Hindu and Mormon leaders examine similarities between their religions

A Nevada Hindu leader met a senior leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City Wednesday and discussed similarities between the two religions. via Reno Gazette-Journal

Read full story from Reno Gazette-Journal

[Felonious Monk]

What similarities?

The Sanātana Dharma is as old as civilization itself and has no human founder, while Mormonism is no more than 150 years old and was founded by a known swindler. The vedas are the oldest recorded written documents in history and the standard of the Sanskrit language, while the Book of Mormon is a work of plagiarism and poor grammar.

[MiddleWay]

I suppose since DNA has proven no American natives were Jews, they have to make up a new story?

Hilarious...

[Aupmanyav]

Felonious Monk, you are my type of person. I would not say anything about Mormonism, but what you say about Sanatan Dharma is absolutely true. Vedas may have been written much later, but they were handed down orally for many millenia. I go by B. G. Tilak's theory of 'Arctic Homes in Vedas'. In that case Vedas could be the record of those aboriginals when they were pushed south by the advancing ice-age. That would be more than 12,000 years.

As for looking for similarities, this bug often bites hindu leaders. They should understand that it does not help hindus in any way, only puts Sanatan Dharma on the same pedestal as christianity.

[larry]

MiddleWay wrote:

I suppose since DNA has proven no American natives were Jews, they have to make up a new story?
Hilarious...

Are you posative?
About Scott Woodward
Scott R. Woodward is currently a Professor of Microbiology and faculty member of the Molecular Biology Program at Brigham Young University. He is also head of the Molecular Genealogy Research Group at BYU. While completing his postdoctoral work in molecular genetics at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Utah, he discovered a genetic marker used for the identification of carriers and the eventual discovery of the gene for cystic fibrosis. He was also involved with the identification of other gene markers for colon cancer and neurofibromatiosis. He joined the faculty at BYU in 1989 and has been involved with several excavation teams in Seila, Egypt. While in Egypt, he directed the genetic and molecular analysis of Egyptian mummies, both from a commoners' cemetery and from Egyptian Royal tombs. Dr. Woodward has been the Scholar in Residence at the BYU Center for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem and a visiting professor at Hebrew University. His work has been featured both nationally and internationally on numerous programs including Good Morning America and both the Discovery and Learning Channels.
". I don't think anybody would accept the reverse of that hypothesis, and the reality is, and I'm going to say this, and then I'm going to come back and clarify it, there has been Hebrew DNA found in the Americas. o.k. Tom mentioned some of the Y chromosome DNA by far, there's one particular marker that we find on the Y chromosome - 199T we call it - that is very characteristic of native Americans of a large proportion of native Americans carry that. However, Tom has mentioned the story about the Lemba in South Africa and the Cohen marker well it turns out that the Cohen marker on the Y chromosome which certainly seems to be an Israelite haplotype DNA marker that has been found in the Americas. It's been found in Columbia, that work was published a little over a year ago. Now, do I claim that that's Lehi's DNA, absolutely not. I think that there's a much more clear explanation of that data but I use it to emphasize my point, yes, there has been Hebrew DNA found in the Americas. Does that prove the Book of Mormon correct? No. But I think we have to be very careful when we turn it around the other way and say because we have not found any Hebrew DNA in the Americas then the Book of Mormon is incorrect and so I still believe that there's a tremendous amount of information yet to come from the DNA information, the DNA story in native Americans."
http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/woodward01/RadioW...
So as a moleculare Biologist who studies DNA has said yes Hebrew DNA has been found in the Americas. Time to get that nose out of just the Anti_Mormon books and do some research on things before you speak.

