The Question of Becoming a Hindu

Why would anyone, particularly a modern and educated person born in the West, want to become a Hindu, much less feel proud in calling himself one? How could a person find value in the primitive Vedic roots of this ambiguous religion? After all, the term Hindu connotes an ethnic religion mired in caste, idolatry, and the oppression of women. It appears anti-modern, inhumane, if not embarrassing for those who would follow it.

A forward thinking person could not take on such an identity, or could he? Is it a mere seeking of emotional security? Indeed, many intellectuals out of their own doubts, perhaps an inherent emotional weakness of the intellectual mind, have embraced regressive creeds. Intellectual apologists can be found for every strange ideology. 

Even Hitler and Stalin had them. So praise for an ideology or religion even by an intelligent person cannot be taken without skepticism. At the same time we cannot ignore the fact that there is much in the world that goes beyond our current cultural preconceptions.We are beginning to appreciate the deeper meaning of myths and symbols, which Hinduism abounds in. We are gaining a new respect for meditation and yoga to reach a higher awareness beyond the pale of religious dogma. We are recognizing the distortions born of Eurocentrism and western materialism and revising our estimate of native cultures.