Is Shiva the Supreme God in Hinduism?

[Vinayaka]

Would any of you happen to know if Hindu children sometimes ask similar questions? Are there any well-known frequent answers?

Yes. Hindu kids are no different than regular kids, Luis. Answers to children vary, just as answers to adults vary, depending on who is doing the answering. But parents, like parents anywhere, sometime neglect this duty intellectually, because we're not so much an intellectual religion. In the old days it did sort of sink in better by osmosis, as in Indian cultures you were totally surrounded by all things Hindu.

 

[ajay0]

The Brahma Kumaris don't consider themselves Hindu, and believe in a doomsday scenario, I met one chap peddling the wares at a psychic trade show. Nice enough chap, but we sure didn't see eye to eye phiosophically. Certainly 'Siva' meant something entirely different to each of us. I respect their choice not to call themselves Hindu. That's only fair.

A certain section of the Brahmakumaris don't use the label Hindu, just like the Lingayats, do to distinguish themselves from certain features of Hinduism like casteism, untouchability, animal sacrifices and so on.

I have met many brahmakumaris who use the term Hindu as well. It is a matter of choice.

The term ' Hindu ' is just a superficial label coined by foreigners, which covers many diverse sects and groups, whose beliefs differ from each other. It is used for identification purposes alone and nothing else.

It is conscious action, living and virtuous conduct that is the basis of dharma and not blind adherence to superficial labels.

 

[Vinayaka]

A certain section of the Brahmakumaris don't use the label Hindu, just like the Lingayats, do to distinguish themselves from certain features of Hinduism like casteism, untouchability, animal sacrifices and so on.

I have met many brahmakumaris who use the term Hindu as well. It is a matter of choice.

The term ' Hindu ' is just a superficial label coined by foreigners, which covers many diverse sects and groups, whose beliefs differ from each other. It is used for identification purposes alone and nothing else.

It is conscious action, living and virtuous conduct that is the basis of dharma and not blind adherence to superficial labels.

I was just going by their official website. Hard to argue with that. I only met one, and he certainly wasn't claiming to be Hindu ... at all.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Parents answers depend on the situation. They are generally flexible. The parent may say they are different Gods and Goddesses or they may say that really they are one. My grandfather who accepted Big-Bang, Nucleosynthesis, plate tectonics and evolution said that though he agrees to all that, he will maintain his orthodox views (which included a half-an-hour/one hour havan (oblations in fire). I have also remained highly religious but accepted Brahman and atheism (Brahman is not God, it is the substrate of all things in the universe) - 'Sarvam Khalu Idam Brahma'.

 

[ajay0]

I was just going by their official website. Hard to argue with that. I only met one, and he certainly wasn't claiming to be Hindu ... at all.

The Prajapita Brahmakumaris certainly worship Shiva as God, believe in the soul, reincarnation, dharma and Moksha. They have attended Hindu conferences and meetings.

There are many over here who do not adhere to these core beliefs of the Hindu religion, have an erroneous understanding of Hinduism and still proclaim themselves to be Hindu, and even question other's 'Hinduness'. Lol...

So, I would say it is a matter of individual choice. Hinduism and the term 'Hindu' are also foreign labels, and I don't attach much importance to it.

 

[Vinayaka]

So, I would say it is a matter of individual choice. Hinduism and the term 'Hindu' are also foreign labels, and I don't attach much importance to it.

At one time, like 200 years ago, they were foreign labels. But times have changed. The term 'Hindu' has morphed.

 

[Shantanu]

At one time, like 200 years ago, they were foreign labels. But times have changed. The term 'Hindu' has morphed.

I explained to @ajay0 that Hindutva is a well accepted phenomenon in describing religious matters, and hence the term Hindu represents a genuine identity but with the agenda that he pursues in this Hinduism DIR of denigrating established Hindus and their beliefs it seems like a case of persistence to distort. Hinduism has come under attack in this Forum.

I opened a thread in Site Feedback about it as you suggested and have received assurances that it is being looked into by the Administrators of Religious Forums.

 

[Vinayaka]

I explained to @ajay0 that Hindutva is a well accepted phenomenon in describing religious matters, and hence the term Hindu represents a genuine identity but with the agenda that he pursues in this Hinduism DIR of denigrating established Hindus and their beliefs it seems like a case of persistence to distort. Hinduism has come under attack in this Forum.

I opened a thread in Site Feedback about it as you suggested and have received assurances that it is being looked into by the Administrators of Religious Forums.

Thank you. I wear Hindu as an identity, and on my sleeve, in my name, and often on my forehead. I find it perplexing that groups or individuals are all about identifying as non-Hindu, but then when you agree with them about it, they get upset. In short, its not me that;s saying they aren't Hindu, it's them. I'm merely agreeing with their self-imposed label. Ah, the irony!

 

[Shantanu]

With an unknown and never-heard-of philosophy like Satya-advaita , i am not sure whether you have the proper intellectual and cultural understanding of Hinduism. You have also stated yourself to be based in britain for a long time.

Pseudo-scholars only result in creating a mediocre forum devoid of quality.

As stated earlier, if I were in your shoes, I would first be taking care of my legal and mental health issues, instead of making illiterate attempts to 'critically evaluate' other's 'Hinduness', without possessing the necessary qualifications for it.

I am not a scholar: I am a human being who lives, and yes perfectly to my way of thinking.