[SJ Bobkins]

There is no DNA marker for Jewishness. Those who follow the theory that there was a land bridge connecting Asia and North America and that accounts for the introduction of the Native Americans to the North American continent, have much to explain. There has never been found the means for them to complete their journey further south. Since it could not be completed by land, one would expect to find evidence of boats, landing areas, cooking tools, old fires, shelters , etc. None have been found yet millions of Asians supposedly took this path. The same problem exists with the Jews and they're living 40 years in the wilderness. No tracks, wells, cooking fires or utensils, baskets used to carry water, latrines, etc have been found, yet they were made up of 3 million people who would have required 120 tanker train cars of water every day.
Bottom line, it takes a certain amount of faith to believe in any idea relating to the origin of a people. The LDS Church does not say that every Native American traveled over the waters, but that some did and founded advanced communities. Read "1491" to learn about the work of many researchers and their finds that back the above idea. The book also takes a good look at the land bridge theory. No, Mormon was involved with the writing or publishing of the book. We have ideas, we have some evidence for every idea, yet every theory has problems, and is incomplete.

[MrZip]

I think its funny that you say the land bridge has much to explain, when the book of mormon archaeology has more to explain than anything. You are smoke screening when you say every theory has its problems and is incomplete, because mormon archaology is FAR more incomplete than others. We have a pretty good footprint of meso america, and it doesnt look good for the book of mormon that way.

You better believe it by faith.

[Hannah Rebekah]

How about the Ten Tribes?
http://www.british-israel.ca/israel.htm
http://www.british-israel.ca/USA.pdf

[MrZip]

Hannah, Where in the world do you get so many links? I swear, you are the link queen of remote and pertinant information.

[Hannah Rebekah]

I tell you...I must have some Rational in me...love to research...plus Google is great and I file things I run across so it's amazing when you read something and then the next day there's a chance to use.

By the way...on Google there close to 200,000 sites on the Ten Tribes and almost all of them are Christians sites. They have theories about the Americas so I would think that if they try to disprove the Book of Mormon with DNA won't that also disprove their theories about the Ten Tribes?

[Aupmanyav]

Friends, this is a Hindu forum. Don't you have a forum for Judaism or Mormonism? If not, then you could create one.

[Hannah Rebekah]

Sorry...this is also linked to the Mormon forum because of the name of the article:
"Hindu and Mormon leaders examine similarities between their religions"
I hope that doesn't bother you. It doesn't me and I'm Mormon. Actually, I have a lot of respect for the Hindu Religion but I must confess I don't know too much about it.

[Aupmanyav]

Thanks for respecting our various beliefs. There is no thing that bothers me. While you are here, you may find out something about hinduism. Please ignore the barbs that we in habit of hurl at each other, north, south, east, west.

The similarity that you would find in all religions is 'dharma'(a person's duty and righteous action, or you can say appropriate social action). This is the bed-rock of all religions, the religions were created for this. All the rest is just icing.

[Hannah Rebekah]

Aupmanyav wrote:

Thanks for respecting our various beliefs. There is no thing that bothers me. While you are here, you may find out something about hinduism. Please ignore the barbs that we in habit of hurl at each other, north, south, east, west.
The similarity that you would find in all religions is 'dharma'(a person's duty and righteous action, or you can say appropriate social action). This is the bed-rock of all religions, the religions were created for this. All the rest is just icing.

So true about dharma...I believe it is like what we believe...what you sow you reap. Mormons are treated as a cult by Reformation Evangelical Christians because be did not break off of them. The are very unkind and go to great measures to try and prove us wrong. I find it very amusing that they go around proving every other religion a false religion except their own. Just here in the U.S. there are over 100,000 different religions and sects that make up the Protestant religions and they even fight with each other.
We believe as Mormons what you said and it is so true:
"The similarity that you would find in all religions is 'dharma'(a person's duty and righteous action, or you can say appropriate social action). This is the bed-rock of all religions, the religions were created for this."

I think we all have so much to offer each other, to learn from each other. There are so many wonderful truths out there to be learned.
Have a great night...or great day I guess there.

[MrZip]

I don't know much about hindu beliefs, from my understanding it is a way of thinking, and not technically a religion? is that right? I would love to know more about what you believe. I think theres a little truth in everything, and I enjoy learning. I know very little about it, other than basic principles.

