I just got done talking to a Hindu named Narish (last name in the Video interview below). Narish, at first, was partially agreeable to the Noahide Laws, even though they ban idolatry. Here is why he accepted them at first because according to Narish, Hinduism is not idolatry. Narish explained that there is only one god, that Hinduism is definitely not polytheistic, and he also affirmed that god does not take physical form in any way (god does not inhabit the physical particles of a Hindu idol [murti]); both these are necessary for Hinduism to be considered Noahide compliant.
However, it seems that in between an earlier discussion about the subject and now, Narish has done some homework. He now realizes that Noahidism would seek to define Hinduism in Jewish terms, weed out what was not Noahide-compliant, and leave behind an altered version of Hinduism for Hindus to practice. While it is true that the Chief Rabbi of Israel declared Hinduism non-idolatrous, this is true only in theology, but not "practice". Hindus would need to remove things like astrology and palmistry, but the Rabbis would likely not demand that for a generation until after the population had been softened up by a partial acceptance of the Noahide Laws. Narish now sees the conspiracy and is concerned.
However, don't expect most right-wing Hindus to go this way. First of all, Narish already had suspicions about the Jews and feels they are behind many other problems in the world. Most Hindutva Hindus think Jews have never done anything wrong, nor can do anything wrong, they have conditioned themselves willingly to the predisposition to the idea that any accusations against the Jews are wrong and just anti-Semitism... Narish was not like this from the beginning, so obviously, it was easier for him to be saved.
But this does not negate the fact that Hinduism's position on god lends it to Noahide subversion, their theology negates idolatry. According to Narish, god in Hinduism is imperceptible, and so if it took physical form, it would be perceptible, and thus this central dogma of Hinduism would be broken. This is irrational since he says Hindus in their physical form seek to unite with god, but if god is not physical then the physical mind cannot unite with it, that makes no sense. Narish is unable to explain this contradiction. If god is physical (sorta animism), then we can unite with it; it also allows the physical universe to be uncreated as god is physical and was always there... this is more rational than a god outside space and time creating the material world through magic, animism is more scientific, Hinduism is more irrationalism and mystical. Part of the reason I got involved in Hinduism was because I thought it was scientific theism, it is not.
I am glad Narish sees through Noahidism, but I don't think he will get through to other Hindutva Hindus and will be called an anti-Semite and a traitor against India. Right-wing Hindus believe that criticism of Israel is the same thing as criticism of India, if you are against Zionism, you are also against India; they try to unite anti-Judaism and Hinduphobia into one essence, if you attack one, you attack the other. I say let's give Hindus what they want, equate Hindu anti-idolatry with Jewish/Noahide anti-idolatry, equate India with Israel, and equate Zionism with Hindutva. We need to wake up true idolaters to the threat of Hinduism.
Talking to a right-wing Hindu about idolatry, polytheism, and Noahide Law
"We need to wake up true idolaters to the threat of Hinduism."
ReplyDeleteAre you saying Hindus are not "true idolaters"?