canon?[/QUOTE]

There is no clergy in Hinduism. The canon has been agreed upon by Hindu tradition and Hindus accept this tradition. The Vedas are considered the beginning of Hindu relgiion and revealed, inerrant and perfect. They are said to be authored by non-human intelligence and eternal.