PKs error: Attacking the sacred is not a valid way to critique religion What it does achieve is attack the very foundations of religious practices from outside, without so much as getting into a rudimentary analysis, empathy, respect or understanding. In this manner, it should not be surprising that it evokes strong indignation in many quarters. As a practicing Hindu I have educated myself enough to know some of the core values and the associated practices. In the first place, it is not a religion in the Abrahamic meaning of the term, in that it has no single and final messenger of God and no single book. It considers all paths valid, including meditation, devotion, worship, service, knowledge, logic, rationalism, materialism, spiritualism, atheism, agnosticism, polytheism, monotheism, paganism, dualism, non-dualism, and so on. It does not conquer, proselytise or destroy native cultures. It has its own approach to metaphysics, wisdom and aesthetic, and valuable at that, considering the rich heritage that it has gifted the world. It considers the entire creation as a sacred expression of the supreme truth, and is, therefore, very much in tune with modern concepts of environmental conservation. Many of its esoteric and exoteric practices can be explained within the realms of reason, or at least historicity. It can be as simple and superficial, or as complex and deep, as a practitioner chooses to view it, based on his inclination. It can evolve, it can reject, or it can add to itself organically. As a person born and brought up in India, I am also aware that many Hindus are mired in superstition, shallowness, bigotry and hypocrisy; that practitioners often seek miracles and use it for commercial, social and political benefit more than for the establishment of a personal spiritual connect. Much of the same can be said about any religion, even in the modern times. However, this observation is not made in defence; rather this is a proud admission that Hinduism can evolve and so can its practitioners. Attacking and ridiculing the sacred is NOT one of the valid ways to do so. firstpost/bollywood/pks-error-attacking-sacred-valid-way-critique-religion-2028367.html
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 16:20:25 +0000
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