Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims Blast Rick Santorum On 'Equality' Comment

By Omar Sacirbey
Religion News Service

(RNS) Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus are accusing Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum of bigotry and ignorance after he said that "equality" is solely a Judeo-Christian concept.

"Where do you think the concept of equality comes from?" Santorum said on the campaign trail last Friday (Jan. 20). "It doesn't come from Islam. It doesn't come from the East and Eastern religions. It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Not everyone agreed.

"Sen. Santorum's presidential campaign is now playing to the lowest common denominator of religious bigotry and prejudice by attacking Eastern religions and Islam," said Aseem Shukla of the Hindu American Foundation. Santorum's comments, Shukla added, "show a profound ignorance of the teachings of Dharma spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism."

Santorum's campaign did not answer repeated requests for comment.

Critics said Santorum -- a devout Catholic -- not only has his politics wrong, but also his history.

For example, in the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, the god Krishna writes, "I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear."

"Indian religions predate Abraham, Jacob and all that Rick Santorum was talking about," said Sulekh Jain of Sugar Land, Texas, chairman of the International School for Jain Studies. "All souls are equal in every way. All feel pain and all feel pleasure. This concept is deeply embedded in the whole philosophy of Jainism."

Sikhs, who also trace their religion to India, were equally upset.

"In Sikhism, all human beings have equal status in the eyes of God. No differentiation in status or ceremonies or rights is made between men and women, rich and poor, foreigner and countryman, high caste or low caste," said Manbeena Kaur, education director for the New York-based Sikh Coalition.

"Sikhs have had this belief in and practice of equality as a spiritual mandate long before the political revolutions that brought freedom to America and much of the Western world."

Buddhism expert Toshie Kurihara argues equality was a foundational teaching of the Buddha.

"The Buddha preached against the caste system and advocated equality of all people. From the beginning, Buddhism espoused the concept of equality of all people," she wrote last year in the Journal of Oriental Studies.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would send Santorum a copy of the Quran, Islam's holy text.

"The Quran is the best refutation of Mr. Santorum's inaccurate and offensive remarks," said Ibrahim Hooper, a CAIR spokesman.

The group cited Quran verses and sayings of Islam's Prophet Muhammad that supported equality. For example, Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, "All people are equal as the teeth of a comb."

Comments

[kmclawson70]

02:59 AM on 03/28/2012

Just imagine if Rick Santorum became president, and he had to meet foreign delegates. For instance The president of India, Pratibha Patil. She's Hindu and a woman, who has more respect in her country, than Rick Santorum currently has here. The position he would be forced to confront would be laughable and a travesty rolled into one. Until Rick Santorum can get his head out oh the 1600's, he is in no way shape or form ready to lead the United States.

[spicedust]

04:17 PM on 03/19/2012

There is no caste systems they are called Varnas. People used to recognize each other by the work they did. There last name usually indicated their profession. Like Bhraman, Shatriya, Vaishnava and Sudra or (Harijan). Brahmans supposed live on Alms. Shatriya are the warriors, who ruled and looked after the kingly affairs, Vaishnavas are the traders who went around the world. Sudras or harijans are the favorite people of Lord Vishnu or Hari. He gave enormous physical strength to these people to do the most difficult tasks like plowing in a paddy field. These people where responsible for feeding the rest of the society. When Islam and Christian missionaries entered India, they simply wanted new followers hence started the division among different Varnas. Hence today you'll find the Islam converts and Christian converts are of Harijans. They fed on their insecurities to attract to their faiths!

[cr33839]

01:50 PM on 03/18/2012

wow he is really giving to much credit to his religion. true equality does not come from religions at all, its really all based in secular philosophy. religions do speak of equality, but that has not helped to promote equality at all. the caste system is often misinterpreted, and while it has come to be not equal, all it meant originally was each caste had a certain duty. it was not simply a stratification system, and the people at the bottom, the untouchables, were believed to be there because they did not fulfill their duty well in a past life. this is such a western centric way of thinking that shows a great ignorance of other cultures viewpoints and traditions.

[Paul R Calnan Sr]

07:14 PM on 03/24/2012

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is equality!

[cr33839]

12:24 AM on 03/27/2012

yeah, but that is one phrase out of a book that also has verses which limit equality, and certain viewpoints in christianity do not promote equality, such as predestination.

[noituac36]

12:18 PM on 02/19/2012

Hindus have had the caste system for the longest time. To deny this would be absurd. Equality today is a cool phrase and Hindus want to take that for themselves when they've had the caste system since the time religion started.

"The four-fold order was created by Me according to the divisions of quality and work. Though I am its creator, know Me to be incapable of action or change."- Bhagavad Gita.

Although in Islam, equality is highly valued and this baboon is too stupid to know that.

[lolo-throne]

07:26 PM on 02/20/2012

Unfortunately all religions have embarrassing concepts. You provided a perfect in Hinduism. Similarly, slavery has been greatly discussed and accepted in the Abrahamic religions (which include Islam). I'm sure the ancient Hindus probably practiced that as well. Lets not forget the Feudal system in Europe. Also the obvious inequality towards women by all religions.
In the end, who cares. As long as your religion gives you comfort and helps you be a better person different than yourself.

