Hindus urge equal treatment under Ohio religious course bill

Ashadh Krushnapaksha 13, Kaliyug Varsha 5116

Hindus want Hinduism on equal footing with other religions when religious course bill is implemented in Ohio (USA).

Under this bill public school pupils could obtain school credit for religious coursework taken off campus during regular school hours.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that religious and moral grounding of students was a good idea, but instead of teaching one religion to students, Ohio schools should be directed to come up with a comparative religion class teaching basics of all major world religions, including the viewpoint of non-believers.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that opening-up the Ohio children to major world religions and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.

Rajan Zed says that Ohio, a culturally diverse society, besides various Christian denominations, has now a considerable population of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, non-believers, etc.

Talking about the religious course bill, Zed pointed out that it would be difficult to find teachers of Hinduism and other minority religions in smaller communities. Non-Hindu students, however, would be welcome to Hinduism classes wherever available when this bill was implemented, Zed added.

Source: Oye! Times