Is "Hindu Mythology" an Offensive Term?

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

Well what do you think? The word "myth" does imply that something is false but the Hindus believe their gods and goddesses are real. I think that if I was Hindu, I would be offended... Sure we call ancient religions myths but who's actually practicing those religions to be offended...

Oh and US $10 by Paypal atheists hijack this thread and call all religions myth...

[Tankbuster]

"Islamic Mythology"
"Christian Mythology"
"Jewish Mythology"

If you consider those offensive, I believe I've answered your question.
Not that I care about what some people consider to be offensive.

[Tigrul]

Well what do you think? The word "myth" does imply that something is false but the Hindus believe their gods and goddesses are real.

The word myth doesn't necessarily imply that something is false, but rather that most of something is false, or if you like it better, "artisticized" . Also, I don't know why anyone wishing to disconsider hinduism would call the religion a set of myths when the effect can much easily be obtained by more direct approaches.

I think that if I was Hindu, I would be offended... Sure we call ancient religions myths but who's actually practicing those religions to be offended...

Prepare for a reply from Maximilian.
I find it hilarious that you're so hasty in calling ancient religions myths, while considering that it's offensive to call hinduism a set of myths. It's almost my favourite attitude of all, from religious people: the attitude of a kid beliving in Santa Claus making fun of a kid believing in the Tooth Fairy: the hypocrisy is incredibly amusing.
And I say "almost" because you haven't explicitly said anything to point that out, but then again...

Oh and US $10 by Paypal atheists hijack this thread and call all religions myth...

Why shouldn't we call all religion myths? Actually... I know why... you see, the ancient religions, most of them, are quite good, from a literary perspective, and we have a good image of myth because we picture ancient myths, which we enjoy. To call something such as "islam" or "christianity" a myth would be, in my opinion, the same as degrading the word "myth".

[My Favorite Martian]

Mythology

See: Claude Lévi-Strauss, The Raw and the Cooked: Mythologiques, Volume 1*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_L%C3%A9vi-Strauss

If someone is on diet then mythology is probably a bad word with a negative meaning for this person.



*To give an example for who mythology has been treated in this case related to anthropology of tribes in South America on the background of a special method of investigation such datas.

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

The word myth doesn't necessarily imply that something is false, but rather that most of something is false, or if you like it better, "artisticized" .

right, and that's less offensive because only "most" is false...

Prepare for a reply from Maximilian.
I find it hilarious that you're so hasty in calling ancient religions myths, while considering that it's offensive to call hinduism a set of myths.

ok really? read what i said again. i said people call ancient religions myths but there really is few people practicing for the term to be considered offensive. Well, it's like the term "So easy, a caveman could do it!" Would cavemen be offended by the term, maybe, but there really isn't any caveman left in the world to be offended...

Why shouldn't we call all religion myths?

Well "mth" really is the term in question here. Is the term "myth" offensive?

[Tankbuster]

Well "mth" really is the term in question here. Is the term "myth" offensive?

Since Hinduism is still one of the largest religions on the planet, then Hindu Mythology is just as offensive to the millions of Hindus as Islamic Mythology is to the millions of Muslims.
Do you consider Islamic Mythology offensive? If so, then you should find Hindu Mythology offensive as well.

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

Since Hinduism is still one of the largest religions on the planet, then Hindu Mythology is just as offensive to the millions of Hindus as Islamic Mythology is to the millions of Muslims.
Do you consider Islamic Mythology offensive? If so, then you should find Hindu Mythology offensive as well.

yes that's the point... i think it's offensive...

[CtrlAltDe1337]

The word myth doesn't necessarily imply that something is false, but rather that most of something is false, or if you like it better, "artisticized" . Also, I don't know why anyone wishing to disconsider hinduism would call the religion a set of myths when the effect can much easily be obtained by more direct approaches.

Usually, a myth refers to something fictional, whereas a legend can be either historical or fake (in part or whole). So if you don't want to offend people, call it Hindu legends or maybe tradition.

[My Favorite Martian]

Usually, a myth refers to something fictional, whereas a legend can be either historical or fake (in part or whole). So if you don't want to offend people, call it Hindu legends or maybe tradition.

