Ray Fagan wrote: > > Namaste, > > I've been following a discussion about the definition of the term 'Pagan' > on another newsgroup. There is considerable disagreement among the > people who responded as to the status of Hindus. As far as I know I am > the only Hindu who has responded to the discussion so I am posting an > article here to obtain the opinions of other Hindus. > > The most common definition of the term 'Pagan' is any religion other than > Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. This usually excludes Satanists as > well, since Satan is a Judeo-Christian concept. Paganism generally > refers to nature-based religions that acknowledge both Gods and > Goddesses, practice rites of passage, and ancestor reverence/worship. > Nature-based religions celebrate the moon cycles, equinoxes and > solstices, cycle of the years and have reverence and respect for the > Earth, plants, and animals. According to these defintions, in my > opinion, Hinduism is a Pagan religion. > > I am interested in other opinions about Hinduism as a Pagan religion, how > you define the term 'Pagan', and if you believe any Pagan tradition still > exist in India. > > The arguements I have received for Hinduism not being a Pagan religion > are: > 1. Hinduism has more in common with Christianity than pre-Christian > European traditions (such as that of the Celtic people) or Native > American religion. Therefore Hinduism is not Pagan. > > 2. Hinduism is an Eastern Religion, and therefore not Pagan. I disagree > with this because it categorizes religion by geography not actual belief > and practice. It also allows people who live anywhere other than the > 'East' (Africa, Europe, North & South America, etc.) to be Pagan by > virtue of the fact that they are not Judeo-Christian and not living in > the 'East'. > > 3. Hinduism is one of the 5 Great Religions of the World so it is not > Pagan. This argument is simply based on the number of followers a > religion has. It bothers me because Hinduism is one of the few > indigenous religions that was not totally destroyed by invading and > conquering Christians and Muslims. I think there would be several other > 'Great Pagan' religions if people had not been forcibly converted in > large numbers. > > Thanks in advance for any replys. Please also e-mail responses. > > Om Shantih, > > RadhaAccording to Webster'sDictionary,a pagan is an idolator,heathenish or
irreligious. Paganism is the religion of a pagan. It is a denigrating
term applied by both Islam and Christianity to describe other
religions.Although we offer puja to icons, it is not idolatry, because,
the icons are only representations of the paramaatma and the pujas are
offered to the paramatma and not the icons. The icons are only a means
for concentrating on the IMMENSE. We have well dveloped schools of
philosophy, a set of rituals and a vast scriptural literature perhaps
bigger than any other religion in the world. It is only the ignorant and
the intolerant characterize Hinduism as paganism-Narahari Achar > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > Mail posts to: ghen@netcom.com : http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/
