UUP Religious Education Update: October 15, 2006

The Hindu Connection

Some of the most influential Unitarian thinkers and writers in the history of our faith were fascinated by Hinduism. The sacred writings of Hinduism were “discovered” by those of European descent in the early 1800’s, and were translated and made widely available to scholars. The Boston Unitarians, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Bronson Alcott, enthusiastically read, discussed and wrote about what they learned in these sacred texts.

Thoreau referred to his Hindu readings when he wrote, "One sentence of the Gita, is worth the State of Massachusetts many times over". Thoreau sometimes lived simply, in the style of a Hindu holy man, and said, "It was fit that I should live on rice mainly, who loved so well the philosophy of India."

Some concepts from Hinduism which were attractive to the early Unitarians were the great reverence for all life, the Hindu concept of God as being beyond human perception, but present everywhere in nature, and the allowance for individual freedom in choosing how to live religiously

The writings of Emerson, Thoreau and their circle of friends, with all their references to Hinduism and other Eastern religions, still are very influential in shaping contemporary Unitarian Universalist thought.

It seems altogether fitting to me that the children will learn about Hinduism today while celebrating Divali, the Hindu New Year or Festival of Lights. They will learn about Hinduism and the holiday through story, art, and traditional foods.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education

PS- A huge thank you to Florence and David Strange for sharing part of their garden harvest with us. The beautiful leaves, fruits, and vegetables added so much to the children’s creation of a Jewish sukkah last Sunday.