Read the following and identify and develop the final conclusion as well as considering any intermediate conclusions. Then click on the text to see a possible answer. Examine how this differs from your answer and discuss whether these differences are significant.
How well does Hinduism respond to the challenges of secularisation?
It could be argued that there are many significant challenges facing Hinduism in the context of secularisation. For example, the growth of rational and scientific thought poses challenges to traditional Hindu beliefs such as reincarnation and the existence of deities. In addition, although there is the growth of religious pluralism (open debate between religions to promote understanding) this also brings with it the issue that competing world-views reduces the overall credibility of a singular view significantly enough as to weaken its truths claims. Another serious challenge to Hinduism in India has been the secularisation of the Indian state itself and conflict between secular laws and religious laws. Therefore, there are possibly several areas of challenge that has arisen for Hindus today, and it is crucial to critically analyse pertinent responses from within the Hindu tradition to such challenges and evaluate their overall effectiveness.
We can begin by analysing the responses of two key figures within Hinduism: Ram Mohan Roy and Dayananda Saraswati. These individuals provide us with different insights into the nature of Hinduism and therefore demonstrate different ways that Hindus have responded to the challenges of a secular society.
Ram Mohan Roy believed that the perfect society could emerge from a combination of Western scientific rationalism and Eastern spirituality. He advocated the application of reason to religious, political and social issues. What is interesting is that Roy operated in a context of a British ‘Christian’ rule of India and what many would consider an underlying oppression and extortion of the people of India by the existing government. However, Roy also faced many social and political issues within his own Hindu society such as sati, oppression of women, the caste system and an overall context of a lack of education and poverty for Hindu nationals. Roy challenged many social and cultural aspects of both religion and government and had a vision for a society that could strip away any negative influences and conflate the positives of both East and West. Indeed, Roy’s approach could be seen by some as a ‘modern’ solution and a positive response to challenges made.
Saraswati’s response to secularisation or any other challenge to Hinduism was a very different. Saraswati made an aggressive defence of Hindu traditions against secular challenges, wanting to maintain the ancient Indian religious traditions. He emphasised an education that made use of Western rational, scientific thought to justify Vedic religious education. Through such an education he hoped to create a new identity which could compete with the West on the West’s own terms as well as ensuring that Vedic and ancient Indian values were maintained. Saraswati’s approach was a rational defence of the Hindu faith.
Overall, from these two examples, we could say that Hinduism offered an effective response to the challenges of secularisation.