Constructive Dialogue Between Hindus and Muslims
Dialogue in a Diverse Group Setting
In a dialogue group, run by my Jewish friend Philip, a critical thinker, administers a diverse group of people including Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and sometimes others. Because of Philip, I am engaged and willing to spend time in answering questions from the group members about Pluralism in general and Islam in particular. Our members seek to learn, which I genuinely appreciate. We make the time to respond to critical issues, as it’s essential for our learning and growth. It is our duty as participants in a dialogue to engage with one another in a respectful manner.
Reflections on Religious Texts and Cultural Impact
Mona, thanks for sharing information about the Manusmriti (below). It indeed plays a significant role in the cultural aspects of the caste system, where Dalits and Shudras are treated as lower castes and, consequently, considered less human. Sharia also has its misogynistic flaws. Neither Manusmriti nor Sharia is divine; both were constructed by humans with the intent of serving justice. It is time to eliminate the misogynistic, triumphalist, and homophobic elements present in these respective religions. Indeed, all religions have secondary interpretive texts that are often flawed.
Recommended Resources and Reflections
The film “Shudra to Khalsa” is worth watching; it broadly explores the origins of the caste system. Watch it here. Likewise, Sharia has flaws as discussed here.
Religious Expansion and Historical Violence
It’s essential to recognize the challenges we all face. Buddhism was once a dominant religion in India, but it has since been reduced to a minimal presence in India along with Jainism. The Brahmins, claiming superiority, destroyed Buddhist and Jain temples, sometimes converting them to Hindu temples.
The violence was primarily aimed at eliminating their rivals and protecting their economic interests. It’s not about religion; it’s about human greed for control of resources and, of course, Satta–the power.
The Role of Power in Religious Spread
The spread of Hinduism and Islam were primarily influenced by the power wielded by certain kings, whether Hindu or Muslim. They used the respective religions to control the citizenry. Islam, in particular, did not spread by the sword; the British have propagated that narrative, and it continues to persist today. Dr. Ram Punyani sheds light on this, even citing Swami Vivekananda, who suggested that force was not the vehicle for Islam’s spread but rather the way upper-caste Hindus treated the lowest castes among them. Watch Swami Vivekananda’s insight
Challenging Misconceptions About Islam and Hinduism
We must challenge the notion that Islam is inherently aggressive. Yes, some rogue individuals have forcibly converted others contrary to the teachings of the Quran, but such actions have occurred with every group by aggressive individuals for control, and not for religion.
In India, some Hindus have pressured Muslims to chant “Jai Shree Ram,” leading to the lynching of those who refused. Conversely, Muslims have also committed similar acts to repeat demanding that Hindus in Kashmir recite the Kalima, the acknowledgment that there is a God and Muhammad (pbuh) is the Prophet. However, labeling Islam or Hinduism as inherently violent reflects a failure in our critical thinking. Let’s blame where it rests: individuals.
Condemnation of Disruptive Behavior
As a Muslim, I condemn any disruptive behavior by anyone. The idea of creating harmony is undermined by a few individuals acting out of frustration rather than genuine religious conviction.
Disruptive actions by Muslims, Hindus, Christians, or Jews need to be condemned collectively. We cannot blame one group while ignoring the others. We must empathize with all people, not just our own. When we can recognize flaws within our community, we become more complete as humans.
Accountability Over Blame
60,000 Gazans were killed. Should we blame Judaism for that or hold Netanyahu, whom some consider a modern-day Hitler, accountable? Over three hundred Christians were killed in Northeast India this year. Should we blame Hinduism or focus on the individuals responsible? In Kashmir, 27 Hindus were massacred. Should we blame Islam or the perpetrators?
Let’s direct our blame to those who commit wrongdoings. Sean Hannity, Megyn Kelly, and Stewart Varney from Fox News understood this. I once asked Sean if his niece from a small town in Montana wanted to move to New York or Dallas (where I lived at the time) and what he would advise. Would he suggest she move to New York?
I would advise her to move to Dallas instead, considering New York’s higher crime statistics. I mentioned that New Yorkers were responsible for 2,200 rapes that year compared to 700 in Dallas.
I called New Yorkers rapists to make a point. Sean protested, saying we cannot label New Yorkers as rapists. I countered that we cannot label Muslims as terrorists simply because some of them are. He hated it.
Facing Uncomfortable Questions for Peacebuilding
Mona, no question should be considered uncomfortable; if a problem exists, we need to address it head-on. Once we acknowledge an issue, we must work together to find solutions. Terrorism is not just someone else’s problem; it is a societal challenge we must tackle together. Should we seek to mitigate it, or do we prefer the easier path of condemning others?
Injustice is the single most common reason for people to resort to terrorism. If we can understand and advocate for justice on their behalf, we can help mitigate the causes of terrorism.
Shared Values Across Faiths
Hinduism teaches that the entire world is one family-Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, and the Quran asserts that we are all descendants of the same first couple. We need to learn to act as one family and accept and respect the uniqueness of each one of us.
The Real Source of Blame
Let’s blame the criminal, not his parents, spouse, clergy, mayor, religion, race, or ethnicity. Blaming satisfies the base emotion, but does not lend to solutions. We all hold so many myths about each other without questioning; it is time we question them to find peace for us and peace for all. We cannot have peace if people around us don’t, so it behooves us to find peace for others.
Best,
Mike Ghouse
From Mona
I absolutely get it about the secondary books. The Manusmriti is largely rejected, its chauvinistic content has been openly questioned today. Manusmriti was a HUGE problem to Hindus leaving a lasting ugly impact on Hindu culture but it did not threaten other societies. (btw it is BhagwaD Gita).
History tells us that Hinduism spread, not by the sword but by shining example. Then why does Islam (and for that matter Christianity too) feel the need to spread with aggression?
The problem we have today, across the world, is the overwhelming aggressive influence of Islam, the manner in which Islam is taught to despise other cultures is frightening. (I am seeing increasing evidence of this fact from Muslim scholars, who are now speaking out).
So I ask you, Mike, do you even see any of the above? Do you condemn the disruptive behavior of Muslims in Europe? As a leader, do you acknowledge these concerns? (I ask in accordance with Philip’s earlier topic about asking uncomfortable questions to members of the group.)
Regards,
Mona
Sent from my iPhone