09-26-2006, 12:16 AM
Article in the Times by Terence Kealy:
Why a Hindu temple is like a Soho phone booth
The journalists employed by the mainstream media like the Times or the BBC, have an extremely poor grasp of Hinduism and continue to produce articles and programmes that do not portray Hinduism but their very limited and prejudiced understanding of this religion. To start with most of these chaps have been educated to think that religions are inventions of mankind that are past their sell-by-date. With all the terrorist activities occurring in the name of religion most of them are understandably quite hostile to all religions. To make matters worse, what little Hinduism they have picked up has been the version of Hinduism promoted by the early missionaries. No wonder they equate Hindu Temples with Soho telephone booths!
It is Hinduism alone with its very comprehensive pluralistic approach that holds the key of how hostility in the name of religions can be halted and it is Hinduism alone that holds the key on how religious and science oriented world-views can be reconciled. These so called well-informed journalists will perhaps be the last ones to be informed of these aspects of Hinduism. We are sorry to say but It is only after a few more planes fall off the skies will circumstances force these journalists to re-educate themselves about the relevance of Hinduism in a modern science-oriented multi-faith society, what a great pity!
jay
Vivekananda Centre London
http://www.vivekananda.co.uk
Why a Hindu temple is like a Soho phone booth
The journalists employed by the mainstream media like the Times or the BBC, have an extremely poor grasp of Hinduism and continue to produce articles and programmes that do not portray Hinduism but their very limited and prejudiced understanding of this religion. To start with most of these chaps have been educated to think that religions are inventions of mankind that are past their sell-by-date. With all the terrorist activities occurring in the name of religion most of them are understandably quite hostile to all religions. To make matters worse, what little Hinduism they have picked up has been the version of Hinduism promoted by the early missionaries. No wonder they equate Hindu Temples with Soho telephone booths!
It is Hinduism alone with its very comprehensive pluralistic approach that holds the key of how hostility in the name of religions can be halted and it is Hinduism alone that holds the key on how religious and science oriented world-views can be reconciled. These so called well-informed journalists will perhaps be the last ones to be informed of these aspects of Hinduism. We are sorry to say but It is only after a few more planes fall off the skies will circumstances force these journalists to re-educate themselves about the relevance of Hinduism in a modern science-oriented multi-faith society, what a great pity!
jay
Vivekananda Centre London
http://www.vivekananda.co.uk