Conversion to Hinduism

[Adai]

Hey, we have all heard of people who convert from Chinese to Muslim or Hindu to Muslim and also have seen people adopting Christianity, but i have not heard anyone converting to Hinduism.Hmmm... Is there such thing as conversion to Hinduism ? Is the only way to be a Hindu is to be born a Hindu ? Just wondering.

[Susanth]

Oh, good topic raised Adai!

From what I know, there isn't such a thing as converting to an Hindu.
You can be an Hindu by just following some of the teachings & duties of an Hindu as prescribed by our scriptures.

Yet again, those who are born as Hindus, how many of them atleast know the basics of their religion?!!

Hinduism says that God is one. It clearly demonstrates the many paths to God as well!
As such, it does not see the different paths to the one God(the different religions) as something completely beyond it (its principles & teachings etc).

In fact, it can be said that by being a true Hindu, you tend to appreciate all religions.

You can be a Hindu, n still pray to Mother Mary, Jesus Christ, visit mosques, temples etc and you are still an Hindu, in no way less..

Our tradition has sayings such as, "Yem mathamum Samatham"
- Hinduism is a way of life. It is something entirely dependent on the individual.

[Madha]

Wow...well said Susanth.....I agree with you 100%

"Hinduism is a way of life. It is something entirely dependent on the individual."

Madha

[Shamini]

Hi all,

This is indeed a real interesting qns! Are there any Hindu Converts? Well, my aunty is. She is a chinese married to my uncle who is an indian and a Hindu. She now has been practising Hinduism for 23 years. Not just Practice but devoted to it as well.

Shamini 

[Susanth]

oh WOW

Thats interesting.

hmmm, yea I just remembered, I know of a Muslim lady who married to an Hindu and started adopting Hinduism, after that.

I have heard about many Hindu "converts" (in "..", as it is not really conversion) in the United States.

Many Westerners, who had read things about Hinduism, have taken it as a way of life and have become Hindus!!

[viki]

Hi,

    I do not think people can convert into an Hindu. Instead, by practising its teachings and following its way of life,  one can be known as a Hindu. In my opinion , Hinduism is not a single religion. It teaches one , to appreciate all other religions and see only the good in all. Thus, everyone who believes and practices this becames a Hindu naturally.

When a non-hindu marries a hindu, he or she practices hindusim knowingly or unknowingly. She follows a certain discipline/rules in her daily life. This in turn makes her a Hindu.So one does not have to convert into a Hindu; they just have to believe in its scriptures,teachings and practise them .

cheers

[HinduRulz1]

Hi all,
An nice answer I found while surfing the net(at www.shaivam.org)..
Thought of sharing it with everyone here..

Who can be a Hindu ?

All the people, without restrictions of any sort. For, the God is common to the one living in Arctic, Antartic as well as in Sahara. It is the God of those things beyond this Earth. Hinduism welcomes the pure knowledge from all horizons as well as can provide the paths for the whole world, with no exceptions, to lead a life that is relishable and that takes to the ever lasting Eternal Bliss.
Here is a statement from the heart of the vedas

May the mind stabilize on the Rudra, by which we, the two legged creatures, four legged ones, the whole world prosper !

The Grace of God does not limit to even just human beings. Its is for all the lives in this earth and beyond ! So Hinduism emphasises that not only can all the humans worship through its path, but also shatters away all barriers that differentiate even animals to be not eligible for God's grace.

[Chanchal]

Interesting topic Adai!!

Yes! Hinduism is a way of life rather than a "religion" as everyone thinks of it. I believe it is something unique!

Apart from the topic of discussion here, I sometimes find it hard to differentiate between what is derived from Hinduism and what is not. Because so many ppl nowadays are adopting its ways and teachings without they themselves realising and its also incorporated in some religions.

Like for example the teachings about doing no harm to animals and other living beings. This is a common teaching that you can find in all religions. Haha..

Just something out of the topic discussed here...

cheers,
Chanchal =D

[Shamini]

Hello All,

Talking about Converts to Hinduism and Etc...Anyone Wondered what is the statistics like for each religion? I found a pie chart dated back in 2005. This might give us some idea!

Cheers,
Shamini

[Susanth]

Hi Sham,

Interesting Stats.. However, it represents conversion to Hinduism or from Hinduism to other religions eh?

[Shamini]

Hey Susanth,

Actually it does not show the percentage of conversion. It shows the portion of the world's population in each religion. Its interesting to note that the amount if people who do not adhere to any religion is even more then the number of people who practice Hindusm! 


Cheers,
Shamini

[HinduRulz1]

hmmm, and it is also interesting to see that the many religions are made up of many different sections(Catholics, Evangelical etc for Christianity for example)..

And the Statistics also proves the known fact that Hinduism is the Third Largest Religion in the World.

[Shamini]

Hey HinduRulz1,

Its interesting that you noted that different religions have sections among themselves. E.g Muslim said to have different section among themselves (Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya) etc. For christians as you have highlighted, e.g Roman Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox christians.

Among Hindus, i never actually heard of anything. At least in singapore. But is there such existence of sections?

Cheers,
Shamini