Americans Turning to Hindu Beliefs: Newsweek
"We Are All Hindus Now"—says the headline of a lead article by Lisa Miller, Newsweek's religion editor, in the magazine's issue dated August 31, 2009.
Are US views on God and life turning Hindu?
According to recent poll data, Americans are conceptually "slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity," says Miller.
The article also quotes the Rig Veda, the ancient Hindu scripture, which says: "Truth is One, but the sages speak of it by many names," a doctrine that many Americans have started to believe in the ways they think about religion and spirituality. It points out that 30 percent of Americans call themselves "spiritual, not religious," according to a 2009 Newsweek Poll.
Newsweek then cites Stephen Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University "who has long framed the American propensity for "the divine-deli-cafeteria religion" as "very much in the spirit of Hinduism...""
Miller further states: "So here is another way in which Americans are becoming more Hindu: 24 percent of Americans say they believe in reincarnation, according to a 2008 Harris poll. So agnostic are we about the ultimate fates of our bodies that we're burning them—like Hindus—after death. More than a third of Americans now choose cremation, according to the Cremation Association of North America. "
The article ends with: So let us all say "om." Any comments?
Comments
I knew that it would happen some day because any society can`t forget its main roots as hinduism is the oldest religion and we know that every single country in world was hindu country many years ago.It is not only america the whole world will follow hinduism very soon in future.
I am happy to hear this. It’s about time we get back to “One.” That’s what we are “One.”
Amen.
I have been saying mantras and learning about Hinuism for approximately three years now and I can truthfully say my prayers have always been answered.
Mankind is becoming wiser. That is true evolution!
Scriptures guiding life of Hindus have not fallen from heaven,It is a philosophy as to how one should lead his life.We have made corrections with change in times.”OM” has a thousand meanings. Chant it with concentration & You feel the difference.You will never feel the need of any sermon if u meditate honestly.
Well, as Srila Prabhupada says, the whole world was originally Ilavriti Varsha, i.e. a huge Vedic Community. This “Sanatana Dharma” of yore, though, does not necessarily entail “Hinduism” as it is understood today. (with all its political connotations). However, all thinking Mankind will turn sooner or later turn HINDU, i.e. the people who are crossing the RIVER (Sindh) if life.
Carlos
Wow. This article is refreshing in many ways. The economy has a lot to do with peoples choices. People lean more to God in times of woe than any other times. Hinduism and Spirituality I think are one in one.They go hand to hand. What do you think?
Thanks, Linda for sharing this great perspective. I agree, this is one of the many positives of challenging times, which many overlook.
Lisa Miller needs to rethink
http://www.gurumurthy.net/articledisplay.pl?2009-08-23