Hindus in Malaysia are treated as second class citizens even though many of them have been there for at least four generations. This is not merely a subjective or biased opinion but there are statistical data to corroborate it: 1) About 90% of public college admission quotas are reserved for country’s 64% Malay and Muslims majority, 2) More than 90% of well-paying government jobs are taken up by the Malays, 3) by law, a Muslim can proselytize Hindus and the... Read more
Jews and Hindus do not proselytize and there is no historical conflict between them. In this regard, a Jewish-Hindu marriage may have fewer religious conflicts compared to the union of a Hindu with a Christian or a Muslim. There are many Jewish-Hindu weddings that are performed in the same wedding hall. A Hindu priest performs the routine Hindu ceremony, and a rabbi performs the Jewish wedding. Both participants wear wedding costumes that match their respectable wedding. The main issue, however,... Read more
An online survey was conducted to understand how Hindus view interfaith marriages. The survey was distributed to Hindus around the globe through selected channels and received 1083 responses, of which 710 completed the survey. Some of the results are broadly consistent with findings from Pew Research and other survey groups. The majority of respondents believe that the traditional system of arranged marriages followed by their ancestors is still very relevant. Hindus preference was for their daughter marrying a Dharmic compared... Read more
The oft-used term Love-Jihad is becoming a matter of acute concern to both the Hindus and the Muslims. For, it carries in its very coinage, several connotations hinting at inherent possibilities of intolerance. How is it that the most natural phenomenon of two individuals being in love could translate into something bigoted? Maybe we need to bridge some gaps and cross some bridges to come to a better understanding. Many Hindus have serious concerns when it comes to Muslim-Hindu marriages. The... Read more
A recent 2022 The Global Faith and Media Study by HarrisX showed Nigeria and India were the top most faithful countries with 94% and 90% highly faithful people, respectively. Here we report a subset of data analyses according to which 89% of the Hindus fall in the more faithful category. How was the survey conducted? The survey, roping in 9489 responders worldwide, covered 18 countries, with interviews being conducted in six different languages in accordance with the linguistic propensity of the... Read more
People may interpret the Quran in a binary fashion as for believers and for non-believers/kafir. While on one hand, the holy book bestows the best of earth and heaven upon the devout followers of Islam, it issues stern warnings and punishments against the kafir. However, the question remains whether the 1.2 billion Hindus are considered believers or kafirs. It is a subject open to debate. According to Dr. Mike Ghouse, a Muslim author, punishments and warnings as propounded by the... Read more
With a third of Hindus in America getting married to Christians, it becomes imperative that the individuals from both religions make fully informed decisions for their planned Hindu-Christian marriage. Mixes and matches in Hindu-Christian marriages A good number of Hindu youths in the West take pride in their religious traditions and insist on going through Hindu vivaha (marriage). Fortunately, their significant others hailing sometimes from a Christian background are mostly delighted by the prospects of a Hindu wedding, not merely out... Read more
Jesus was a progressive thinker and believed in adapting to the times. Unfortunately, many churches and followers of Jesus tend to overlook this crucial aspect which once defined Christianity, thus strangling its very spirit. Is it a wonder then that an interfaith dating couple should find it easier to follow Jesus than the church? Jesus as a progressive thinker The Second Commandment[I] in the Old Testament carries stern warnings against praying to ‘other’ gods and thus inviting the wrath of... Read more
The Abrahamic scriptures not only condemn idol-worshiping, but also carry strict warnings against it. Yet the definition of the term “idol” continues to remain enwrapped in quasi-obscurity. The author wrote this article to stimulate discussion on the topic of idol-worship, including the author’s personal life experiences, to gain a better understanding and maybe an empathic perspective. In Victorious Living’s article titled “How to destroy an idol,” an idol is described as something that is not true, something to which we... Read more
If you are in an interfaith love relationship, you must critically evaluate these frequently asked questions about your planned interfaith married life. These 15 FAQs are applicable to inter- or intra- Dharmic and/or Abrahamic faiths. 1. What is the main message here? Interfaith relationships should be based on mutual respect for both the faiths, and marriage should be solemnized without imposing religious conversion on a spouse. After marriage, both the spouses’ faiths should get equal respect and consideration at home... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In