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Post by capoeirista on Aug 25, 2012 17:25:09 GMT -5
I'm a Hindu, purely because of the fantastic concepts that Hindus have come up with. Hinduism is a very misunderstood religion. In fact, I wouldn't really call it a religion; it's more of a philosophy; one that focuses entirely on improving oneself as a person. The only lesson in Hinduism is "before you can master the world, you must learn to master yourself". However, first things first, we do not worship cows, we merely respect them for the role they have played in the history of the civilization. In Vedic Hinduism, Gods are not omnipotent beings. Rather, they are a class of beings that exist in order to assist an individual's journey to attain spiritual awakening, or moksha. A hindu's sacred duty is to fulfill his/her individual Dharma. Dharma is an amazingly complex system which is extremely hard to narrow down into a single definition, but if I was to explain it in basest terms I would do so by comparing it with the concept of equality. Now, many other religions teach that in the eyes of God, everyone is equal. This is not so in Hinduism, as a Hindu would say that every man has his own role to play in the world and so can not be equal to another man who plays a different role. In it's most unrefined of definitions, Dharma is the law of equity, opposing the law of equality.
Hinduism is really a collection of practices that aim to improve a Hindu's conduct mentally and spiritually. It is a system that teaches the principles of control, and how when one learns to control his thoughts and bodily needs, he is invincible. Plus, the teachings of Hinduism are almost exactly the same as the teachings of Gnostic Christianity, Jewish Kabbalism and Sufi Islam, which I find amazing. xD
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Chef Samurai
Global Moderator
Canadian Catch Wrestling
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Post by Chef Samurai on Aug 25, 2012 19:08:03 GMT -5
@caoperista- interesting stuff man I'm reading the Ramayana now I'm at where Rama gets married and when I'm done I'm going to read the Mahabarata after but it's epically huge my file is like 10,000 pages long lol
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Post by jwbulldogs on Aug 25, 2012 22:46:25 GMT -5
I guess it is true. We do learn something new everyday. I didn't know these things about Hindu. I also learned that schools have misled us again. We were taught that the white cow was worshiped. This cow as sacred and worshiped. But it is not worshiped it is just respect because of the role it played in history.
What was that role if I may ask?
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Post by The Last Airbender on Aug 25, 2012 22:52:44 GMT -5
yeah, i also didn't know the g-ds were not omnipotent and acted merely as guides. I though it was some Greek Pantheon stuff. lol
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Post by capoeirista on Aug 26, 2012 7:51:10 GMT -5
@chef I've read both texts, and they're probably the greatest books I'll ever read. Are you reading them purely based on interest? If so, that's really impressive. The Mahabharata is huge, but mostly because it's a ancient military manual, a guide on spirituality and one of the most complex stories out there, all at the same time. jwbulldogs Every single kingdom in India used cows for the purpose of agricultural labor. A farmer relied on his herd to help plow vast quantities of land and fertilize it. A cow would provide milk, which is a sacred substance in Hinduism and a staple ingredient in many Indian delicacies. By Krishna's reasoning, as the cows very existence was so useful to mankind, mankind should have utmost respect for cows.
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Post by jwbulldogs on Aug 26, 2012 15:13:12 GMT -5
Let me explain it from what was taught in our schools. People were starving in a Hindu's culture. A white cow is available, but they won't eat the white cow. To us as children this didn't make sense. We would think why don't they just eat the cow. It was explained that as part of their religion that the Hindu worshiped the white cow. If a white cow walked across the road and decide to stop in the middle of the road no one would do anything to encourage that cow to get out of the middle of the road. Then they would show us slides as proof that this was true. Certainly we have an understanding of agricultural labor. but I was taught the worshiping of cows was limited to the white cow. It wasn't going to be used for meat or labor?
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Post by capoeirista on Aug 26, 2012 17:02:41 GMT -5
I'm not going to say that it's incorrect, because Hinduism is practised very differently in different areas. As a follower of the Brahmakshatriya traditions, I don't think I've ever heard of a distinction in the treatment of white cows. However, it could be the practise of another tradition. If I had to guess, I'd say that the practise of revering a white cow is probably based in a few Shaivite communities, as the vehicle of Lord Shiva is a white cow named Nandin. It's definitely not something practised by all Hindus. My uncle owned a herd of cows, and most of them are white. The white ones don't graze for free, they work hard for their food.
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Post by jwbulldogs on Aug 27, 2012 6:33:54 GMT -5
Okay. I don't remember which country we were studying. I just know the continent was Asia. That was many years ago. I was a freshman in high school. So, that was in 1982.
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Post by cheetah on Aug 31, 2012 10:06:04 GMT -5
I'm Lutheran. Used to be ELCA but moved do to current changes and am now following the LCMC. I don't support LCMS or WELS because I don't believe in closed communion.
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rikashiku
Yellow Belt
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Post by rikashiku on Aug 31, 2012 21:47:54 GMT -5
Officially; I am Catholic, but because of my families relaxed views, people don't think I am. the thing about being kiwi is that we just don't care what religion people are. Can't be bothered to care.
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Post by The Last Airbender on Sept 1, 2012 8:01:47 GMT -5
I'm starting to look more into Islam and take it seriously. Essentially all one has to do to be Muslim is accept that there is only one G-d and submit to Him so by that standard, I'm already Muslim, just not good at Islam yet. People think it's weird when I say I'm Muslim cause I'm a white guy and speak no Arabic. Especially where I live the immediate response is: "you're a terrorist!?" "you don't look like one" "do you pray to cows?" ... If anyone could help me and give me some good info, that'd be very helpful and much appreciated.
