Hinduism: Inquiry and Integration

Posted by Harsh Nevatia Nov 16, 2006

In the articles From Polytheism to Monotheism and Polytheism, Monotheism and Monism we saw how the Vedic seers were engaged in a process of inquiry through which they were able to evolve their conception about the nature of God. Hinduism is perhaps the only religion that not only allows but encourages its followers to question the premises on which the faith is established. Every generation of religious philosophers finds new answers to problems of antiquity and is thereby able to impart a contemporary focus to the religion. In contrast most other religions not only preach but try to enforce adherence to dogma. This was clearly seen in the furor over The Da Vinci Code’s alternative presentation of Mary Magdalene. Perhaps the saddest outcome of the insistence on dogma has been the schism between the Church and Science.

Another aspect of Hinduism that is unique is its ability to integrate different points of view. The split in the Christian faith into Catholics and Protestants has been irrevocable and took place with much rancor and considerable bloodshed. In Islam the split between the Shias and Sunnis is still the cause for violence in countries like Iraq and Pakistan. On the other hand Hinduism is a co-existence of diverse beliefs. Not all people living in India in the Vedic period subscribed to the Vedic views. As we shall shortly see in our journey into Hinduism there were significant deviations from the purely Vedic philosophy based on the integration of the non-Vedic practices into the Hindu faith. We shall see another integration a little later in the conflict between the followers of Shiva and Vishnu.

Hinduism truly advocates that the different religious beliefs are different paths to the same God. This not only applies to the different views within Hinduism but also to completely separate faiths like Christianity or Islam. Most Hindus are comfortable praying in churches or mosques and are not discouraged from doing so. It is because of this integrative character of Hinduism, that it has not felt the need to proselytize.