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Is There Militancy in Hinduism?
Militancy has not existed in Hinduism to the extent that it has in belief-oriented religions.
This is owing to the tolerant spirit of Hinduism and its emphasis on
non-violence. Hindus have never invaded any country and tried to
convert its people through force, propaganda, or economic pressure,
the way Christian and Islamic countries have done through history.
There is no Hindu history of holy wars, crusades, or foreign
conquests, no Hindu church militant.
There are Hindu activists,
but we seldom see the type of militancy in Hinduism that has existed
in the name of belief-oriented religions. According to the Hindu
view it is against Dharma or true religion to invade another country
and try to convert it, to impose religious taxes on those of other
beliefs, to promote missions that aim at conversion by
misrepresenting other religions, or to denigrate the cultures of
other people.
Naturally there are
exceptions to this even among Hindus in this militant age, but they
are minor in their proportions. Most of what has been called Hindu
fundamentalism is generally only a reaction against Islamic or
Christian fundamentalism and militancy which has long made India its
target.
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