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odee
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Post by odee on Sept 1, 2012 18:34:06 GMT -5
Question Airbender. Is it Muslim beliefs that dictate the lack of rights for the women or is that a cultural thing?
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Post by The Last Airbender on Sept 1, 2012 21:44:42 GMT -5
Question Airbender. Is it Muslim beliefs that dictate the lack of rights for the women or is that a cultural thing? Most Islamic nations are patriarchal societies and put the man as the head of the household. Islam prescribes gender roles and doesn't really consider men and women equal partners as we see in the west. It also provides a code of ethics for women and men like women shouldn't wear tight revealing clothes and disrespect themselves. Women shouldn't use their bodies as tools to sell like we make them do (ex: sex sells) most women in those cultures like the idea of this and view western women as having less rights because their forced into being sex icons and being treated as if they have no mental capacity and judged solely on their body where as Muslim women are more apt to be judged on character. It's hard to answer specifically which 'rights violations' you're referring to but women are generally treated pretty fairly. Most of the laws in these societies are geared more towards not objectifying women and keeping men from lusting after them. In addition, the head to toe covering we see on T.V is basically only a Taliban thing that they did in Afghanistan when they took power. The Taliban is a fanatic organization and like the KKK is to Christianity, they are not 'real' Muslims and just use the Qur'an as a means to oppress.
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odee
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Post by odee on Sept 2, 2012 18:59:48 GMT -5
I wasn't referring to violations, you can't violate what someone doesn't have. A lady at university gave me this and I thought it was kind of relevant, this is pretty odd stuff to be handing out in a flyer with no context so I figured I'd ask you.
'"Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because men spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those among you who fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them." Sura 4:34
"...Women shall with justice have rights similar to those exercised against them, although men have a status above women. God is mighty and wise." Sura 2:228
Under Shari'a - Islamic law - a man can marry up to four wives. He can divorce his wife or wives by saying "I divorce you" three times. For a wife to obtain a divorce is usually very difficult. Muslim apologists claim that Muslim women have the right to divorce and that in Islam the mother is revered and respected. Upon divorce, fathers win custody of boys over the age of six and girls on the onset of puberty. Many women would be reluctant to divorce violent or polygynous husbands for fear of losing their children. Despite the exaltation of motherhood - Mohammed once told a follower that paradise is found at the feet of the mother - children are considered the property of the father with the mother being merely the caretaker. How is it possible for a Muslim man to respect his mother when immutable religious law proclaims women's inferiority and inadequacy?
Under the Shari'a, compensation for the murder of a woman is half the amount of that of a man. A woman's testimony in court is worth only half of a man's. Women are entitled to only half the inheritance of males; the reason given for these is that males have families to provide for. In sura 4:34 men are granted superiority and authority over women because they spend their wealth to maintain them, this implies that women are a burden on society and that their work in caring for children, household and livestock is insignificant and trivial.
Girls as young as nine can be married off by their father even if the mother disapproves of the marriage, often they end up as second or third wives of much older men - here is a way to instantly eradicate illegal paedophilia! Conservative clerics have resisted moves to raise the minimum age for girls. One of Mohammed's wives, Aisha was seven when she was betrothed to Mohammed and nine when the marriage was consummated, Mohammed was in his fifties with several wives. '"
I mean damn, what's that about?
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Post by jwbulldogs on Sept 3, 2012 1:31:27 GMT -5
In the Western world we see it as Muslim women being oppressed. There are those in their culture that view it as being oppressed especially after being introduced to different ideas from other cultures. However, many in that culture do not see their customs as being oppressive.
I met a couple just last semester. The woman was a college professor. I don't know what her husband does. Their explanation of their culture made it sound like a wonder an beautiful thing. We 1st met the wife. Later the husband joined us. Yes it is a patriarchal society. So are many other cultures. This couple were from Senegal. The man is allowed to have four wives and some have more. But according to the wife the women hold the real power in the relationships. I can't tell you all of what she said but I can share part of what I remember. A man can have several wives, but he can only do this if she approves of it. If the wife says no he can't take a 2nd wife. If she says yes he has to be able to give both wives the same thing. Meaning he has to be able to provide both wives their own house. If he takes a 3rd wife all 3 will have a house of equal value. In public the wife displays being submissive. But she is the real decision maker for the home. She''l make the decision and he will reveal it publicly. If he makes a decision without her and it is not a good one she will not correct him in front of everyone, but she will speak to him in a manner and tell him that something else would be better. She might pose it to him in the form of a question and she basically in my terms manipulates him to change his mind and he might even believe that he came up with the idea. The man is the provider of the home or homes. The woman can work if she chooses. The income he earns becomes their income. The income she earns is her alone. She is not going to share her income with him. But he has no choice he has to share the income. In fact she usually controls his income. He might get an allowance out if it. When her husband showed up he confirmed the things that she had told us. He got excited about sharing the part of being able to have more than one wife. It made me think that he wanted to have more than one. But she quickly shut that down. Saying that he can't have more than one. In their culture it is no longer acceptable to have multiple wives, but they still can because Islam takes priority over culture.
I wish I could remember more of the questions that came up. But it was very interesting. They both appeared to be very satisfied in their gender roles and in their relationship.
I shared some of this and maybe more with my sons and gf. My son sad Jokingly I hope that he might want to be a Muslim so that he could have more than one wife. His gr shot that down quickly..lol Then I told them about buying houses for both. They don't share one big house and that his money is her money and her money is her money. My boys didn't like that. But his gf did...lol
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