WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT HINDUISM?

A good religion must be free-at-will and never put itself above the human beings that it serves. Nearly all currently practiced religions fail in this criterion.

I have issues with the practices in the name of the Hindu religion, but where is it you think it puts itself above the human beings.

Hinduism spans from there is no such thing as  God as in the Sankhya philosophy of atheism to nothing else but everything is only a part of the Ultimate God (Advaita).  

It spans from formless to worship of even a road side stone, to tree, to snake to peacock to elephant.

It puts human experience and in fact  teaches a designated pointer to god as one who has to be experienced by one’s ownself within and not to take as a matter of faith. 

Our religion gives exalted position to women.  What is more, in spite of this all, it does not contradict any field of science.

I think Annie Besant said this well:

"After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect , none so scientific, none so philosophical and none so spiritual that the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake, without Hinduism, India has no future ... And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism who shall save it?  If India's own children do not cling to her faith who shall guard it? India alone can save India and India and Hinduism are one."  - Annie Besant

Why did all over American flocked to Swami Vivekananda in 1890s, all Christians when Christianity was unquestionable religion of Americans, from Senators to Clergy, because of its universal message. 

I am afraid many Hindus in the name of getting acceptance paint Hinduism with the same brush as with other religions. 

The essence of Hinduism is universal.  Why is message of Gita all over free world, sometimes not given due credit.   We can be proud of one thing more than anything, only our religion says, there are many ways to find God and all religions in that respect are true. 

As  Ramakrishna Pramahamsa used to say , the villages drink from same lake, but some call 'Jal' and some call, 'water'.    There is nothing more universal than Hinduism, we have to be proud of it, own it and live it.

This does not mean there are no horrible practices conducted in name of Hindu religion.  I have seen bride burnings, heard about untouchablity, I have seen many useless and lousy things done in the name of religion.  They are criminals, however much they may try to justify their actions and they have nothing to do with Hindu religion.

Even Manu scriptures has certain things but it is a Smriti, not Sruti.  Smriti are set of rules people live by that are applicable during certain time period, just like US Constitution. Hinduism reinvented itself over period allowing the most open research into human thinking and reached the exalted thinking.

I have always maintained that nothing should be read out of context either historical, cultural ,social, emotional etc . Most things,ideas, events, actions, reactions etc which may sound idiotic otherwise would be appropriate in the particular situation in which it has taken place. There is no point in trying hard to vindicate everything in scripture with all the imagined and invented justifications. There is no need to do that and let us not waste our time and energy in doing  that. EVERYTHING EVOLVES IN TIME AND EVERYTHING EVOLVES WITH INHERENT LIFE AND EXTERNALLY THROUGH INTERACTIONS AND INTERDEPENDENCE.

Occasionally I see a reference to Manu Smriti in the
postings. In this connection the following quote is 
appropriate. It is from a journal Aananda Mitran 
published by Dharmishta Mitran. The page in which 
it appears is attched in PDF form.

QUOTE

"The laws of Manu are intended for the Satya Yuga,

those of Yajnavalkya are for the Tretayuga; those of

Sankha and Likhita are for Dwaparayuga; and

those of Parasara for the Kali Yuga.

The laws and rules which are based entirely upon

social positions, time and clime, must change with

the changes in society and changing conditions of

time and clime.  Only then the  progress of the

Hindu society can be ensured."