[noituac36]

03:41 AM on 03/28/2012

I agree with you 100%. All religions have their own flaws, we just have to focus on the good side of it..Kudos on your comment.

[spicedust]

04:40 PM on 03/19/2012

FYI, Krshna is not referring to caste system when he says four-fold order.

He is referring to Kriyas or work in a organized society. Work done by the Priest, King, Trader and the Farmer. To sustain a functional society one needs to have people working towards elevating spiritual knowledge (hence he created Bhramins, anyone can become a bhraman if he indulge in enhancing spirituality of self and others) An Able administrator (Read King), hence he created Shatriyas, who can safe guard his people from any adversities. Economy is highly important for any society, hence he created the Vaishnavas. They were the financial nerves of the society. And then he created the most important class of people, the farmers and others, whithout whom one cannot get anything done, hence he called them Harijan.

In vedic india people always identified by their profession irrespective of who they are born to. Max Mullers and others have just ruined the truth, so that people can join the new faith! If India was so divided by the caste system, it would have not seen any progress.

India is a mess today, but vedic India is not.

[Yoga is Hindu]

06:06 PM on 03/27/2012

You are absolutely right...Vedic India was not a mess. Today, we are in Kali Yuga...it's only going to get worse.

[Adamocrates]

06:41 PM on 04/05/2012

You say he is not referring to the caste system. Then you follow it by saying, "What he is referring to is..." and then you perfectly explain exactly what the caste sytstem is. That is like someone else saying. I'm not referring to the number four. I'm referring to 1+1+1+1.

[ArchbishopBenevolent]

06:41 PM on 02/18/2012

I cannot believe a man with Rick Santorum virulent spirit, small mindedness, and hateful bigotry is a serious Republican candidate. How low has the party of Lincoln fallen.

[dprr]

11:13 AM on 02/14/2012

Somebody remind me what the religion was of those people who came to the Americas, stole land from the savages, committed genocide against them, and brought African slaves to the new world.

[mngost]

01:38 PM on 02/08/2012

obama actually knows hindus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuiAW_6XKVM

[Yvetter]

01:54 PM on 02/07/2012

Our tribes in the US were 95% Matriarchal. Everything revolved around the Clan Mothers. But the Men that came here refused to speak and deal with women leaders. Christians did not bring equality to the US. They in fact, did the opposite.

[Tich Tran]

02:18 PM on 02/05/2012

What a idiot! I am a (economic) conservative but even I know that the bible doesn't teach equality. God is KING and so is David and his descendants. Women are subjects of the men. In fact DEMOCRACY CAME FROM THE PAGAN GREEKS. Idiot.

[That One]

07:05 PM on 02/20/2012

I'll take those pagan Greeks any day over any kingdom.

[Rich Sirella]

03:21 PM on 02/04/2012

rick sanatorium- an individual who is afraid in the world, if he knew better he would'nt make such statements (and the like minded) thats why they have to cling to bibles, and not pay attention to the world as it is. there afraid to play with the other kids on the play ground. you can develop great insight into a person by looking at the kind of child they are. HIS SOUL IS NOT READY TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC, he has a vile tongue, it only seperates people. he still a pupil and pupet to ignorance.

[sweetkarma]

01:11 PM on 02/04/2012

what a pin head... the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam... if you want a president who has not done his research..choose pinhead santorum. Oh and belittling other religions like Hinduism, Sikhism and others will not get you votes either.. seriously.. you would think this person would learn a lesson or two from life... but no.. he speaks with well known air headish ignorance that not even George W. Bush stooped to..

devout catholic..? i don't think Jesus would agree with your comments mr. santorum since he only preached love, forgiveness and one god.. you fail on all three counts.

[philopking]

11:49 PM on 02/02/2012

Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord. (Colossians 3:22 NAB)

[ILoveTheUSofA]

10:36 PM on 02/02/2012

I suppose we would owe it to the profound devotion of Christians to the concept of equality if there had never been a slave trade to the overwhelmingly Christian southern states of the U.S. Except that, of course, there was.

And of course, the slave trade conducted by Islamic nations was much greater in numbers and much more cruel.

[JoyC124]

06:29 PM on 02/02/2012

Christianity promotes equality? that's news to me as a woman (telling me to submit, and obey my husband, the reason sin came into the world, not call by God to teach or have authority over a man)

[kharrast]

08:10 PM on 01/30/2012

At least Santorum's comment was veiled bigotry. H.W Bushy said of atheists that they are neither citizens or patriots. How's that for a slap in the face. Because of your non belief you are not to be considered a citizen.

[Vlad Roudenko]

10:02 PM on 01/30/2012

Well, Bush said that the US is a "Christian" nation. His reasoning with regard to citizenship and patriotism is not that hard to understand. I wonder what he thought of the Jews and Muslims.

[kharrast]

10:23 PM on 01/30/2012

I don't have a citation but I've read that he G.H.W.B. believed in tolerance for other religions but that tolerance did/does not extend to no religion. Perhaps this was due to cold war enemies and needing to be us vs them. The latter part being my own speculation.

It still does not make me feel like America has freedom of religion if it does not include freedom from it.