Hinduism Today July/August/September 2005

All Religions
e d u c ati o n a l
i n
s
i g h
t s
Are Not the same
the problem with
Hindu Universalism
By Frank Gaetano Morales, Ph.D. (Dharma Pravartaka)
In the photo below, representatives from major faiths joined parliamentarians, scientists
and journalists at Oxford University in April of 1988 to discuss the global problems
faced by Earth’s peoples. Each priest, minister, imam, monk, rabbi, swami or shaman stood
proudly for a congregation and religion distinct from all others. Among the Hindus present
were this magazine’s founder and the editor, front row. Organizers found it challenging
to find emminent Hindus who openly called themselves Hindus and were willing and
qualified to stand up for their faith. Many candidates they approached did not describe
themselves as Hindu, preferring a more universalist identity. Such leaders were not included
in this Global Forum on Human Survival. In this article Dr. Morales, a devout Hindu, discusses
the origins and the problems of this syndrome, which he terms Radical Universalism.
HINDUISM TODAY
photo: global forum