11-04-2006, 04:44 AM
Hauma,
I agree. However, I am unable to accept that this is necessarily a good thing.
IMO, what made the Hindus uniquely immune to the blandishments of conversion is their consciousness of jati - their community, and their sense of belonging to a jati, and having a role in its living traditions. Once this sense of belonging disappears, there is no way to differentiate one religion from another.
In effect, to many of them, changing religions will be no more difficult than changing underwear. In fact, this is already taking place, as you can read from acharya's posts of about two months ago.
Like I said, I am unable to believe this is a good thing, and will try to keep my children away from such "generalized" identities and rituals. I agree that it might be a losing bet.
I agree. However, I am unable to accept that this is necessarily a good thing.
IMO, what made the Hindus uniquely immune to the blandishments of conversion is their consciousness of jati - their community, and their sense of belonging to a jati, and having a role in its living traditions. Once this sense of belonging disappears, there is no way to differentiate one religion from another.
In effect, to many of them, changing religions will be no more difficult than changing underwear. In fact, this is already taking place, as you can read from acharya's posts of about two months ago.
Like I said, I am unable to believe this is a good thing, and will try to keep my children away from such "generalized" identities and rituals. I agree that it might be a losing bet.