The Interpretation of Gods [was Doniger: Respect For Women Yes]

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

My couple of cents here. I sometimes think Hindus bend so far over backwards

trying to understand someone else that they wind up in a very odd yoga position.

Let's let this individual make insulting remarks towards any other religion

especially Abrahamic religions and see what happens.

 

I am also a psychologist with a Master's degree in psychology, maybe not a Ph.D,

but I could give her a serious debate. I have also studied modern psychology in

reference to ancient ideas from Buddhism and Hinduism.

 

Frankly, I think she's another paranoid Christian hoping her male god doesn't

get carted off by new agers who would much rather worship Kali.

 

Peace,

 

Shankari

 

Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: Hi

Janardasa:

 

I know that Wendy Doniger is a controversial and provocative figure,

and that she is currently the principal " Western academic " bugbear of

the Hindutva movement -- but quite honestly, she is a serious

scholar, not a " crack-smoking Hindu-basher. "

 

I do not agree with all (or even most) of her conclusions, and I

understand why some equally serious and intelligent Hindus do not

approve of her methods.

 

But the story is not that simple. If Doniger is manipulating Hindu

history and culture, please understand that Rajiv Malhotra and the

other Hindutva activists who are calling for her blood are

manipulating it no less. There are many agendas at play, none of them

totally pure.

 

If any SS members want to enter into (or even understand) this

debate -- and they you want to be intellectually honest about it --

then I would respectfully ask them to take a few minutes and read

this excellent article. Doniger and many similarly maligned

colleagues get their say; the Malhotras get their say; and -- thank

goodness -- the centrists get their say too.

 

It is a bit on the long side, but it is very thorough, well-written,

balanced, and interesting from beginning to end -- and very much

worth your trouble to read.

 

DB

 

********************

 

THE INTERPRETATION OF GODS:

Do leading religious scholars err in their analysis of Hindu texts?

 

By Amy M. Braverman

 

Wendy Doniger didn't see the egg fly past her head, but she heard it

SOURCE: The University of Chicago Magazine, December 2004

URL: http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0412/features/index.shtml