The Hindu Way: An Introduction to Hinduism

In the twenty-first century, Hinduism has many of the attributes of a universal religion a religion that is personal and individualistic, privileges the individual and does not subordinate one to a collectivity, a religion that grants and respects complete freedom to the believer to find his or her own answers to the true meaning of life, a religion that offers a wide range of choice in religious practice. even in regard to the nature and form of the formless God; a religion that places great emphasis on one's mind, and values one's capacity for reflection, intellectual enquiry, and self-study, a religion that distances itself from dogma and holy writ, that is minimally prescriptive and yet offers an abundance of options, spiritual and philosophical tests and social and cultural practices to choose from In a world where resistance to authority is growing, Hinduism imposes no authorities: in a world of networked individuals. Hinduism proposes no institutional hierarchies; in a world of open-source information-sharing Hinduism accepts all paths as equally valid, in a world of rapid transformations and accelerating change. Hinduism is adaptable and flexible, which is why it has survived for nearly 4,000 years" From The Hindu Way.