By Zeus! (Greeks return to paganism)

Guardian ^ | February 1, 2007

[NYer]

It was high noon when Doreta Peppa, a woman with long, dark locks and owlish eyes, entered the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. At first, tourists visiting the Athenian temple thought they had stumbled on to a film set. It wasn't just that Peppa cut a dramatic figure with her flowing robes and garlanded hair. Or that she seemed to be in a state of near euphoria. Or even that the group of men and women accompanying her - dressed as warriors and nymphets in kitsch ancient garb - appeared to have stepped straight out of the city's Golden Age.

To the astonishment of onlookers, Peppa also began babbling Orphic hymns, before thrusting her arms upwards into the Attic skies and proceeding, somewhat deliriously, to warble her love for the gods of Mount Olympus. But, then, for the motley group of modern pagans coalesced around the temple's giant Corinthian columns, this was a special moment. Not since the late fourth century AD, when the newly Christian Roman state outlawed all forms of pagan worship, had a high priestess officiated on the sacred site.

Armed with white doves, Peppa, a former advertising executive, was not going to hold back - even if it meant defying the furious Greek officials and riot police gathered at the second-century temple's gates, unwilling to stop the ceremony for fear of provoking a violent confrontation. "Sixteen and a half centuries is a very long time to wait," she said. "After so many years of Christian persecution we were finally able to call on Zeus, our king-god, to bring peace to the world ahead of the [2008] Olympics. For us, it was a very, very big thing."

[Mrs. Don-o]

"BTW the majority Muslims in US are not immigrants from middle east or South Asia. They are mostly Afro-Americans converts."

Do you have a source for that? According to "American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion," by Paul Barrett,:

"People of South Asian descent — those with roots in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — make up 34 percent of American Muslims ... Arab-Americans constitute 26 percent, while another 20 percent are native-born American blacks, most of whom are converts. The remaining 20 percent come from Africa, Iran, Turkey and elsewhere."

Thus 80% of US Muslims are immigrants or children of immigrants; and 20% are African-American.

[Gengis Khan]

As I said "I am considering ISKCON only for example." ISKCON isnt really mainstream Hinduism. ISKCON is more of a re-packaging of Hinduism for the western world and was founded by a person called Sri Prabhupada in the US in the 70's. It quickly turned into a fad in the 70's and thats how it gained instant popularity (it wasn't always about understanding or acceptance of Hinduism but for many it was more of a fashion trend).
Just like Rajaneesh's "Osho", ISKCON came to India from the US not the other way round. And except for its association with Hinduism it has little to do with India. I was considering the case of ISKCON because outside of India its among the only few most visible Hindu organizations.

[Gengis Khan]

"They also have missionary headquarters all over Europe."

I am not sure they are "headquarters". Outside the United Kingdom most of those are actually listed as "rural communities", "restaurants" or just some obscure contact details. BTW I dont belong to ISKCON.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for the background on ISKCON.

What are the major "really Hindu" missionary organizations, then?

[Gengis Khan]

BullDog108 can actually tell us more about ISKCON.

Pinging you BullDog108.

[Gengis Khan]

"What are the major "really Hindu" missionary organizations, then?"

ISKCON is very much Hindu. Just that it wasn't born in India. And there is no such thing as real Hinduism except that which most Hindus practice and there are a billion contradiction even in that. ISKCON isn't what most people in India follow but it is still "Hindu".

If you are asking what are the most prominent Hindu missionary organizations then...........ISKCON would be one and Ram Krishna Mission would be the other (Ram Krishna Mission is actually from India). And you would also have the World Hindu Council started by Swami Chinmayananda which is actually more of political nature.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you.

[Gengis Khan]

""People of South Asian descent — those with roots in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — make up 34 percent of American Muslims ... Arab-Americans constitute 26 percent, while another 20 percent are native-born American blacks, most of whom are converts. The remaining 20 percent come from Africa, Iran, Turkey and elsewhere." "

I am not sure how accurate that observation is. The author may have included emigrants from South Asia and middle east who come here as visitors, student or on work permits....... in which case they are still foreigners, not Americans. In that case, yes, their number maybe larger.

I had read a different article (probably written by Fareed Zakharia cant remember) which said the largest group of American Muslims in the US are Afro-Americans (which also includes people following Nation of Islam). In fact Islam is the fastest growing religion in US because of conversions inside prisons where you have a large population of Afro Americans.

[BullDog108]

Yes, ISKCON has a center in Greece. ISKCON has also branched off into many different sects, there is much disagreement since the Founder/Acharya Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada died in 1976. There are also many other Gaudiya Vaisnava (the actual formal name of the Hare Krishna religion) temples thruout the Western world.

I'm travelling to Kolkata next week for their annual festival.

FRegards, BullDog

[SunkenCiv]

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