Belonging and Being Different

Last updated on: March 1, 2012 at 4:05 pm by Guest Contributor

Belonging and Being Different 2012-03-01T16:05:19-07:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

[This post is part of a conversation on the new book Being Different by Rajiv Malhotra, now featured at the Patheos Book Club.]

By Indrani Rampersad, PhD
Senior Research Fellow (Hidden Cultures Project)
The University of Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad, W.I.

As someone born into the Dharmic Traditions in the Caribbean where my ancestors have lived hundreds of years and where my internal and external space were bombarded by the oppressive presence of persons and institutions that were forcibly, selfishly, and exclusively promoting their Judeo-Christian ideology, I have spent all of my years in a constant struggle to BE myself and to SEE myself in the world around me. I have struggled with the issues that Being Different so brilliantly articulates for people like us who are born into and live most of our lives almost in a Twilight Zone of sorts.

This text bridges the gap between the academy and the masses. It brings the distillation of ideas from a hardcore scholarly level down to one that most ordinary folks can understand.

The text should be prescribed reading for people trying to understand why they find it difficult to “belong” in hegemonic societies, and for those who exercise the hegemony so they can appreciate the violence that they are perpetuating and perhaps do something about it.

People like me are better able to find our bearings in a Judeo-Christian and western world, when we read Being Different. This text, in a way, sets up important navigation directions for the interface between Dharmic and Abrahmic traditions. It is a jewel in the Samudra Manthan.

Many Thanks to the author and to you for choosing this text for discussion.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 1, 2012

Hijacked: A Q&A with Mike Slaughter and Chuck Gutenson

Next Post

March 2, 2012 Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: Reflections on "Hijacked"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Author Q&A Book Review Christian Living Church Leadership Stump a Scholar Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2022 March 2021 October 2020 August 2020 February 2019 November 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the name of the field bought with Judas' betrayal money?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Aceldama Golgotha Potter's Field Field of Blood