Buddhist India

[Flocculencio]

Wow thank you. I saw that in Japan. Also during the 30s on the govt pushed Shintoism over Buddhism. Without sponsor ship it suffered. Though in Japan the 2 were often blended but separate somehow. An odd dynamic

Yes, the situation was similar in India and SE Asia during the Hindu-Buddhist era.

 

[Malta]

The two probably wouldn't look that much different from each other. You already have Hindus thinking the Buddha is a avatar of Vishnu

 

[Ganesha]

The two probably wouldn't look that much different from each other. You already have Hindus thinking the Buddha is a avatar of Vishnu

I mean, the Hindus I know believe that all people are Hindus, but some just don't know it yet. It's a pretty theologically inclusive religion.

Cheers,
Ganesha

 

[Badshah]

I mean, the Hindus I know believe that all people are Hindus, but some just don't know it yet. It's a pretty theologically inclusive religion.

Cheers,
Ganesha

Really? I've never met any who've held that view.

 

[Rex Mundi]

I mean, the Hindus I know believe that all people are Hindus, but some just don't know it yet. It's a pretty theologically inclusive religion.

Cheers,
Ganesha

Not to split hairs, but I would call it theologically diverse, not inclusive.

 

[Kishan]

I mean, the Hindus I know believe that all people are Hindus, but some just don't know it yet. It's a pretty theologically inclusive religion.

Cheers,
Ganesha

It is true to some extent. The Hindu nationalist view is that all Indians are Hindus regardless of their religions. Muslim Hindus, Christian Hindus etc. They also view Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism as sects of Hinduism or Protestant forms of Hinduism. This does not mean that they view all people as Hindus. Only all Indians are viewed as Hindus. But here Hindu, Bharatiya and Indian are all viewed as synonyms, in the same way as Hind, Hindustan, Aryavart, Bharat etc. are all terms for India.

 

[eliphas8]

In the late Empire it was policy to spread Christianity. Which they did to much of Europe, regardless of the indigenous pagan beliefs.

If by late empire you mean the Byzantines then yeah, the Rus where converted, but the West was pretty mediocre at converting people.

 

[Malta]

Technically I do think the Pakistanis are more Hindus considering their nation encompasses the Indus River which is more ironic when you consider that India is a nation without its same namesake.

 

[Flocculencio]

Technically I do think the Pakistanis are more Hindus considering their nation encompasses the Indus River which is more ironic when you consider that India is a nation without its same namesake.

Pakistan and India as separate entities is a purely 20th C construction. When I talk of India in a cultural sense it covers modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

 

[Malta]

Pakistan and India as separate entities is a purely 20th C construction. When I talk of India in a cultural sense it covers modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

I know, I know, I am just making fun of naming schemes.

 

[Ganesha]

Really? I've never met any who've held that view.

It is true to some extent. The Hindu nationalist view is that all Indians are Hindus regardless of their religions. Muslim Hindus, Christian Hindus etc. They also view Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism as sects of Hinduism or Protestant forms of Hinduism. This does not mean that they view all people as Hindus. Only all Indians are viewed as Hindus. But here Hindu, Bharatiya and Indian are all viewed as synonyms, in the same way as Hind, Hindustan, Aryavart, Bharat etc. are all terms for India.

In my experience, it's true. My family members who are Hindu are Advaita Vedanta's who are big fans of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (we're Bengali, after all). And in the discussions I've had with them, that's what they've said. I'm not myself a Hindu nor do I know too much about Hindu philosophy, but that's what they've said.

It's certainly true that they don't really see Buddhists and Jains as separate. My mom refuses to acknowledge that Jainism is anything other than a sect of unorthodox Hindus.

Cheers,
Ganesha

 

[Flocculencio]

In my experience, it's true. My family members who are Hindu are Advaita Vedanta's who are big fans of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (we're Bengali, after all). And in the discussions I've had with them, that's what they've said. I'm not myself a Hindu nor do I know too much about Hindu philosophy, but that's what they've said.

It's certainly true that they don't really see Buddhists and Jains as separate. My mom refuses to acknowledge that Jainism is anything other than a sect of unorthodox Hindus.

Cheers,
Ganesha

That's interesting- Hinduism in Kerala is a bit more restrictive in it's views (Christians, Muslims and Jews are part of the local caste system but certainly wouldn't be seen as Hindus) but one suspects that that comes from having direct experience of living alongside large non-Hindu populations for a few thousand years.

 

[Badshah]

I know, I know, I am just making fun of naming schemes.

Plus, the whole perspective was Pakistan seceding from India.
My Pakistani friends don't agree with that, but it's a completely different topic.