In this episode of That’s So Hindu, Mat McDermott talks with Professor Jeffrey D Long (Elizabethtown College) about the deep roots and growing presence of Hinduism in the United States. We explore the history from the colonial period to modern American spirituality, and how Western leaders and intellectuals have been influenced by Hindu thought for the past 250 years
In this episode:
- The early awareness of Indian influence in America dating back to the 1600s
- The role of founding fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in engaging with Indian texts and ideas
- American perceptions of Hindu concepts, including reincarnation and caste, in the 18th and 19th centuries
- The transcendentalist movement, Emerson and Thoreau's fascination with Hindu philosophy, and its influence on American culture
- The emergence of Hindu organizations and the impact of Swami Vivekananda’s arrival in the US
- The relationship between Western philosophical traditions and Hindu thought, highlighting influences from Greece to America
- The evolution of Hindu-American identity and the modern resurgence of Hindu pride and pride in its philosophical heritage
Timestamps:
00:24 - Jeffrey Long’s bio and his book “Hinduism in America”
01:05 - Personal connection to Hindu practices and history in America
01:41 - Early Indian influence in colonial America
02:09 - American figures and their interest in Hindu texts
03:05 - The growth of Hindu temples across the U.S.
04:01 - The convergence of Hindu migrant communities and American-born Hindus
05:14 - The rise of non-Indian Hindus in America
07:19 - Historical references to Hindus in the 1600s
08:05 - Indian sailors and early Asian presence in America
10:24 - Founding fathers’ fascination with Hindu philosophy
11:47 - Deism, Jefferson’s Bible, and early American religious diversification
13:10 - Influence of Benjamin Franklin and Quaker spirituality
14:04 - George Washington and early American religious tolerance
15:01 - Reflections on religious pluralism in the founding era
16:43 - Indian influence and references in early American literature
17:19 - Public perception and common knowledge of Hinduism in early America
18:05 - Education and awareness of Hindu beliefs among common people
19:57 - Stereotypes and misconceptions of Hinduism in the 19th century
20:49 - Mythologies around Jesus' travels in India
21:16 - Broad understanding and stereotypes of Hindu beliefs
22:50 - Challenges and pushback against religious pluralism
24:15 - Influence of Transcendentalism on American thought
25:39 - Emerson’s interest in Hindu texts and nature spirituality
29:57 - The Theosophical Society and wave of Indian nationalism
32:20 - Vivekananda’s groundbreaking impact at the World Parliament of Religions
39:12 - The first influential Indian teachers in America before Vivekananda
44:39 - Western expectations of Swami Vivekananda’s appearance and presentation
48:52 - The role of Vivekananda in inspiring Indian independence and pride
50:48 - The potential for a renewed dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies
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