08-04-2008, 11:38 AM
In fact reductionism can be used:
<b>
Is Hinduism Christianity?</b>
The high priests of Christianity don't seem to think so, although <b>some Indian
Christians have no problem calling themselves "Hindu", perhaps because Hindu
is not a religion label that denies you any particular god.</b>
<b>
Is Hinduism Islam?</b>
No
Does Hinduism exist as a single entity that can be defined?
Probably not except in the minds of people who first described all people to
the east of the Indus as "Hindus". Hinduism is probably the most widespread,
indolent and indelible set of pagan practices (kufr in Islam) that still
exist in the world today.
<b>
Does one find Hindus in the land east of the Indus?</b>
The people to the East of the Indus river had, and still have a unique code
for life that has multiple characteristics. Probably no group has all. Many
have some, and probably all have one or two.
Many of the traits that are shared by many of the groups that are
called "Hindu" are common to many faiths and regions outside of India. These
include rules of social conduct like automatic respect for elders, and a
joint family system. Other traits of Hindus that have by and large been
eliminated by Christianity and Islam over most of the world are animism,
worship of natural entities and forces like the earth, moon, sun, fire and
wind, ancestor worship and idol worship. Christianity and Islam, as far as I
know specifically forbid these acts, but they are accepted as normal by
people who are called Hindus.
One specific subset of Hindus, the followers of Brahmanical Hinduism have
developed all these pagan/kafir traits into a fine art and have built up
philosophy, literature, dance, folklore and mythology that revolve around
animism, worship of natural entities and forces like the earth, moon, sun,
fire and wind, ancestor worship and idol worship. The latter refinements of
Hinduism are probably among its most significant contributions to humankind
if you exclude the caste system and assorted math and astronomical works. The
philosophy defines a basis for all creation and existence in terms that do
not require the involvement of a god at all. From this follows the code for
living a human life (dharma) which has certain guidelines. Whether anyone
wants to have a god or not, in the form of an idol or a virtual being is left
entirely to the individual. Typically "the individual" is influenced by what
his family follows but he need not stick to that.