ETH/125
Donna Elaine Mann
November 29, 2013
Religious and Ethnic Groups Hinduism is a complex religion. It is the world’s largest religion, after Christianity and Islam, with over a billion followers. It originated in India and is a mixture of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices. Hinduism is characterized by the belief in reincarnation (Samsara), the multiplicity of deities, the laws of cause and effect (Karma), following a path of devoutness, and the desire for freedom from the cycle of births and deaths (Moksha). It is a way of life called Dharma, which is the law that governs all action. Hindus regard their religion as eternal (Sanatama). Hinduism is thought to have gotten its name from the Persian word Hindu, meaning river. It has no founder or date of origin. Scholars believe that Hinduism may have existed in circa 10000 B.C. with the earliest scriptures, The Rig Veda, composed well before 6500 B.C. The word Hinduism is not found anywhere in the scriptures. The term Hindu was introduced by foreigners referring to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of India where the Vedic religion is believed to have originated. Christianity and Islam consider Hinduism as evil because it is a humanistic religion permitting enormous liberties within a few rational and humane boundaries. Because Hinduism is thought to worship and perform rituals to many gods, it is considered paganism. Hinduism gained popularity in the West in the 20th century. It was an attractive alternative to traditional Western religion because of its different worldview and its tolerance for diversity in belief. It has been an influence indirectly by way of religious movements such as Hare Krishna and New Age. Books and seminars on health and spirituality have been influenced through the incorporation of Indian beliefs and practices such as the chakra system and yoga. Hinduism is considered one of the more open-minded religions. The caste system was abolished in 1949 but remains among Hindus throughout India. It is a social stratification system in South Asia which has been criticized for discrimination. Hinduism has been blamed for this. It is a common stereotype that followers of other religions such as Islam and Christianity have kept the practice of caste segregation in India. The practice of regarding bovine animals as holy is also used to mock the Hindu people by many in the West. The tradition of cremating their dead is also used to mock them, although it is becoming more popular in America. Many Christian missionaries consider Hindu deities as evil or demonic. There have been remarks made by evangelical leaders such as Pat Robertson and Albert Mohler stating that any belief system that keeps people from coming to Christianity is a demonstration of satanic power. The Hindu American Foundation has worked with other organizations to counter perceived biases against Hindus. Most of the sources of prejudice or discrimination against Hinduism are from other religions proclaiming their religion to be the only “right” one. My research on Hinduism brought many things to light about this religion. Several religious researchers have made comparisons of Hinduism to Christianity with some astounding similarities. With the earliest scriptures believed to have been written before 6500 B.C, it would make logical sense that the scriptures of the Bible have similarities with the Rig Veda. The similarity I found most interesting was between Krishna and Christ. The traditional Asian Indian culture is defined by a strict social hierarchy. The Indian culture is often labeled as a blend of several cultures spanning across the Indian subcontinent and influenced by a history several millennia old. Many writers’ perceptions of this culture have painted a complex and conflicting picture. Children are taught from an early age of their role and place in society. It is common for three or four generations of a family to live under the same roof with a patriarch to resolve family issues. India is considered a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. With its cultural diversity, India has more festivals than there are days in a year. The official language is Hindi with English as the secondary official language. Asian Indians form one of the smallest minorities in the United States. Long before the first Asian Indian immigrants came to America in the 19th century, America was influenced by their religion. A congressional act of 1947 giving them citizenship allowed them to purchase land. Asian Indians most important contributions were in the fields of engineering and the sciences. When the British arrived in India in the late 19th century, they depleted the country of their wealth and resources, giving them no choice but to come to the United States. When they arrived here, they encountered prejudice and were forced to take jobs no one else would. They were associated with Blacks, Chinese or Japanese and were blamed for the violence directed toward them. The Whites did not want or try to understand the Indian culture and traditions. Despite all they encountered, they believed life in America was better than the life they left behind. Americans believed they were threatened by the increasing multi-cultural population. The Indians had little opportunity to advance their careers because of prejudice. Out of frustration they began opening their own businesses, giving them more freedom and control of their own lives. They were discriminated against by Whites because of the color of their skin and for wearing their traditional turbans. They were treated as inferior beings. It is assumed that someone who is called a Hindu practices Hinduism. This is not true. While some of the immigrants were Hindu, others were Muslim, and still others were Sikhs. The Sikhs practice a religion of Sikhism which is a blend of Hinduism and Islam. Asian Indians have contributed greatly to America. They have influenced philosophers and historians. They have made contributions in the fields of art and education. Asian Indians contribute to our society in numerous ways. Many work in the medical field improving technology and practicing medicine. Negative attitudes and images about South Asian cultures are taught in American schools or through the media. Sensationalist news stories about India create preconceived ideas. Television shows have had a huge influence on stereotyping Asians Indians as convenience store or restaurant owners, cab drivers or motel operators and are uneducated, greedy and have large families living in crowded homes. Researching in history and cultural practices of Asian Indians has helped me to understand their traditions and ways of life. They have been a tremendous influence in our society throughout history. The prejudices and discrimination experienced by Hinduism and Asian Indians are very similar. Because most Americans do not understand either the religion or the race, they assume that all Asian Indians practice Hinduism and vice versa. This is why it is important to understand and learn about other cultures and religions. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and traditions, and should not be discriminated against because of them. Assumptions should never be made about someone’s religion because of their race. That would be like saying all Blacks are Muslims or all Whites are Christians. Our world is made up of diversity. We should embrace and accept them all, and be thankful we have the freedom to choose whether we want to practice a religion or not.

References:
(n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from en.wikipedia.org/Culture_of_India
Anti-Hinduism. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Hinduism
Das, Subhamoy. (n.d.). Hinduism for Beginners. Retrieved November 27, 2013, from hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/hinduismbasics.htm
Robinson, B. A. (2013, June 02). Hinduism: The world's third largest religion. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved from www.religioustolerance.org