| How I Became A Hindu - My Discovery Of Vedic Dharma |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| RETURN OF THE PAGANS | |
| Hinduism
and Native Traditions
Hinduism reflects the religion of nature and the earth. It is present externally in the clouds and the stars, the hills and the rivers. We can see Hinduism in all native traditions and in all ancient religions, particularly where the Sun, the symbol of the Atman or higher Self, is worshipped. Hindu Dharma is the very religion of life and of the individual expressing himself or herself in many different forms. Encountering Hinduism is particularly difficult because it means facing our pagan roots. Were the pagans really that bad? Were they merely bloodthirsty savages as we generally portray them to be? Did only Christianity bring civilization and compassion to the world? Were the pagans, even if great, doomed to hell or at least to inadequacy because of not accepting Jesus, though most of them never heard of him? I cannot believe that our ancient ancestors were so inferior or that we are so much more advanced. I don’t think that merely embracing a religious belief really changes people or makes them better. Our pagan ancestors were human beings with a profound sense of the sacred. Could they not also feel the full range of emotions up to communion with God? Our words God and Divine, after all, are pagan in origin. Certainly the pagans knew of a higher power and had methods to connect with it. They had deep spiritual traditions abounding with holy places, myths, philosophy, magic and insight.
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