Hinduism is a Religion or a way of life?

 

First let us look at the definition of Religion...

- 1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

- 2. a particular system of faith and worship.

- 3. a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion

- 4.  the belief in the existence of a god or gods, and the activities that are connected with the worship of them, or in the teachings of a spiritual leader

- 5. a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

If we analyse the different interpretations of the definitions

1. In Hinduism there is NO Superhuman Controlling Poer and there is no Personal God or Gods - this is a very clearly the concept of Abrahamic religions, where they have come up with a "Superhuman Controlling power and a personal God". For example in Judaism (jewish religion)- YHWH pronounced as Yahveh is the Only God of Israel and the people of Israel are the chosen people by God himself to rule the world. He is considered as a superhuman controlling power and is a personal God, where Moses and Abraham are messengers of God, through whom Yahveh has spoken to the people.... Similarly in Christianity the same name of Yahovah is given to God, as it is a repackaged Judaism, with Jesus as the Messenger and also as the Son of God, here again Yahovah is the Superhuman controlling power and a personal God..... Again in Islam, the God is Allah, who reveals the secrets only to his messenger Mohammad, the prophet. Here again Allah is the superhuman controlling power and a personal God....

This definition was the original "idea" of Religion from the western perspective.

Now, do we have such a concept - the Original concept of Brahman as explained in the Vedas ---  A very simple and powerful NO - Brahman is NOT a "Superhuman controlling power and a NOT a personal God"

So when the early German and British Indologists such as - Max Mueller, William jones, Colebrook, August Wilhelm Schlegel and others studied Vedas and Scriptures and the religious practices and philosophy, they were unable to fathom that Hinduism is not like the Abrahamic religions and hence termed that Hinduism is not a religion as it did not fit into their definition and called it "A way of life"... (we will see if it is a way of life as they put it - slightly later)

2. Second definition - A particular System of Faith and worship -- Here again there is no particular "Faith System" and no Particular Worship system. As a matter of fact - the core of the Vedas, the philosophical aspect of Vedas, the Upanishidas clearly states that, "do not believe", "Question everything" and you yourself "experience" and come to your own conclusion. Again from the perspective of "Worship System" - Hinduism has so many ways of worship depending on the Sampradaya (different paths) and there is No One particular way of worship. As a matter of fact, worship is more for the Householder than  - Brahmacharyas or Vanaprasthas or Sanyasis - So it is NOT  a Particular faith or worship

3. Third definition - Pursuit or interest followed with great devotion ---  Hinduism is singularly applicable to this - it is the pursuit or interest followed with single minded focus of attaining a Goal with great devotion.... This definition of Religion clearly applies to Hinduism

4. Fourth definition - the belief in the existence of a god or gods, and the activities that relate to the worship of them, or in the teachings of a spiritual leader --- Though Hinduism is NOT a belief system, but accepts the existence of Gods and it is associated with the activities connected to worship, teachings of spiritual leaders not one leader --- So Hinduism more or less may come under this definition also

5. Fifth definition - a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices - Here Hinduism is Not "A" personal set or Institutionalised system like Christianity that is completely defined system by the Church as the institution, but we have many "institutionalised systems" and again when there are no "belief system' at the core level, but when it comes to the different Institutionalised systems, the belief and practices of those institutions gets practiced by the followers of those institutions. Hence this definition will not apply to Hinduism

So -- Hinduism does not fall under the Main definition of Hinduism but it does fall under other definitions in a selective manner -- So WE cannot call Hinduism in the strictest sense of Western Definitions of Religion

Now Coming to "Way of Life" --- which is being used by "many proud Hindus" as if something "Superior" to it... let us examine....

What is way of Life?

1. A typical pattern of behaviour of a person or a group

2. the habits, customs, and beliefs of a particular person or group of people

If we go by these definitions then

- a Beggar has a way of life

- A thief has a way of life

- A businessman has a way of life

- A Politician has a way of life

- A Cricketer has a way of life

- A prostitute has a way of life

All of these people have a typical pattern of behaviours, habits, customs and beliefs... So every "group" of people have a "set of pattern of behaviour, habits, customs and beliefs" - so is Hinduism and All Hindus are like that?

Absolutely No - The pattern of behaviour of a Shivite from South is different from the pattern of behaviour of a Shivite from Kashmir, each and every sampradaya that is within Hinduism are very different from each other - but all of us are "Recognised" as Hindus...

Even more important, a “way of life” does not make any reference to any authoritative scripture or teaching, creating a very loose statement, devoid of the great meaning and import the Hinduism signifies.

So, calling Hinduism as a way of life is a stupidest of all description and it is fraught with terrible consequences

- If Hinduism is defined as Not a religion but a way of Life - From legal perspective, all the constitutional provisions for a religion will be lost to Hinduism

- Government can completely control "the way of life", they can control your practices, prayers, worships, meditations, temples, festivals etc..... because it is "Not a Religious practice" - even without that Govt and Courts are controlling the Hindu religious activities and festivals,

- Other religions can easily and legally convert Hindus into theirs, like Christianity and Islam- they can claim that in any way you do not belong to any "Religion" so I am not "Converting" you, I am only asking a person who is devoid of a religion to adopt my religion

- According to the “way of life” perspective, Hinduism must also legitimately include atheists, agnostics and people who do not have any interest, knowledge or faith in the teachings of the Vedic and Tantric scriptures, and even groups that do not like to be called Hindus – such as Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs.

Thus, the confusion over the meaning of “Hinduism” and “Hindu” will increase, causing further disenchantment and loss of commitment towards support/participation to Hinduism and the Hindu cause among many groups, both in India and a global level.

Nobody likes to identify with something that is not clear – and expecting any level of commitment from non-identified people is illusory.

Hinduism will increasingly lose credibility and respectability at national and global level in academia and media and in the general public opinion....

The word “religion” is universally recognized as a connection with the Divine - and Hinduism is clearly connected with the Divine and the Divine principles.

*So Hinduism should never be equated or quoted as "Way of Life" - Absolutely No - It is a Religion, derived from the Vedas*