Hinduism has one of the longest histories and most inclusive attitudes towards other religions. Yet recent events have seen them finally hit back publicly.
Despite being influenced by Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and western religious views, the UK’s Hindu Council has recently highlighted the divisive nature of other faiths. Hinduism has much of its roots in other cultures and traditions, which have both taken from and added to the world’s oldest major religion. Yet now Hindus appear to have had enough and recently launched a major attack on what it sees as intrusion and corruption, mainly by Christian missionaries.
The Influence of Other Religions
Hinduism took some of its early practices from the Vedic Aryans and also helped to fuel the offspring of both Buddhism and Jainism, as well as borrowing some of its beliefs in return.
It later clashed with Islam and Christianity because Hindus believed the two religions tried to assert their authority and influence on the Hindu people and their territory.
Now these feelings have surfaced again, with Christianity taking the burden of the Hindu wrath.
“Faith Leaders Must End Religious Intolerance and Division”
Finally appearing disgruntled with the growing anti-Hindu feelings, Anil Bhanot, the general secretary of the Hindu Council UK (HCUK), has written to the main leaders of all faiths in Britain to express his growing concern at divisive elements between religions. He has urged them to root out and stand up against intolerance and religious dogma.
He has also highlighted the practice of what he calls “predatory” missionary activity where followers of one faith seek to convert those of another. Furthermore, Bhanot has written separately to The Secretary of State for Community and Local Government, asking her to consider introducing legislation against “underhand conversion techniques.”
He singles out particular criticism for the activities of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a missionary organisation active in India which he says “aims to destroy Hinduism and convert the continent to Christianity,” suggesting that their “meddling” in India follows closely in the footsteps of former Colonial oppressors.
The full text of Mr Bhanot’s paper can be downloaded here.
Hindu Teachings
Bhanot’s reminder of the concept of ‘Dharma’, or ‘righteous duty to oneself, to others and to God’ rather than holding fast to strict, ‘religious’ principles that invariably claim to have exclusive rights on God are a stark reminder of the peaceful nature of Hinduism.
It is also a reminder of the general teachings of all religions and that the purpose of religion isn’t the conversion of others but the promotion of the love of God. If religions are unable to show that even to each other, the rest of the world’s population has no chance at all.