[Aupmanyav]

MrZip wrote:

I think its funny that you say the land bridge has much to explain,..

The land bridge certainly has much to explain. When it existed, the sea-level was low. Also bared were large stretches of land on the continental shelf off Scandinavia and Eastern Siberia. It is from there that the Aryans started their journey as they were being pushed south-wards by cold and advancing snow in the last ice-age.

[Hannah Rebekah]

What are the Kings of Troy to the Aryans? I have ancestors that go through the Kings of Troy up through Noah...

[Aupmanyav]

The people who gave their name to Ionia and many people of Illirian coast were Aryans. Indian scriptures know them as Yavanas.

[Aupmanyav]

MrZip wrote:

I know very little about it, other than basic principles.

Call it whatever, it is a religion, it is a culture, it is a way of life. The most important thing, the bed-rock is 'dharma'. Other than that we do not have any compulsion. We know that various people will be satisfied with various beliefs. People are free to choose their personal belief, which we call mata (opinion) or pantha (road). So we have all sorts of beliefs which are equally valid, be it polytheism, monotheism, monism, pantheism, panentheism, or even Brahmavada (atheism). We respect everything in the universe, stars and galaxies, humans and animals, vegetation and non-living things, mountains and deserts, rivers and seas. Each day for us is a festival of life.

[MrZip]

Aupmanyav wrote:

<quoted text>Call it whatever, it is a religion, it is a culture, it is a way of life. The most important thing, the bed-rock is 'dharma'. Other than that we do not have any compulsion. We know that various people will be satisfied with various beliefs. People are free to choose their personal belief, which we call mata (opinion) or pantha (road). So we have all sorts of beliefs which are equally valid, be it polytheism, monotheism, monism, pantheism, panentheism, or even Brahmavada (atheism). We respect everything in the universe, stars and galaxies, humans and animals, vegetation and non-living things, mountains and deserts, rivers and seas. Each day for us is a festival of life.

That sounds great to me. There are so many roads in life that lead to alot of good. The older I get and the more I see the world that makes sense. I believe take out of life what serves you best. I believe in universal laws and principles, and the beauty is in the natural patterns of it all.

On a side note, I have an old friend who was an internation pilot for 30 years and flew all over the world. His favorite spot on the earth was New Delhi. I've always been curious to go there.

Stupid question -- what is the connection with Cows and hindu's? Please forgive my ignorance if that is a broader subject than I make it sound.

[Aupmanyav]

People love Delhi because it is a mad house. People of all levels, from all places, multitude, ready to smile, ready to fight, buy, haggle, meditate, sing, dance, drink, eat.

Cows, cows, we love them, not the New Jersey variety, but our own, Bos primigenius indicus, the humped Zebu.

Why we love cows, because they are pets and providers. Every one had a few in olden times. The day started with their baying for water and fodder. A member of the family would serve them in the morning. The ladies of the house would start the day after paying their reverence to them. Children would wait for them to be milked and would drink the milk right then and there. Some member of the family then, would take them out to graze. In the afternoon the cows and the keepers would pass the hot part of the day under the shade of some tree. They would be brought to the river or pond in the evening to bathe. Children also would frolick around them. Back home, they would be milked again and provided fodder. The Indian life revolved around the cow, calf, and the bull.

The ladies would prepare yoghurt out of the milk, butter, and whey, which the adults and children would relish. The calves would grow to help till the field. They would be used in the carts. Cow dung would be used as fuel or mixed with soil refresh the floor and walls of the house. We had two or three cows in our home. I have lived in a house where the floor was so prepared. I can vouch that it was cleaner than our tiled floors today (we did not take shoes into the house but left them near the door, in the house everyone walked barefoot). You spent part of your life with one individual animal. When the daughter will go to her husband's place, she would take leave from the cows and calves just as she takes leave from the members of the family. How can we not love them?