[Steelfish]

Logical dissonance? Try this. Indian presidents are appointed by legislative assemblies. They are not elected by the people at large. Simply because a minority is elected to high office doesn’t mean that the ritual and practice of casteism so central to Hindu adherents is ipso facto wiped off. This is no more illogical than saying that because a State elects a Black governor, racism has ended.

You continue to beat a dead horse. Institutions of slavery and racism was endemic in all levels of society including religious sects where this was in vogue, very much like the Christian Churches during segregation. Indeed, the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa did practice apartheid. But why do you reach back decades and millenia to explain away what is endemic to Hindu India both then and now?

Your comment that “Sati was nowhere near the norm in Indian society” to brush off this barbaric Hindu practice is mind-boggling. To make matters worse, you resort to a supreme non sequitur of comparing this to witch-burning and then conveniently affix to it a “Protestant” label. Are you serious? This was a practice that pre-dated Christianity.

You need to admit honestly and forcefully that Hinduism in its primary belief forms, rituals, and practices, indeed how castes sprung up from the mouth of a legendary deity is viewed by many ( at least in the post-Enlightenment period) as a gutter belief perpetuated by millions of illiterates and jealously guarded vi et armis where necessary by equally illiterate Brahmin temple high priests.

[James C. Bennett]

It's called an Electoral College- and the Legislative Assembly, by the way, requires popular support. I am aware of the Parliamentary system, thank you very much. Besides, the position of the President in India's system can get quite powerful, because of the fractitious nature of coalition politics. The President's voice becomes uniquely powerful - as has been the case, especially with this particular aforementioned President.

Please read what the first Indian Dalit president mentioned, in his inaugural address. I have posted it in one of my comments above.

The reason I reached back in recent history to point out religion-sanctioned (or made so) racism in European history, was because you are oblivious to the fact that you maintain double-standards and pretend to be a neutral arbiter, at the same time. If something is good for the goose, it must be good for the gander as well.

Let me illustrate: You tried to showcase the hereditary priesthood practice in Hinduism (contrary to the very teachings of the Gita) as a unique flaw. When I posted information on the exact same system in Judaism, you tried to explain it away with nonsense like "passing noble Talmudic knowledge within priestly families" or so, as if non-hereditary transmission would soil the "noble Talmudic knowledge". Perhaps you can argue FOR re-establishing hereditary priesthood for Judaism, next?

Please give me the percentage relevance for Sati in India. Also, provide the reason for the curious absence of Sati in the southern states, which have historically been more conservatively Hindu. Also account for why Sati is predominant in those parts of India which saw violent Muslim invasions and rape campaigns.

Also note, you have slyly and conveniently ignored the witch-burnings and other gross murders committed with religious sanction, in Europe. Let me illustrate:

Like with Hinduism, racism was explained away through the Curse of Ham reference, and several verses condoning slavery and indentured, bonded labour. Look above for those verses which someone posted here. Now, will you advocate indentured servitude as Biblically permitted, at least for the Jews, in this day and age? Give me your stance.

The Bhagavad-Gita is quite clear about caste in several passages:

"With joy of light and truth; dwelling apart
Upon a peak, with senses subjugate
Whereto the clod, the rock, the glistering gold
Show all as one. By this sign is he known
Being of equal grace to comrades, friends,
Chance-comers, strangers, lovers, enemies,
Aliens and kinsmen; loving all alike,
Evil or good."

- Bhagavad Gita, Ch: VI, lines 25-32.

"I am alike for all! I know not hate,
I know not favor! What is made is Mine!
But them that worship Me with love, I love;
They are in Me, and I in them!

Nay, Prince!
If one of evil life turn in his thought
Straightly to Me, count him amidst the good;
He hath the highway chosen; he shall grow
Righteous ere long; he shall attain that peace
Which changes not. Thou Prince of India!
Be certain none can perish, trusting Me!
O Prithâ’s Son! whoso will turn to Me,
Though they be born from the very womb of Sin,
Woman or man; sprung of the Vaisya caste
Or lowly disregarded Sudra,—all
Plant foot upon the highest path; how then
The holy Brahmans My Royal Saints?
Ah! ye who into this ill world are come—
Fleeting and false—set your faith fast on Me!
Fix heart and thought on Me! Adore Me! Bring
Offerings to Me! Make Me prostrations! Make
Me your supremest joy! and, undivided,
Unto My rest your spirits shall be guided."

- Bhagavad-Gita, Ch: IX, lines 113-135.

"He sees indeed who sees in all alike
The living, lordly Soul; the Soul Supreme,
Imperishable amid the Perishing:
For, whoso thus beholds, in every place,
In every form, the same, one, Living Lord,
Doth no more wrongfulness unto himself,
But goes the highest road which brings to bliss.
Seeing, he sees, indeed, who sees that works
Are Nature’s wont, for Soul to use, not love,
Acting, yet not the actor; sees the mass
Of separate living things—each of its kind—
Issue from One, and blend again to One:
Then hath he BRAHMA, he attains!

O Prince!
That Ultimate, High Spirit, Uncreate,
Unqualified, even when it entereth flesh
Taketh no stain of acts, worketh in nought!
Like to th’ ethereal air, pervading all,
Which, for sheer subtlety, avoideth taint,
The subtle Soul sits everywhere, unstained:
Like to the light of the all-piercing sun
[Which is not changed by aught it shines upon],
The Soul’s light shineth pure in every place;
And they who, by such eye of wisdom see
How matter, and what deals with it, divide;
And how the Spirit and the flesh have strife,
These wise ones go the way which leads to Life!"

- Bhagavad-Gita, Ch: XIII, lines 99-125.

As I mentioned before, if Hindus stuck to their own scripture, they would find it impossible to legitimise caste discrimination. No 'Curse of Ham' for them to justify it. You have, so far utterly failed to not only counter this point, but to also account satisfactorily for the glaring exceptions that I have pointed out throughout the comments section of this article to you, not limited to Dalit personalities gaining power in India, the issue of hereditary priesthood, the insane writings of your champion, Mr. Kancha Illaiah, who blames Catholic priests and nuns for Indian racism, the example of a powerful and massively popular Dalit female religious figure, the justifications for slavery and indentured servitude in the Bible, and the like.