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Your Complaints About Hinduism

☆Dreamwind☆

Active Member
I don't know much about Hinduism, and I haven't met very many. I'm sure they do and have caused and suffer from problems, because there isn't any religion or non religion on this Earth that hasn't. I just don't know enough about it to say. I'm also unsure if the caste system is a religious or societal system, but that's a problem regardless.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
I don't know a significant amount about Hinduism, but my main issue with it, along with Buddhism, is the concept of karma, which I find to be an elaborate form of victim-blaming.

I suppose every belief system requires an explanation of why bad things happen to people. For example, why is a child born a cripple or with a terrible disease.

In Christianity as per Job, bad things happen as a test of faith. IDK how Islam deals with this. Perhaps similarly to Christianity, as a test of faith?

Cause and effect, folks generally want a satisfactory explanation for why bad things happen.

Karma is a useful idea of self-responsibility imo so you don't blame anyone else for your lot in life. However like with most religious explanations, if you dig too deeply, the logic starts to fail.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't know much about Hinduism, and I haven't met very many. I'm sure they do and have caused and suffer from problems, because there isn't any religion or non religion on this Earth that hasn't. I just don't know enough about it to say. I'm also unsure if the caste system is a religious or societal system, but that's a problem regardless.
My impression is that the caste system is a cultural problem that some have used religion to justify.

In its origin, it wasn't meant to be a 'for life' thing, and people could move between castes(if my understanding is right). The idea that one was born into it and stuck forever seemed to be an idea that came later.
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
I suppose every belief system requires an explanation of why bad things happen to people. For example, why is a child born a cripple or with a terrible disease.

In Christianity as per Job, bad things happen as a test of faith. IDK how Islam deals with this. Perhaps similarly to Christianity, as a test of faith?

That's the usual reason in Islam, yes, or as a way of cleansing sins or accruing hasanat (credit for good deeds, essentially, which would then help an individual on Judgment Day).
 

Soandso

ᛋᛏᚨᚾᛞ ᛋᚢᚱᛖ
I would like to add another complaint. Given the replies, it's obvious this forum is ignorant on Hinduism in general. It's the third largest religion in the world. You guys aren't doing much to get your message out

You should make another thread on cool stuff about Hinduism so other Dharmic members can help educate us a little more on this beautiful and diverse religion(s)
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I would like to add another complaint. Given the replies, it's obvious this forum is ignorant on Hinduism in general. It's the third largest religion in the world. You guys aren't doing much to get your message out

You should make another thread on cool stuff about Hinduism so other Dharmic members can help educate us a little more on this beautiful and diverse religion(s)

This is valid, though.

As a person coming into Hinduism, I can say finding material that was understandable for non-Hindus was a challenge.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
As I tend to accept challenges put forth on this forum, I'm accepting the challenge offered here: Your Complaints About Christianity?. Let's find out if the alleged double standard holds water...

Do you have any complaints about Hinduism?

What are some of the things about Hinduism that you personally do not approve of; or accept in the contents of the sacred texts?
Why do Hindus have to wear such appalling attire?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
As I tend to accept challenges put forth on this forum, I'm accepting the challenge offered here: Your Complaints About Christianity?. Let's find out if the alleged double standard holds water...

Do you have any complaints about Hinduism?

What are some of the things about Hinduism that you personally do not approve of; or accept in the contents of the sacred texts?
I have no complaints about Hinduism.
This is only because it doesn't affect me personally.
I could criticize aspects of it, but my opinions would
be of no value to anyone.
BTW, I have figures of Lakshmi & Ganesh on my desk.
They were gifts that I like.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Do you have any complaints about Hinduism?

Not so much about doctrine, but about practice and behaviour... all based on my own impressions:

  • In Hindu majority countries, religious disputes generally end up with Hindu mobs getting violent at the drop of a hat.
  • Here (Canada), Hinduism can be oppressive in terms of things like sexual orientation. I hear lots of stories of Hindu parents sending their kids to Catholic schools to avoid public school sex ed curriculum that presents homosexuality as normal.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
I think that if not for that concept, as well as reincarnation, it would be very possible for me to become a Buddhist

Well good news because reincarnation is not a Buddhist teaching!

"Hope you are sitting down for this, because reincarnation (or 'transmigration') does not exist at all in Buddhism."

 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
The idea that such a causality exists at all—that, say, a cancer patient's suffering is merely a manifestation of "past karma"—is what I find to be victim-blaming. Viewing the concept as simple causality seems to me to require accepting that such a causal force exists in the first place.

In Buddhism:
Karma is volitional action, the result is called pharma. All karma is pharma and all pharma is karma, moment by moment.

Ideas of victim-blaming don't come from Buddhism.
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
In Buddhism:
Karma is volitional action, the result is called pharma. All karma is pharma and all pharma is karma, moment by moment.

Ideas of victim-blaming don't come from Buddhism.

I have questions (to learn more) about this, but I'll have to keep them for another thread, since this one is about Hinduism.
 
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