Can Religious People Be “Cool”?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:30 pm by Ambaa Choate

Can Religious People Be “Cool”? 2015-03-13T22:30:12-04:00 Ambaa Choate

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When I posted about bumper stickers some people said they didn’t think most Hindus would show off their faith in that way because it’s not “cool” to be religious. It’s not something people want to show off. They pointed out that these days there’s a real emphasis on being intellectual and modern. Looking down on religion of all kinds is what’s “in.”

I hadn’t thought about it like that but I can see their point.

I suppose a lot of young people are interested in being hip, modern, and jaded. An ancient way of life like Hinduism may feel out dated? This is something that religions the world over struggle with: maintaining young people, passing on the faith for the next generation. I do think that Hinduism is broad enough that it can easily hold both the older traditionalists and the modern young (and any combination thereof!).

To me, Truth is Truth, so Hinduism is still completely relevant to modern life. But then I’ve never been someone that people called “cool.” I’ve always forged my own path. I’ve come to believe that what makes someone cool is the determination to stick to your own beliefs even if those around you think you’re wrong or naive. As opposed to when you’re a teenager and it feels like the only way to be cool is to fit in and be accepted by those who are setting the standard. I believe you have to be the one setting that standard, at least for yourself.

While I could say look to me as an example of how young people can still embrace Hinduism, I’m honestly not that young anymore! I think the young people who are showing how Hinduism can fit into their lives are those on college campuses who create, maintain, and join Hindu Student Association chapters or Hindu Students Council chapters.

It is these passionate young people who are our future!

https://www.facebook.com/guhsa

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/hso/

http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/services/chaplain/studentorgs/node/261296

This is a video about the Hindu Student Organization that I was a part of back in graduate school! (Of course, that was several years ago now and the people I knew aren’t there any more!)

Watch through the discussion at the end because there’s a great variety of experiences these kids have.

One of the guys didn’t grow up in America but came to study from India and he points out that he didn’t start really paying attention to what Hinduism meant to him until he was apart from it. I think America can forge very strong Hindus because you have to fight for it. It’s not surrounding you unless you put it there. Hindu identity becomes so important because you don’t want to lose the culture of your ancestors and you don’t want to get swallowed whole by America. Fighting for a Hindu identity gives you a great strength and conviction.

The people joining these student organizations are not only proudly maintaining their spiritual side through college and graduate school, they are also reaching out to other students and teaching them about Hinduism as well as sharing festivals.

It warms my heart to see all these young people keeping their Hindu faith strong!

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