Hinduism in the News
Hinduism is just as current as any other modern religion, and oftentimes just as controversial. Here are some of the happenings that show the difficulties and successes of adapting an ancient religion to the modern world. Click on the headings for links to each story.
The Hindu is an Indian newspaper based in Chennai with a readership of approximately 4 million. It features updates every day of the week. Although not strictly religious in nature, it covers a full range of current events with an Indian perspective. To the right is an RSS feed with The Hindu's latest stories.
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Challenging the Caste System
Though some consider the caste system an essential element of dharma, recent pressures caused by the ideals of equality have created a shift in values for some Hindus. In this link, Madhuvisa Dasa, a member of the ISKCON, takes on the caste system’s link with dharma, arguing that dharma isn’t determined by birth, but by one’s natural abilities, talents, and affinities.
The Swastika
Originally a symbol of Hindu religious devotion used to ward off evil, the Swastika was unfortunately adopted by Adolf Hitler during the holocaust, and has since then come to be associated with genocide, racism, and anti-Semitism. Recently, some Hindus have begun to try to reclaim the swastika, noting that for them, it is as innocuous as a cross to a Christian. The difficulties lie in overcoming the global scars the swastika evokes still today by its relation to World War II. However, the astute Hindu might note, the cross was the symbol of the crusades and the Spanish Inquisition, yet we have overcome the negative connotations it may have been tainted with. Why can we not do the same with the swastika?
How Many Ramayanas?
Recent controversy occurred at Delhi University when students were required to read an essay explaining the many different versions of the Ramayana Epic that exist. Some Hindus considered several versions mentioned in the essay sacrilegious, while journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju believes that Hindus wish to believe in a fairy-tale version of the epic that some scholars believe doesn’t coincide with historical evidence. Similar to the Gnostic gospels’ relationship to the Bible, the various Ramayanas raise questions of why one version is privileged, causing difficulties for devout Hindus.
These are just some relatively recent controversial events, but Hinduism will continue to spark thought and dilemmas as long as it remains a living religion. To keep up on the latest Hinduism-related news, the following websites will prove useful.
Sources are the news stories and websites linked.