>Mumbaguh at 17:45, 16 April 2021

2021-04-16T17:45:50Z

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{{Short description|Critical review and debates against Hinduism and its practices}}
{{Short description|Religion}}
{{Criticism of religion sidebar}}

'''Criticism of Hinduism''' refers to aspects of [[Hinduism]] which have been criticised. For prejudice against Hindus, see [[Anti-Hindu sentiment]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==Definition and scope==
Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on [[Spirituality#Hinduism|spirituality]] and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book, meaning Hindu traditions can range from polytheistic to atheistic and everything in between.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict|publisher=Academic Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-12-369503-1|editor-last=Kurtz|editor-first=Lester}}</ref><ref>MK Gandhi, ''[http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/essence_of_hinduism.pdf The Essence of Hinduism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724045756/http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/essence_of_hinduism.pdf|date=24 July 2015}}'', Editor: VB Kher, Navajivan Publishing, see page 3; According to Gandhi, "a man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu."</ref> According to Doniger, "ideas about all the major issues of faith and lifestyle – vegetarianism, nonviolence, belief in rebirth, even caste – are subjects of debate, not [[dogma]]."{{sfn|Doniger|2014|p=3}}

Because of the wide range of traditions and ideas covered by the term' Hinduism', arriving at a comprehensive definition is difficult.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=6}} Hinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, a set of religious beliefs, and "a way of life".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|title=The Study of Hinduism|publisher=[[University of South Carolina Press]]|year=2003|pp=12–13}}</ref>{{refn|name="definition"|group=note}} From a Western lexical standpoint, Hinduism like other faiths is appropriately referred to as a religion. In India, the term ''dharma'' is preferred, which is broader than the Western term ''religion''.

Hinduism derives its traditions from a variety of sources. After the Second Urbanization in the 6th century BCE, non-Vedic sramana traditions became dominant, especially in urban areas. To counter this, Brahminism began incorporating extensive sramana influences, indigenous traditions, and new developments such as the Bhakti traditions, giving rise to contemporary Hinduism.<ref>{{Citation |last=Witzel |first=Michael |year=1995 |title=Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state |journal=Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies |volume=1 |number=4 |pages=1–26 |url=http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611142934/http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2007}}</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2021}}


==Historical background==
{{expand section|date=January 2021}}

=== Early opposition ===
Some of the earliest criticism of Brahminical texts, including the [[Vedas]] and especially the [[Dharmaśāstra|Dharmashastras]], comes from the [[Śramaṇa|Sramana]] (or renunciate) traditions, including [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]]. Sramana scholars viewed Brahminical philosophy as "heretical." In particular Sramanas denied the ''sruti'' (divine) nature of the Vedas and opposed sacrificial rituals which were at the heart of Brahminical philosophy at the time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Thapar|first=Romila|date=1989|title=Imagined Religious Communities? Ancient History and the Modern Search for a Hindu Identity|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/312738|journal=Modern Asian Studies|volume=23|issue=2|pages=209–231|issn=0026-749X}}</ref>

== Caste system ==
The "discriminatory and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment"<ref name="hidden apartheid"/> of over 165 million people in India justified on the basis of [[caste system in India|caste]], "a defining feature of Hinduism,"<ref name="hrw"/> has repeatedly been noticed and described by [[Human Rights Watch]] and the United Nations, along with criticism of other [[Caste|caste systems]] worldwide.<ref name="hrw">{{Cite web|title=CASTE DISCRIMINATION:|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/globalcaste/caste0801-03.htm|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.hrw.org}}</ref><ref name="hidden apartheid">{{Cite web|date=2007-02-12|title=Hidden Apartheid|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/02/12/hidden-apartheid/caste-discrimination-against-indias-untouchables|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=OHCHR {{!}} Caste systems violate human rights and dignity of millions worldwide – New UN expert report|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=18497&LangID=E|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.ohchr.org}}</ref><ref>"[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/un-report-slams-india-for-caste-discrimination-1.693195 UN report slams India for caste discrimination]". CBC News. 2 March 2007.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Saffron terror]]
* [[Criticism of Hindutva]]
* [[Anti-Brahminism]]
* [[Anti-Hindu sentiment]]
* [[Anti-Indian sentiment]]
* [[Persecution of Hindus]]

== References ==
{{reflist|35em}}

{{Criticism of religion}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Criticism of Hinduism| ]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion|Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hindu law]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]

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Criticism of Hinduism - Revision history

>Mumbaguh at 17:45, 16 April 2021