Dear Murugan,
When you get so many different answers to a seemingly simple question, you can see how complicated every aspect of this great heritage is. Some let this complexity intimidate them, yet some are fascinated by them and can't have enough of it. On this path, life long learning awaits...
Dear Bhansinusc, this year's WAVES conference will be entirely dedicated to this topic of Varna, Kula, Jati. Please visit wavesinternational(dot)net for further information (click on Academic and Conferences in the top menu, then download the announcement).
Surya, what you have said here is thoroughly analyzed and explained in Rajiv Malhotra's latest book "Breaking India", which he has co-authored with a Tamil scholar Aravindan Neelakantan.
You can find links to buy it on the book's website breakingindia(dot)com. This book is a wake up call for...
On related topic, here is what I had said on Huffington Post [just google my name, or go to my profile and on to my blog, dogmatoxin(dot)wordpress(dot)com]:
Baba Ramdev (I think. Can't remember now.) said, "West is like a child in kindergarten. We don't get angry or upset when a child does not...
Dear DisgruntledMonotheist,
You have raised some interesting and relevant questions. For anyone trying to properly understand Hinduism, unfortunately, is a daunting endeavor. The main hurdle for someone who grew up with "mono" ideas, is the depth and diversity in Hinduism, of ideas...