Surprised to see Buddhists outnumber Hindus in Canada. Would be interesting to see where Buddhism is prevalent the most, as well how their belief/practices differ from Hinduism
http://www.thestar.com/lists/article/740522--5-major-non-christian-holidays
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 18-12-09 15:22:42
I am surprised to see Sikh population to be the lowest. I would have thought, they would at least be right after Jewish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dimple2001
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
Surprised to see Buddhists outnumber Hindus in Canada. Would be interesting to see where Buddhism is prevalent the most, as well how their belief/practices differ from Hinduism
http://www.thestar.com/lists/article/740522--5-major-non-christian-holidays</font>
Not very surprising actually considering that the Chinese were the largest ethnic group in Canada before South Asians took over and Buddhism is the perhaps the most common religion among the Chinese. As South Asians include Muslims and Hindus and so many other smaller religious groups (including Buddhist), it adds up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Immigrant Parents in Canada http://groups.yahoo.com/group/immigrantparentsincanada
I realise that Chinies form the largest immigrant group and most of them should be Budhist. But the Chinies I know in GTA all have english first names and chinies last names, for example - Peter Lee, Tara Chueng, Chris Wong, Jenny Woo etc. etc. And these people go to church on Sundays and they are already 2nd or 3rd generation in Canada which tells me that they are the decedents of the first Chinies (who should be Budhist) who immigrated here. But how are they christians and not Budhist. I have been curious about this and I dont want to ask the Chinies fearing I may hurt their cultural beliefs or something like that.
But what I learnt from a Chinies security gaurd with a an english first name was that in China there was no real relegion but there was only culture and mythology which the they celebrate regularly. He added the govt had infact banned the practice of Religion and this was a contention with areas like Tibet (Budhist) and other remote S-W provinces (rising Islam) who practiced relegion. He said the relegion was regarded by Govt there as a retarder in nation building and progress.
Sorry if I have diverted the discussion here.
One more digression:
Eagerly waiting for the Congress government in India to have the guts and do the 2011 census based on religion as promised and then we will know where the Hindooostan stands.
Already the fun has started.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/All-spiritual-texts-will-have-to-be-re-edited/articleshow/5296921.cms
'All spiritual texts will have to be re-edited'
4 December 2009, 12:00am ISTText Size:|Topics:Religion
Hindu
Kancha Illaiah
Kancha Ilaiah, professor of political science at Osmania University, is known for his outspoken views on the caste system in India. In his first
and most famous book, Why I Am Not A Hindu, he dissected the Hindu social system in an earthy style, though often taking liberties with historical validity. In Delhi recently for the release of his latest work, Post-Hindu India, he spoke to Subodh Varma:
What do you mean by post-Hindu India?
Hinduism is in a state of crisis, facing a kind of civil war within. The primary reason for this is the stranglehold of the varnashram system which keeps 750 million Hindus subjugated and humiliated. These are the Dalits, tribals and the backward classes. Hinduism has failed to convince them that they are part of it, despite the fact that they were the carriers of all science and technology for centuries. Hinduism is the only religion that has failed to negotiate and engage with reason and science. No social reformer, except Phule and Ambedkar, challenged the caste system. Other religions are now competing to win over these people hence there is an imminent explosive crisis.
How did Hinduism suppress science and reason?
The technologies for human survival from agriculture to leather tanning to metal-work were all developed by the labouring sections, that is, the Dalits, tribals and backward classes. The upper castes simply took away the fruits of their labour and invention. The tanners developed the art of leather tanning. The best technology of washing through use of soaps found in soils was discovered in India. The barbers, who wielded the razor, developed the science of surgical treatment of ulcers and boils, and so on. But they were all treated as outcastes. Instead of according them honour and upgrading their sciences they were humiliated. Marriage out of one's caste was prohibited, thus obstructing the free interchange of knowledge, as happened in other religions. It was said that God doesn't approve of working with hands; it is impure. In this way science and technology stagnated and its practitioners got subdued.
You claim there is a war in progress.
You may not see it on the surface now, but in the hearts of the oppressed castes there is anger and hatred. Today it is a war of nerves. Tomorrow it may erupt as a war of positions. There are only two options: either complete equality is granted to the Dalit-bahujan communities or they embrace other religions like Buddhism, Christianity or Islam. Granting equality would mean embracing Dalits and all lower castes and tribals, eating with them, treating them as equals, and an end to the allegation that they are merit-deficient. All spiritual texts will have to be re-edited. It is difficult to see this happening. The other competing religions offer spiritual democracy, as opposed to the spiritual fascism of Hinduism. This competition is the war.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.
MGUPTA - in your zeal to promote Hinduism on this forum, you are distorting facts, or do not understand the origins of these religions.
Sikh religion could have evolved from Hinduism, and most following that religion could have been Hindus in the past. Yet followers of Guru Nanak are not Hindus. Nor are Jains and Buddhists. This, despite the fact that Hinduism is older than the other religion cited.
I can understand your sentimentalism, but that has nothing to do with reality.
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 21-12-09 08:37:31
Quote:
Originally posted by MGupta
I am a hindu and i visit both GuruGhar(gurudwaraa) and temple since my childhood...and never such idea came in my mind that gurughar is not for me
Let's just say, if you believe in worship, there is nothing wrong in visiting any place of worship as long as the place of worship welcomes anyone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dimple2001
