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  1. bp789

    Blasts at Indian Buddhist shrines in Bodhgaya of Bihar

    BBC News - Blasts at Indian Buddhist shrines of Bodhgaya in Bihar Hopefully, the two injured are okay.
  2. bp789

    Contentment and Striving for Material Success?

    Hinduism places great importance on the idea of contentment (santosha), or being satisfied and grateful for what you have now, but what does that mean in terms of wanting material success? Many people in the modern world strive to get good grades and work hard in school in order to get a good...
  3. bp789

    do you have to believe in hell?

    May I ask why exactly you are so concerned with the idea of hell? I've noticed that you've created multiple topics in different parts of the forum about hell. Many people that practice Dharmic religions simply don't believe in a torturing or painful hell and aren't concerned with it.
  4. bp789

    The worship of nonHindu deities?

    In my experience, it's pretty common in India for religious and political leaders to say things such as how all religions are the same or how Shiva, Krishna, Allah, and Jesus are all the same God. I know of Hindus that have no problem praying at churches, mosques, gurudwaras, and other religious...
  5. bp789

    How do you syncretize religions?

    I think people overestimate how dualistic Vaishnavism is. I'd say it's split about 50-50 in terms of dualistic and non-dualistic, but most people are unaware of the non-dualistic Vaishnava philosophies. The philosophy of Vishishtadvaita by Ramanuja is non-dualistic and qualified monism in that...
  6. bp789

    Fiction writing?

    I haven't read any of these actually, but I remember finding a few examples online. This one is Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripathi. The trilogy is based on the idea that the Hindu Gods were originally humans who became Gods through their deeds. Although many there are many Hindu figures as...
  7. bp789

    WBC a real church, or an elaborate scam?

    Here's an online book I found online called Addicted to Hate which is essentially describes what it was like growing up in the Phelps household (It was written by either Mark or Nate Phelps, forgot which). I forgot the exact details, since it's been so long since I've read it. But the gist of it...
  8. bp789

    Brahman Temples?

    Do you mean Brahma (no n), as in the deity of creation? I'd say there are probably no Brahma temples at all in the Western world, since Brahma worshippers are an extremely tiny minority.
  9. bp789

    Hinduism and Alcohol

    The tradition I belong to views alcohol in a very negative light, but I notice among other Hindu parents they have nothing against the occasional drink or two. Nothing's wrong in moderation for those that drink. I am a university student, and I have noticed among my fellow Hindus, both within...
  10. bp789

    How to convert a Hindu

    In terms of the Vaishnavism having some similarities to Abrahamic religions, I've had both experiences. The belief structure has some Abrahamic tendencies which the followers don't have. In other instances, the followers have some Abrahamic tendencies, but I'm not sure if that's in the belief...
  11. bp789

    How to convert a Hindu

    In my view, it seems that Vaishnavism is somewhat similar to Abrahamic religions. Even though it is still a Dharmic path, a lot of things and mentalities that some people here on the forum view as Abrahamic are actually found in Vaishnavism too.
  12. bp789

    Naraka

    Many Indian Hindus I know are aware of the references to hell (naraka), but most just ignore it and say that's all BS and that they're trying to scare you into being religious :P
  13. bp789

    Harihara?

    My post here explains some of the beliefs about Swaminarayan Hinduism, though I probably forgot some stuff :P http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/hinduism-dir/146974-what-exactly-swaminarayan-faith.html#post3299164 As far as the Vishnu and Shiva being one in Swaminarayan Hinduism, it doesn't...
  14. bp789

    Harihara?

    As a Swaminarayan Hindu, I should probably correct that Swaminarayan Hindus don't worship Harihara. I've actually never even heard of the name Harihara until now.
  15. bp789

    Pet peeves

    Huh, I'd expect a little more intelligence from someone who is apparently a Professor of Theoretical Physics o_O
  16. bp789

    Practical Hinduism?

    Well, in most Vaishnava schools, being a renunciate is not necessary to attain moksha. We believe that it is possible to be a householder, but still be willing to attain moksha at the same time. It's just considered tougher because while renunciates are spending their entire lives focusing on...
  17. bp789

    Practical Hinduism?

    I think that was the point he was trying to make, that some shastras talk about the things to do to attain moksha or what rituals to follow, but those rules seem to be for people trying to attain moksha or Brahmins. However, the average Hindu is most likely just trying to live their life the...
  18. bp789

    How to convert a Hindu

    Here's an article (kinda long) about the tensions between Hindus and Christians in Karnataka. http://birdindia.org/xhtmlphp/birdactivities.php Summarized, the Pentecostal and other evangelical Christian groups have been involved in distributing anti-Hindu literature that denigrate Hindu deities...
  19. bp789

    Wearing a bindi

    Slightly off topic, but what do you guys think of Bangladeshi Muslim women wearing the bindi? Apparently there are many women that still wear it, and they say it's not a religious thing, but that it's just part of their culture. I think the reason they still wear it is because Bangladesh was...
  20. bp789

    Folk Islam (Pagan Islam)

    Speaking from personal experience, it seems that Ismaili Muslims (at least the ones from India and Pakistan) have certain aspects of Hinduism in their religion.
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