Subject: [world-vedic] HAF RESPONDS TO LA TIMES HINDUPHOBIC From: "vrnparker" Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 04:03:35 -0000 To: vediculture@yahoogroups.com HAF RESPONDS TO HINDUPHOBIC ARTICLE IN LA TIMES The Hindu American Foundation responded to a Hinduphobic article, "Defying Tradition" (April 24, 2005)in the Los Angeles Times where, an Indian Missionary Father D'Mello urges the new Pope Benedict XVI, who holds other religions as 'deficient', not to yield an inch to 'extremists'. The writer Paul Watson also equates Hinduism with the worship of cows and snakes. HAF points out that it is indeed Christianity that holds exclusivist views whereas Hinduism is tolerant and values pluralism. April 27, 2005 Dear Editor: Paul Watson's "Defying Tradition", April 24, 2005, promotes Hinduphobia rather than balanced reporting. The article says that Father D'Mello "battles for souls against the myriad beliefs of Hinduism" and urges Pope Benedict XVI, who holds other religions as 'deficient', not to yield an inch to 'extremists.' In fact it is the Pope, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, who expressed extremist views by denigrating Hinduism as a religion of "false hope" that guaranteed salvation based on a "morally cruel" concept of reincarnation resembling a "continuous circle of hell." Such Hinduphobic views anger Hindus and build distrust. Hinduism is a peaceful and tolerant religion that believes in pluralism. Urging Hindus "to place their faith in Christ instead of the cows, cobras and other beings they revere" is deeply hurtful and ignorant. Hinduism's reverence for nature is not a central principle in and of itself, but rather the outgrowth of a philosophy that sees the divine in all of creation. As the Bhagavad Gita says, "For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me" (Gita 6:30). For true peace and harmony, there needs to be understanding, tolerance, and pluralism. Missionaries like Father D'Mello promote their own exclusive views at the expense of other belief systems and thereby create a cycle of distrust that ultimately leads to conflict. Sincerely, Swaminathan Venkataraman Member, Executive Council Hindu American Foundation (www.hinduamericanfoundation.org) http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/Content/Campaigns/campaigns_la times_letter.html