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USA, January 19, 2005: Newsweek magazine printed the following letter from Aseem Shukla of the Hindu American Foundation, along with a rebuttal. The article in question dealt with the theological reaction of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. The views of each, with the exception of Hinduism, were represented by educated members. Only in the case of Hinduism did the article try to state the view of the uneducated villagers — and even in doing so, quoting an American-based, non-Hindu scholar, and not the villagers.



Letter begins:



Kenneth L. Woodward’s depiction of the Hindu view of suffering after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami was deeply flawed (“Countless Souls Cry Out to God,” Jan. 10). Woodward dismissed Hindu victims as “untutored” animists who viewed the disaster as the hapless consequence of “capricious deities.” Hindus believe that there is one God who is omnipotent and omnipresent throughout the universe and worshiped by people in different forms according to their individual perceptions. Hardly capricious, Hindus perceive God’s grace as always flowing and easily felt by those who open their minds to receive that blessing. Multiple millennia before Buddhism, Hindu Scripture defined the relationship between reincarnation and karma. Recognizing an eternality of existence, Hindus take comfort in the face of calamity knowing that while the body may die and be shed as old clothes, the immortal soul continues its journey in the next life along its path toward God.

Aseem R. Shukla

Hindu American Foundation

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.



Editor’s Note: NEWSWEEK recognizes that in all religious traditions, including Hinduism, there are differences between popular piety and intellectually sophisticated spiritual reflections. Our article specifically stated that we were describing the outlook and reactions of the inhabitants of poor fishing communities, mostly Hindus, who typically “are untutored in refined theological speculation on life and death.”

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