| Such
Westernized Hindus are suspicious of the new Hinduism. They label it out hand as
fundamentalist, backward, or fascist, even though Hinduism is the most liberal, universal,
synergetic and diverse of all the world's main religions with its many Gods, sages,
scriptures and yogic practices. Westernized Hindus appear to take pride in denigrating
Hinduism. On the other hand, they do not criticize
religions like Islam or Christianity which are generally exclusive, monolithic, militant
and not accepting of other beliefs the way Hinduism is. They like to paint Hinduism as
fundamentalist and dangerous while promoting a tolerant adresspectful view of Christianity
and Islam, including their fundamentalist sides.
They have little tolerance for vocal Hindu religions groups
like the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) but they have a great tolerance, for example, for the
government of Iran, which Western countries like the United states, have labeled a
terrorist country, but which the government of India has been friendly toward, even at one
point considering selling nuclear reactors to the country and proclaiming a period of
national mourning when Ayatollah Khomeni died. |
