Just 15% Americans correctly
identify the Vedas as a Hindu text; according to a new Pew Research Center
survey “What Americans Know About Religionâ€, published on July 23.
Roughly half
of Americans knew that yoga has roots in Hinduism, survey points out.
On being
viewed warmly by the overall public; Hindus were below Jews, Catholics,
Mainline Protestants, Buddhists, Evangelical Christians; but were above
Mormons, Atheists, Muslims while rated on a “feeling thermometerâ€. On a scale
of 0-100, Jews had “mean thermometer reading†of 63, while Hindus were at 55,
and Muslims at 49; this survey adds.
Hindu
statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that comparative
religion class teaching basics of all
major world religions, including the viewpoint of non-believers, should be
introduced in all the public-private-independent-charter-other schools
of USA.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society
of Hinduism, indicated that opening-up the US children to major world religions
and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and
enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know
the beliefs of “others†in a global community. Moreover, students should have
knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.
Rajan Zed also urged Hindu-Americans,
numbering around three million, to educate non-Hindus about the basic tenets of
Hinduism. Genuine and ethical interfaith dialogue would bring mutual enrichment
and bolster harmony in the society.
Zed
congratulated the Hindu-Americans for continuing with the traditional values of
hard work, higher morals, stress on education, sanctity of marriage, etc.,
amidst so many distractions.
Rajan Zed
advised Hindus to focus on inner search, stay pure, explore the vast wisdom of
scriptures, make spirituality more attractive to youth and children, stay away
from the greed, and always keep God in your life.
Hinduism,
oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents
and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
Pew Research
Center is a “nonpartisan fact tank†headquartered in Washington DC.
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