The 'religious' Right displays ignorance when it comes to Hinduism

[ck4829]

Tomorrow, a Hindu chaplain scheduled to deliver the opening prayer in the United States Senate and the Right is not happy about it:

"In Hindu, you have not one God, but many, many, many, many, many gods," (David Barton of WallBuilders) explains. "And certainly that was never in the minds of those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration (of Independence) when they talked about Creator -- that's not one that fits here because we don't know which creator we're talking about within the Hindu religion."

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/07/religious_plura.html

Hindus aren't a monolith group of people who ALL worship thousands of gods. While Hinduism is polytheistic itself, a lot of individual Hindus are monotheistic. To say Hindus in general worship "many, many, many, many, many gods" is flat out wrong and it is misleading.

Last time I checked, the United States did not have a "Fundamentalist Christians Only" sign hanging over it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Actually, it's their views on the founding fathers that are way off.

The founding fathers specifically said they're fine with polytheists.

[varkam]

2. Further, they were all a bunch of damn dirty deists.

And not very big friends of Christianity.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. They Did?

I can imagine that a few, say Franklin and Jefferson, would say so in writing - but I don't think most of them would, even though I'd bet that privately they'd be fine with it. Do you have a link or something?

[MurrayDelph]

4. So why should we be surprised?

They also have a disgusting ignorance when it come to the teachings of Jesus, too!

[Feral Libertarian]

5. Ingorance is their trump card.....

....and the play it often

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Feral Libertarian!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dysfunctional press]

6. the religious right displays ignorance when it comes to EVERYTHING

nt

[Warren DeMontague]

7. And of course, it's totally absurd to worship a whole bunch of gods... but perfectly logical to

worship only one.

WHAT FUCKING DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

These Chuckle-fucks wanted "religion in government". Well, here it is.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Actually, Hinduism is pantheist, not polytheist

There is one God, Brahman; the devas and even the asuras are all aspects or reflections of Brahman created to fulfil a particular function.

[spoony]

9. Excellent point, thanks for that.

[JerseygirlCT]

17. Yes, that's what I'd learned, too.

But I'm afraid that's far too subtle a concept for some of these guys to hold in their heads.

[varun]

10. "This is not a religion that has produced great things in the world"

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/07/historian_barton_says_hindu_pr.php

"...A prominent Christian historian and constitutional expert is expressing concern that the U.S. Senate will be opened up for the first time with a non-monotheistic prayer..."

"...This (Hinduism) is not a religion that has produced great things in the world"


Well the computer that this idiot uses is based on the binary digits that the Hindus discovered long before Western world did.

He needs to read some more before opening his bigoted mouth.

[JerseygirlCT]

22. Exactly. The lack of historical knowledge is really

embarrassing.

Go get educated and then maybe open your mouth.

Idiot.

[JI7]

11. this is great, i can't wait to see it, i hope it makes the right very uncomfortable

i was raised in a hindu family although i am atheist. i don't think they should be doing any prayers at all. but if they are of course they shouldn't limit it just to religious they approve of.

can't wait until hindus, wiccans , and others sign up for the faith based funds.

[youthere]

13. When it comes to HINDUISM?

I'd say the religious right displays ignorance pretty much non-stop. :rofl:

[The Cleaner]

14. Technically Hinduism is not monotheistic and it is pantheistic

that is, by definition the three monotheistic religions are Islam, Christianity, and Judiasm. Hinduism is pantheistic meaning "all is God." there may be differences in such teachings as personal v. impersonal God but nobody can say Hinduism is monotheistic because that is simply not true.

But yes, indeed the freepes out there and the religious conservatives believe this country was founded by Jesus Christ himself but discount deism which some here have said. Hell, Tom jefferson was a huge deist! But...close your ears, shut your eyes - this is a CHRISTIAN country folks...:eyes:

edit to add: hey, now I see TechBear Seattle already beat me to it on the Hindu/pantheism thing! :)

[Tesha]

15. It's okay; most Republicans pray to the destroyer anyway.

> "that's not one that fits here because we don't know which
> creator we're talking about within the Hindu religion."

It's okay; most Republicans pray to the destroyer (nominally,
Shiva) rather than the creator (nominally, Brahma) anyway.

And the one god they most morship is money, seconded only
by power.

Tesha

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Not that it matters, either, but I was under the impression that

the "many" are also facets of the "one".

In either case, he's obviously pretty ignorant. And it's not too smart to talk before you've bothered to get basic education in the subject.

It's funny how these guys don't understand that the same religious freedom that protects their rights protects the rights of all other groups.

[slj0101]

18. I'm by no means an expert on theology, or Hinduism,

but don't almost all spiritual beliefs, polytheistic or otherwise, believe in a singular creative force of some sort? I could be wrong; it's been several years since I've studied myth and religion of any kind.

to sum it up, this guy is a numnuts- most of the founding fathers were deists anyway.

[Iris]

19. They only know about their own religion. Oh, and "doing" the Constitution!

wtf? Has anti-intellectualism gone so far that we no longer have writers of the Constitution?

[JerseygirlCT]

24. They don't even know much about that

They listen to whatever crackpot, ill-educated preacher they've found tells them is true. That's usually the extent of their theological inquiry.

If they actually thought about it or studied it, chances are they'd have a broader world-view.

[Nunyabiz]

20. The Religious Reich displays ignorance about EVERYTHING

These lunatics don't even know their own religion, it's amazing such delusional people are capable of dressing & feeding themselves.
They need serious psychiatric care.

[Beelzebud]

21. LOL too true. Name something they DON'T display ignorance on.

[underpants]

23. There are more Hindus in Congress than real christians on the religious right

Hindus -2
real christians on the religous right-0

from what I have seen :evilgrin: