Reformulation of Hinduism

by Rishi Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:44 pm

While not subject to violence, Hindus in Indonesia have had to modify the presentation of their faith in order to comply with the Indonesian Ministry of Religion’s definition of religion as a monotheistic creed, based on a holy book. Hinduism, with its polytheistic character, was rejected at first when it applied for official recognition in 1950. It was subsequently recognised in 1959, after Balinese intellectuals reformulated their faith by presenting “Sangh Yang Widhi Wasa” or the “cosmic law” as the equivalent of “God,” and texts like the Bhagavad Gita as divine revelations conceived by holy seers, similar to the Koran. Hinduism’s myriad gods were explained as corresponding to the angels in Islam.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/lessons-from-indonesias-hindu-legacy/article5231758.ece

by Rishi Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:47 pm

This article is self-contradictory and hence making some very tall but obviously wrong conclusions- Here are some-
Article states that Hindus had legal trouble even getting official recognition as a religion- Hindus could only gain legitimcacy in Indonesia after Hindus redefined their religion as monotheistic religion- In another words, since Islam is Indonesia's majority religion, minority Hindus had to change the fundamental definition of their relgion to suit the Islamic world view. Islam is monotheistic and hence Indonesian Hindus were forced to redefine their religion in that mould even defining their deities as angels. Now imagine a scenario, if India were to de-legitimisie islam unless Indian Muslims redefined their religion to suite the Dharmic world view- and define Allah as just another Deva. How outrageous that would be? So Pallavi Aiyar;s claim that Indonesian Hindus are better of than their Indian Muslim counter parts are obviously wrong.

from: Prasanth Nambiar
Posted on: Oct 16, 2013 at 06:46 IST

Reformulation of Hinduism

Reformulation of Hinduism

Re: Reformulation of Hinduism