Role of Hinduism in the West

[Guest guest]

On Saturday we conducted a day conference on Hinduism for RE teachers and 2nd

and 3rd year students (mainly from a Catholic background) at Brighton

University. We emphasised Religious Pluralism and the Role of Modern Science in

promoting Spirituality. We said that recently, a mainstream Shi'a Muslim

publication in London has published an article by us: 'Hinduism and the

importance of Religious Pluralism'. This would be unthinkable a few years back.

Understandably, the Catholic participants were extremely surprised. " If the

Shi'as can do it why can't the Catholics? " we asked. " Religious Pluralism " holds

the key to solving the thorny issue of strife in the name of religion. We share

part of the message from Kate Williamson the co-ordinator at Brighton to

emphasis how well Hinduism is received and how relevant is the message of

Hinduism in a modern secular/science oriented world.

Jay Vivekananda Centre London

 

---message from Brighton

University-------------------------------

Dear Jay

 

a big thank you for Saturday. I have had extremely positive feedback from

students about this. The non-teachers really appreciated the - I think -

seriousness with which you tackled the issue of religion. Religious people feel

very beleaguered these days and positive intellectual support is very

welcome. Your focus on the transcendent was obviously very welcome to them. The

teachers - from a totally different view point - got a great deal out of it and

it both increased their grounding in Hinduism and also helped them with the much

more important issue of the nature and function of RE

teaching. Next time: I feel that there are 2 possibilities here: one: a study

day on Hinduism with selected topics which I feel we could now work out more

effectively. two: a study day on science and spirituality. I have been thinking

about this all weekend and I can see real possibilities here.

 

best wishes

Kate