1. One of the biggest threat to Hindu practices in contemporary times is the so called 'Scientific Temper' which by its very definition and its ideological underpinnings is deeply problematic.
2. There is a big fad among contemporary Hindu society to tout Hinduism as being Scientific and this they believe is what differentiates Hindu dharma from Abrahamics.
Of course, it goes without saying this is a gullible position & will only end in dismantling of Hindu practice.
Of course, it goes without saying this is a gullible position & will only end in dismantling of Hindu practice.
3. It is true that there are elements of Science in some branches of Hinduism. It is also true that Hindu philosophy is not anti-physical science.
4. However, Hindu Dharma in itself is not Scientific as Scientific is generally understood. Hindu dharma deals with vast areas of knowledge, many of which are non-empirical, hence, beyond the scope of science.
5. More importantly, when it is stated Hinduism is Scientific, it implies a subscription into Scientific model of Knowledge. Stated differently, it implies an acceptance of scientific methods of acquiring knowledge as the only valid means of knowledge.
6. The scientific method is based on principles of verifiability and falsifiability. And anything that do not fall under this is automatically designated as 'Unscientific' which is taken as 'untrue' , 'false', 'superstitious', 'blind belief' etc.
7. However, fact is scientific methods are limited by their reliance on empirical world and as such, non-empirical entities and phenomenon are beyond its scope. So the so called unscientific need not be false or superstitious, but it could simply be 'Beyond the Scope of Science'.
8. It is for this reason, the Hindu epistemology does not merely reply upon Pratyasksha (Perception) and Anumana (logic) as valid means of knowledge. It also has Shabda or verbal testimony as valid and independant Pramana/source of knowledge.
9. Most Hindu practices derive their authority from this Shabda-Pramana in the form of Sruti, Smriti, Purana, Agama,a Tantras and the Guru-Shishya Parampara that practices and propagates the teachings of the Shastras.
10. Therefore, practices like Pashubali should never be judged based on Science because science simply does not have tools to make any judgement. It is simply outside the purview of science and as such being unscientific does not mean 'false', 'superstitious' or bad, etc.
11. Further, being 'Unscientific' does not automatically mean something is 'devoid of reason'. That is another misconception. Reason is not exclusive domain of Science. Reason do not work independently. It works by anchoring itself to an anchor.
12. Such an anchor is empirical knowledge in the case of science. However, that is not the only anchor. In Hindu Dharma, Shastra is the anchor on which reasoning functions.
13. All these oppositions to pashubali is rooted in the Abrahamic prejudice towards certain Hindu practices which has been internalized by Hindu society and believe this internalization as what makes them modern, scientific, and progressive.
CC @TheRajarshi
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