Topic: Buddhism and Hinduism

[Phidippides]

Why do you think that Buddhism and Hinduism never really caught on in the U.S.?

[Donald Baker]

Why do you think that Buddhism and Hinduism never really caught on in the U.S.?

The Christian tradition was too entrenched which made polytheism and Eastern philosophies too exotic for the American mind.

[Phidippides]

So I suppose Islam made headway based on sheer numbers of immigrants.  Well, aside from Black Muslims, but I believe that is different enough from regular Islam.

[Donald Baker]

So I suppose Islam made headway based on sheer numbers of immigrants.  Well, aside from Black Muslims, but I believe that is different enough from regular Islam.

Islam became a counter-cultural medium for black protest because of the idea of jihad (which justified militancy).

[scout1067]

So I suppose Islam made headway based on sheer numbers of immigrants.  Well, aside from Black Muslims, but I believe that is different enough from regular Islam.

Islam became a counter-cultural medium for black protest because of the idea of jihad (which justified militancy).

 I had never considered that angle before to the rise of Black Islam.  It does make a lot of sense and explains much though.  I have always felt that Farrakhan and others used Islam rather than really believed in it.  You have put some substance and logic behind what I thought with this observation.

[Donald Baker]

It was also and excuse to get out of serving in Vietnam.

[skiguy]

I kind of disagree that Eastern religions hasn't caught on here.  Maybe the New England area just has more than other areas, but it sure seems like a lot of people (of all races) around here practice Eastern religion or spirituality or something similar.  Look at the popularity of yoga. We probably don't know the real number as much because those who practice this type of spirituality are not usually vocal or evangelical about it.  It's all about your "inner self" and attaining that Buddha/Zen thing and all that crap.

[Donald Baker]

I kind of disagree that Eastern religions hasn't caught on here.  Maybe the New England area just has more than other areas, but it sure seems like a lot of people (of all races) around here practice Eastern religion or spirituality or something similar.  Look at the popularity of yoga. We probably don't know the real number as much because those who practice this type of spirituality are not usually vocal or evangelical about it.  It's all about your "inner self" and attaining that Buddha/Zen thing and all that crap.

I agree with this too.  It's catching on now since the 1960's when the counter-cultural movements began to hit their stride, and the Baby Boom Generation really hasn't let go entirely of them as they practice yoga and other parts of the Eastern philosophical and religious systems.  I don't think many Americans realize how much New Age ideas are creeping up into their daily lives.  It is a sure indication that the Christian tradition is rapidly eroding in America.

[Phidippides]

Isn't the popularity of Eastern religions more of a fad than anything else?  I'm presuming the talk is about white people getting into Eastern religions.  Or, if they do, they do it as a way of relaxing rather than practicing it as an objectively true cosmological belief system.

[Donald Baker]

Isn't the popularity of Eastern religions more of a fad than anything else?  I'm presuming the talk is about white people getting into Eastern religions.  Or, if they do, they do it as a way of relaxing rather than practicing it as an objectively true cosmological belief system.

Well I believe those who practice many of these things, do so in ignorance of where the ideas originated from  and for what their original purposes were.

[Wally]

It has always interested me that many of the Christian saints and feast days seem to have been coopted from pagan rituals that predate Christian faith. My take has always been that this was good salesmanship... easier for the pagan folks to shift to the Christian symbolism and faith.

[Donald Baker]

It has always interested me that many of the Christian saints and feast days seem to have been coopted from pagan rituals that predate Christian faith. My take has always been that this was good salesmanship... easier for the pagan folks to shift to the Christian symbolism and faith.

But, how much of the pagan traditions carried over into Christianity in the process?  Is Christianity "less pure" post Constantine?  I know Fit says yes, but is he correct?

[Phidippides]

It has always interested me that many of the Christian saints and feast days seem to have been coopted from pagan rituals that predate Christian faith. My take has always been that this was good salesmanship... easier for the pagan folks to shift to the Christian symbolism and faith.

I think that this made it easier for Christian cultural ideas to be accepted by pagan converts, in the mainstream, and practically speaking it prevented riots or animosity toward the religion.  Before Constantine, Christians were persecuted in Rome quite heavily at times, but even after his conversion and the Edict of Milan, Rome was still a pagan city.  The process of Christianizing Rome, and the Empire, was a gradual process.  I think it was easier to say, "Look, we're doing away with the pagan Sol Invictus feast, but you can still celebrate because it's Christmas for Christians," than "Sol Invictus = bad = no partying for anyone!"