Hindu philosophy teaches a deep tolerance and all-encompassing respect for other faiths. This attitude has a natural appeal in today’s world, where people seek to live in peace with one another.§
Lisa Miller’s 2009 Newsweek article detailed America’s shift to Hindu ideals, such as respect for all religions.§
The Hindu practice of yoga is common in Western schools and many public centers for exercise, health and relaxation.§
Delegates from 60 nations at the 1988 Global Forum in Oxford, England, discussed the future of our planet. The contributions of the Eastern religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, were given equal importance with those of the West.§
In 2002, England’s Queen Elizabeth II was greeted by the priests of Highgate Hill Murugan Temple in London in the first-ever royal visit of a monarch to a Hindu temple. In 2010, Barack Obama became the first US president to personally celebrate Diwali in the White House.§
- Discuss: What is important about a political leader visiting a religious place or celebrating a religious festival?
- Discuss: What is the difference between respecting another religion and tolerating it?
- Explore: How do other religions express the concepts in our list of six key Hindu ideas? Which ideas would be acceptable to people with no religion?
- Analyze and Defend: What role do you think religion should play in today’s world?