And even further off from the topic of this thread (apologies), though tangentially related to the above post.
Comment by another new agey neo-'pagan' to an article by Wendy Doniger:
newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/wendy_doniger/2007/07/a_chaplain_for_every_soul.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Dear Prof. Doniger,
[...]
Finally I would like to add that <b>I frequently worship Ganesha. I have just returned from a Pagan gathering in which one of the presenters, an initiate of Ammachi of Kerala, held a Kali Puja for us.</b> It was lovely. <b>Sometimes I worry about your welfare in the face of Hindu fundamentalism.</b> May my prayers for your continued well-being resound throughout the nine realms.
Blessings from Caroline Kenner
Posted by: Caroline Kenner | July 9, 2007 10:52 AM <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->1. Shows that while the person claims to 'worship' Ganesha, they mention some imaginary threat that 'Hindoo fundamentalism' supposedly poses to Doniger's welfare along with lovey-dovey well-wishing for the real and only aggressor in the case, Doniger. The person's comment adds to the aspersions cast about the very community whose traditions they need (to appropriate) for their own mental comfort (they are using 'paganism' as a blanket). The two-facedness of appropriation is a recurring pattern.
And by far most of these neopagan people that dabble in 'Hinduism' (including vedic reconstructionists) tend to read Doniger et al, to get the 'inside scoop' on what Hindu Dharma - and consequently 'paganism' - entails. They'll accept Doniger's twisted take on what 'Hinduism' involves, and their taste in this determines how they view Hindu Dharma and Hindus. Guess it's no wonder they react the way they do.
2. And again, a compliment on one hand ("it was lovely") while they villify or negate Hindus and/or Hindu Dharma on the other hand. Comparable with beliefnet's VR comments pasted in the previous post stating that "Hindu traditions are wonderful and beautiful" 'BUT it's not Vedic'.
I don't know who the "Ammachi of Kerala" mentioned above is, but she was not very discerning in her choice of who gets initiated. Self-professed 'pagans' dabbling in everything doesn't seem very sincere.
Comment by another new agey neo-'pagan' to an article by Wendy Doniger:
newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/wendy_doniger/2007/07/a_chaplain_for_every_soul.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Dear Prof. Doniger,
[...]
Finally I would like to add that <b>I frequently worship Ganesha. I have just returned from a Pagan gathering in which one of the presenters, an initiate of Ammachi of Kerala, held a Kali Puja for us.</b> It was lovely. <b>Sometimes I worry about your welfare in the face of Hindu fundamentalism.</b> May my prayers for your continued well-being resound throughout the nine realms.
Blessings from Caroline Kenner
Posted by: Caroline Kenner | July 9, 2007 10:52 AM <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->1. Shows that while the person claims to 'worship' Ganesha, they mention some imaginary threat that 'Hindoo fundamentalism' supposedly poses to Doniger's welfare along with lovey-dovey well-wishing for the real and only aggressor in the case, Doniger. The person's comment adds to the aspersions cast about the very community whose traditions they need (to appropriate) for their own mental comfort (they are using 'paganism' as a blanket). The two-facedness of appropriation is a recurring pattern.
And by far most of these neopagan people that dabble in 'Hinduism' (including vedic reconstructionists) tend to read Doniger et al, to get the 'inside scoop' on what Hindu Dharma - and consequently 'paganism' - entails. They'll accept Doniger's twisted take on what 'Hinduism' involves, and their taste in this determines how they view Hindu Dharma and Hindus. Guess it's no wonder they react the way they do.
2. And again, a compliment on one hand ("it was lovely") while they villify or negate Hindus and/or Hindu Dharma on the other hand. Comparable with beliefnet's VR comments pasted in the previous post stating that "Hindu traditions are wonderful and beautiful" 'BUT it's not Vedic'.
I don't know who the "Ammachi of Kerala" mentioned above is, but she was not very discerning in her choice of who gets initiated. Self-professed 'pagans' dabbling in everything doesn't seem very sincere.