As most would know, I'm a sucker for good stories, stories that make you reflect on life and satiate your mind's desire for new information. I have an Indian friend who's atheist and she shared this with me on FB earlier today. I think it's worth reading.

A Hindu was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA.

An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

He was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.He told her that I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' He didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' He replied, 'He am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, He said.

She looked at him as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what He was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today.

But a Hindu, what?

He explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' He replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'

'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,'
He replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

He thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. He understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.

He tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'

What can He tell to this American girl?

He said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'.

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' He told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' He told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'
लोका समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु !!! ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः !!!

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'

He told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru to the next.

For a real seeker, He told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

He said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

He said "I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.

Hinduism is the original rather a natural yet a logical and satisfying spiritual, personal and a scientific way of leaving a life..

I'm an American girl. I know what Hinduism is.

texanomaly: I'm an American girl. I know what Hinduism is.

Lol. Okay.

aManFromMars:

Lol. Okay.

That story makes Americans sound like idiots. While I've met my share here, l take offens. (Not really, but it sounds good) How you dey sKeeter?

Not to bash your decent post, but Hinduism has its share of bizarre, irrational, and cruel aspects just like Christianity and Islam, like widow-burning and the caste system (which was just a way to perpetuate permanent control by the people who established the caste system)

texanomaly:
That story makes Americans sound like idiots. While I've met my share here, l take offens. (Not really, but it sounds good) How you dey sKeeter?

I dey fine o. At home, enjoying good music and making pancakes.

onetrack: Not to bash your decent post, but Hinduism has its share of bizarre, irrational, and cruel aspects just like Christianity and Islam, like widow-burning and the caste system (which was just a way to perpetuate permanent control by the people who established the caste system)

Not denying that or trying to defend it anyway. The bolded in my OP was what really caught my attention. It just seems that all 'pagan' religions had one thing in common, an impersonal God from which all life emanated..

@bolded in your post: Do you think it's possible that any human institution won't have its share of bizarre, irrational and cruel aspects. Do you think humans would ever achieve a state of utopia?

Lol. I'd like to see dem atheists debate.

@OP, seems like you agree with the points made there. Are you now a hinduist? ?
#just asking

idnoble135: @OP, seems like you agree with the points made there. Are you now a hinduist? ?
#just asking

#justIgnored

aManFromMars:
I dey fine o. At home, enjoying good music and making pancakes.

Yummy...save some for me...I'll be right there.

Just some payback for invading my thread.

texanomaly:
Yummy...save some for me...I'll be right there.

Just some payback for invading my thread.

Hinduism is older than Christianity and certainly as, or more, accomodating than the Christian religion at large.

Reyginus: Lol. I'd like to see dem atheists debate.

Pull up a chair...I got popcorn.

texanomaly:
Pull up a chair...I got popcorn.

Lol. I'm sorry it is unnecessary. They cannot debate within.

aManFromMars:
Not denying that or trying to defend it anyway. The bolded in my OP was what really caught my attention. It just seems that all 'pagan' religions had one thing in common, an impersonal God from which all life emanated..

@bolded in your post: Do you think it's possible that any human institution won't have its share of bizarre, irrational and cruel aspects. Do you think humans would ever achieve a state of utopia?

A utopia for everyone would be a dystopia for everyone at the same time. No excitement, nothing unpredictable, no challenges. I find it funny when big-city people say "oh, the quiet, peaceful life of the village sounds ideal". In fact in these villages where life is fairly uninteresting, the inhabitants love to create their own drama, family battles, village alliances and other such mischief. People seem to want to have some excitement and a utopia, it seems, could not be a utopia if it had such. Which would make many people miserable.

Reyginus: Lol. I'd like to see dem atheists debate.

Atheists do debate actually on other websites, I see it frequently; however, on this site, there is no point in me preaching to the already converted, there are too many souls still in the darkness of theism (if I may borrow the metaphor)

Reyginus: Lol. I'm sorry it is unnecessary. They cannot debate within.

Darn

onetrack:

Atheists do debate actually on other websites, I see it frequently; however, on this site, there is no point in me preaching to the already converted, there are too many souls still in the darkness of theism (if I may borrow the metaphor)

Lol. Do you preach in the atheists website you visit?

texanomaly:
Darn

What is darn?

Reyginus: Lol. Do you preach in the atheists website you visit?

No, I normally just observe. Occasionally theists stumble in to preach and they are given no quarter.

The kind of stories that thickle aliens

Reyginus: What is darn?

A way for 'religious types' to say damn
without offending others of their ilk.
More importantly, its a way of releasing
anger when something happens, but
unlike the originator - "Damn", it doesnt
roll off the tongue so easily and would
appear to repress the repressed
'religious types' even moreso than if
they had gone all out and said the
word "Damn"

Reyginus: What is darn?

Damn

Reyginus: What is darn?

It's a nice way of saying damn.

Tyche:

A way for 'religious types' to say damn
without offending others of their ilk.
More importantly, its a way of releasing
anger when something happens, but
unlike the originator - "Damn", it doesnt
roll off the tongue so easily and would
appear to repress the repressed
'religious types' even moreso than if
they had gone all out and said the
word "Damn"

Okay. Thank you.

texanomaly:
It's a nice of saying damn.

Okay.

onetrack:

A utopia for everyone would be a dystopia for everyone at the same time. No excitement, nothing unpredictable, no challenges. I find it funny when big-city people say "oh, the quiet, peaceful life of the village sounds ideal". In fact in these villages where life is fairly uninteresting, the inhabitants love to create their own drama, family battles, village alliances and other such mischief. People seem to want to have some excitement and a utopia, it seems, could not be a utopia if it had such. Which would make many people miserable.

So you agree that any human institution, no matter how noble it's purpose, could and will be abused?

aManFromMars:

So you agree that any human institution, no matter how noble it's purpose, could and will be abused?

This is not so straight forward, but lets say I agree, however not all institutions are equal. Some are much more easily abused, eg, islam and its rigidity. Compare that with humanistic schools (or even modern day xtianity) and the contrast is clear.

EDIT; Let me add, for now,

-that we're ignoring the issue of motivation, goals and subjectivity, which complicates issues.

-Yes, xtianity has likely been more of a cancer through history than islam, therefore it's arguably even more open to abuse, however it still allows for various interpretations a lot more than an islam (as yahweh couldn't shut up and went about contradicting himself left right centre), in other words it's more democratic.

In this way this situation is not too dissimilar to comparing say strict one-party communism to a secular democracy. Can we objectively say, values aside, that a secular democracy is more productive and fairer system of government? I would say yes

....but more complicated than that... may not have time atm

My man weigraf. Seen. Will reply ASAP.

Nb: Yooguyz has finally come out. Again. happy for the bro

Wow hinduism sounds interesting, and if those explanations are anything to go by, then I think I'm hindu. And I'm sure hinduism appeals to most atheists on here, hinduism is a way of life.

Namaste!!!

bolaino: Wow hinduism sounds interesting, and if those explanations are anything to go by, then I think I'm hindu. And I'm sure hinduism appeals to most atheists on here, hinduism is a way of life.

Namaste!!!

Cut that crap.....I se the same myth applied to Buddhism. Both Buddhism and Hinduism are more sensible/humanistic than Abrahamic religions but that doesnt remove the nonsense that are innate to them......

Atheists can sympathise/practice with Buddhism and Hinduism due to their more tolerant/secular interpretation of God but that doesnt make it something that most atheists like or should like