User14
Member
Hello RF community. I'm new and I really like it here. These boards are like an interactive encyclopedia on religion. There's a lot to learn.
My religious outlook is that of a Westerner drawn to Hinduism (I think I'll always be reluctant to call myself a Hindu because I see it as a term that has an ethnic component to it, and I'm not Indian). I'm primarily drawn to the more personalist, devotion-oriented strands of the Shakta branch of Hinduism. But I also have an intellectual interest in Shaiva theology as well. I don't view Shaiva theology and Shakta practice as being contradictory.
I feel like an oddity among Westerners who are drawn to Eastern religion and Goddess worship...because I'm not a liberal, feminist, esotericist, or New Ager. I've never even done yoga (or what is called yoga in the West). What drew me to Indian religion was the tradition of personalist bhakti, while I feel like a lot of Westerners are more drawn to the impersonalist, tantric/yogic side of Hinduism. I would be thrilled to meet people who are of a mindset similar to mine! But I want to learn from people who think differently as well.
My religious outlook is that of a Westerner drawn to Hinduism (I think I'll always be reluctant to call myself a Hindu because I see it as a term that has an ethnic component to it, and I'm not Indian). I'm primarily drawn to the more personalist, devotion-oriented strands of the Shakta branch of Hinduism. But I also have an intellectual interest in Shaiva theology as well. I don't view Shaiva theology and Shakta practice as being contradictory.
I feel like an oddity among Westerners who are drawn to Eastern religion and Goddess worship...because I'm not a liberal, feminist, esotericist, or New Ager. I've never even done yoga (or what is called yoga in the West). What drew me to Indian religion was the tradition of personalist bhakti, while I feel like a lot of Westerners are more drawn to the impersonalist, tantric/yogic side of Hinduism. I would be thrilled to meet people who are of a mindset similar to mine! But I want to learn from people who think differently as well.