What is without fiction?

Semantic range of the Greek word "mythos":
muJoV word, speech, public speech, conversation, thing said, fact, matter, thing thought, fact matter, saying

Verbs:
muJeomai (med.) to speak, to consider, to say to oneself something
muew to teach, to instruct, to initiate into mysteries, et al.

See: Liddle&Scott, Greek-English Lexicon

[Tigrul]

No, it's not supposed to be offensive.

And as I've said, I'll go right ahead and say that any belief not supported by empirical evidence and logical reasoning is irrational. I think that has a lot more effect than calling religions myths.

Also, there are A LOT (millions) of people practicing ancient religions. (without counting christianity and judaism, which are also ancient religions)

[Tigrul]

... but you don't think that calling ancient Greek religions myths is also offensive?
Is it only a matter of how many people believe in the lies... ahem... religions, to you?

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

[quote=Tigrul;5559260]... but you don't think that calling ancient Greek religions myths is also offensive[QUOTE]maybe but how many people are practicing greek religions to be actually offended?

Is it only a matter of how many people believe in the lies... ahem... religions, to you?

no but it would certainly matter less if less people are offended...

but ok:

myth- an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.

according to this definition, atheism is also a myth because no one has been able to prove that god doesn't exist... fair enough?

[Tankbuster]

myth- an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.

Making practically every religion a myth then.

according to this definition, atheism is also a myth because no one has been able to prove that god doesn't exist... fair enough?

No, because atheism is a position on a single issue, not a 'belief to justify a social institution'.

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

No, because atheism is a position on a single issue, not a 'belief to justify a social institution'.

its used to justify premarital sex, gay marriage, etc

I don't believe that there is a god, because no one has, as of yet, brought any empirical proof from which one can logically deduce the existence of god. No one has come up with any logical reasoning to prove that god exists. I also don't believe that there is no god. I believe in neither, because neither is supported.

then u are agnostic?

[removeduser_487563287433]

its used to justify premarital sex, gay marriage, etc

No, it is not. It is just in contrast to religion, which is used to make these things prescribed.

[Tigrul]

then u are agnostic?

Some people would call me that. But I prefer "weak atheist". Trust me, there's a lot of controversy over the meaning of the words agnostic and atheist. To me, atheist means someone who doesn't believe in deity. I don't believe that gods don't exist, I don't believe that they exist and I acknowledge that I don't know. I guess an agnostic would have a similar idea, although agnosticism may also mean the belief that we can't know god.

Bah... it's confusing. I call myself an atheist because to me it's more important to point out that I don't believe in god than it is to point out that I don't believe in the inexistence of god.

[Tigrul]

according to this definition, atheism is also a myth because no one has been able to prove that god doesn't exist... fair enough?

No! And here's why:

There are two major types of atheism:
1. Strong/Positive atheism = the belief that there is no god. And this has indeed not been proven.
2. Weak/Negative atheism = the LACK of belief in the existence of deity.

I am a weak atheist. I don't believe that there is a god, because no one has, as of yet, brought any empirical proof from which one can logically deduce the existence of god. No one has come up with any logical reasoning to prove that god exists. I also don't believe that there is no god. I believe in neither, because neither is supported.

[The Count(er)]

myth- an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.

Exactly, "unproved" so myth fits, and there are tons of religious people I know who are fine with that.

according to this definition, atheism is also a myth because no one has been able to prove that god doesn't exist... fair enough?

Doesn't fit the "justify a social institution" bit, but even then, that's only strong atheism, you know, the kind that only a very small portion of atheists believe.

[Playfishpaste]

[quote=mkesadaran;5559398][quote=Tigrul;5559260]... but you don't think that calling ancient Greek religions myths is also offensive

maybe but how many people are practicing greek religions to be actually offended?


no but it would certainly matter less if less people are offended...

What? Not the case at all, the majority view is not the most important. Is the C word more offensive then the N word because there are more asian people then blacks?

[Pious Agnost]

I used to hate people saying Christian mythology.

Drove me mad.

But now I say it myself sometimes, mostly it slips out