Radical Universalism - A Book Review

[Guest guest]

Hinduism: The Universal Religion

By Manju Gupta

 

A Review of " Radical Universalism, Does Hinduism Teach that All

Religions are the Same? " Dr. Frank Morales, Voice of India Press, pp

56, Rs 100.00, U.S. $10.00

 

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THIS is a booklet in which the author, a practicing Hindu considered

America's leading authority on Hinduism, reiterates his important

message that Sanatana Dharma must be understood and practiced only in

its original form if it is to survive and thrive as the world's most

important and relevant spiritual tradition.

 

All human beings have a common religious urge—a seeking to contact the

Divine or a higher spiritual reality—which has had different

expressions according to the time, place, culture and the individual

himself or herself. Due to different beliefs and practices in existing

religions, something that is regarded as holy in one religion may be

considered unholy in another. As a result, religion has often

prevented the spread of unity among human beings; it has instead, led

to disagreement, hatred, war and even genocide in the world.

 

In an effort to be tolerant and more inclusive than others, Hinduism

has made " the blanket that all religions are true, valid and equal and

lead to the same goal—what could be called a `radical universalism', "

says the author. It is this radical universalism that promotes

acceptance of all religions as same in order to lead us to unity

behind our religious strivings—it is immaterial what religion one

follows or whether one goes to a church, mosque or a temple. One needs

to have full faith in the religion that one has adopted to reach the

highest truth.

 

Different religions of the world contain various doctrines and

teachings that cannot all be equally valid. Here the author states

that the law of karma and rebirth, for example, is either true or

false. " If it is true, then religions which do not teach it are

flawed. If it is not true, then the religions that teach are

incorrect. Both cannot be true at the same time. " He says that

similarly there can be no final guru, prophet or saviour for all

humanity. Religion should, in its real import, be a quest for eternal

truth and " seeking to realise it within our own consciousness. " This

means that we question everything and accept only that which is proved

by our experiences.

 

Hindu Dharma " teaches us pluralism relative to the spiritual life,

which can both tolerate many points of view but also discriminate

between them and find out what is best for each individual. " Thus an

enlightened pluralism must rest upon a higher sense of discrimination.

 

In this book Dr Morales bases his views on a rationality reflecting

the great principles of Vedanta, which insist upon a clear

understanding of the issue and not just the imposition of one's belief

as the answer. He shows how the Hindu tradition does not teach us

blind equation of all religions, but instead emphasises on enlightened

pluralism. This not only allows the existence of many paths but

insists that only a razor-sharp path can take us to our highest goal.

 

It is heartening to read a Western scholar of Hinduism say that a

traditional Hindu has always been the most tolerant of all religious

persons and that Hindu India has been the sole nation on earth where

the Jewish community was never persecuted and who have lived in India

for over 200 years. Similarly Zoroastrian refugees, escaping the

destruction of Persian civilisation at the hands of Islamic

conquerors, were greeted with welcome refuge in India over 1,000 years

ago. The Zoroastrian community, now known as Parsis, has thrived in

India in all these many centuries, living together as they do with

their Hindu neighbours in peace and mutual respect. He says that in

keeping with the Vedic adage that the guest in one's home is to be

treated with as much hospitality as a visiting divinity, Hindus have

always lived peacefully with indigenous Indian religions like

Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and even the foreign religions like

Christianity and Islam.

 

(Voice of India, 2/18 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110 002.)

 

 

Purchase your copy of " Radical Universalism " online:

 

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Om Shanti

 

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