Pew Research surveyed Indians, here is the full report. Some interesting findings to me, some may help to rid some myths.
Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation
Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation
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Pew: Religion in India
- Thread starter Vinayaka
- Start date
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
32% of Christians believe in the purifying powers of the Ganges. Interesting!
That is a VERY thorough survey.
To me it illustrates the nature of believers. I came away with the sense that Indian Muslims are similar in many ways to Indian Hindus. And that contrasts with American Muslims who are similar to American Christians in many ways outside of religious affiliation and practice.
To me it illustrates the nature of believers. I came away with the sense that Indian Muslims are similar in many ways to Indian Hindus. And that contrasts with American Muslims who are similar to American Christians in many ways outside of religious affiliation and practice.
One thing that surprised me was the association the researchers made between Hindu and Hindi. I never thought it would be as high as it was, but there may well have been some loaded questions too, based on the surveyors lack of knowledge. Maybe most of the respondents were from the north. Who knows. I'm more familiar with South India where Hindi isn't the first language.
It was reassuring to know the vast majority of people of all faiths feel safe, and respected. This is contrary to how many Christian groups portray Hindus as being hateful.
It was reassuring to know the vast majority of people of all faiths feel safe, and respected. This is contrary to how many Christian groups portray Hindus as being hateful.
There is a lake northwest of my city name Lac. St. Anne that has a summer pilgrimage to it for its healing waters. Mostly indigenous converted Catholics. But Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in India as well.
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
I've read that the River Thames is considered sacred to Hindus in England. Presumably only till it becomes besmirched when it reaches the Houses of Parliament.
I consider all rivers as sacred, but yes our Ottawa River has a similar problem.I've read that the River Thames is considered sacred to Hindus in England. Presumably only till it becomes besmirched when it reaches the Houses of Parliament.
PearlSeeker
Well-Known Member
Some interesting findings:
Most Hindus are monotheists. Only 7 % are polytheists and only 2 % atheists.
Also two thirds of Buddhists believe there is one God!
Christians are most tolerant regarding acceptance of members of other religions as their neighbors. They are also most tolerant regarding intermarriage.
This statement is a bit misleading.
Only 29% are hard monotheists.
61% believe in one God with many manifestations. These could still qualify as polytheists, given they believe in/worship more than one deity, which would mean 68% are polytheists when you add the 7% that believe in many gods.
It's not strict monotheism though, but n
I believe the reason Christians are the most 'tolerant' with regard to marriage is because it's used as a method for conversion. I know of two cases personally of Christian/Hindu marriages where the young couples decided to have two marriages, one of each religion, to please both sets of parents. In both cases, the Christian parents refused to attend the Hindu marriage. That's not exactly tolerance. Of course a sample of 2 isn't significant, but still.
Overall, though, the survey indicates a great deal of tolerance through the spectrum of religion in India.
There is also henotheism, which some view as monotheistic, which might vary by the way questions were worded. The whole other factor here is language. When they went to Gujarat, for example, were the questions in translated Gujarati, or in English? Either way there could be confusion. In Gujarat, how was the translation, and for English, many Indians, in my experience, are not very forthcoming about their lack of English abilities. I run across that a ton, in real life. Never assume someone understands because they say they understand.
PearlSeeker
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's not monotheism in strict sense but it also isn't polytheism. It's still one God that manifests in different dieties.
PearlSeeker
Well-Known Member
I was surprised to see that only 40 % of Hindus believe in reincarnation.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
With me, both yes and no, and where the latter comes in is do to the tremendous diversity within the general faith that we call "Hinduism". If one thinks Christianity is quite diverse, it's far more homogenous that Hinduism is.
I'd be curious as to the wording that PEW provided. The single word 'reincarnation' has several meanings among Hindus. Daunting task, surveying Hindus.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Good point, but I can't answer that question.
BTW, did you hear about the guy who wanted to be reincarnated as a stud but came back in a snow tire?
No I never heard that. Maybe next lifetime I'll hear it.
IndigoChild5559
Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
"More than 70 years after India became free from colonial rule, Indians generally feel their country has lived up to one of its post-independence ideals: a society where followers of many religions can live and practice freely."
I find this surprising, since I often hear about strife between religions. Violence. Suppression of Hindus of Muslims. Bigotry. The problems between Muslims and Hindus doesn't seem to have subsided according to what I've read in the News. Recently, in fact, Hindus have passed new laws banning conversion to Islam, claiming that Muslims force Hindu women to convert when they marry.