We are All Hindus Now

Although 76 percent of Americans continue to identify themselves as Christian, more and more of them are coming to think like Hindus in terms of God, ourselves, each other, and eternity. In a Newsweek article, Lisa Miller points out that in a 2008 Pew Forum Survey, 65 percent of Americans believe that "Many religions can lead to eternal life" — including 37 percent of white evangelicals who were taught that Jesus is the one and only way to salvation. Hindus, of course, believe that there are many paths to God.

Miller also points to the phenomenon of people who now identify themselves as "spiritual, not religious." These individuals have no qualms about doing yoga, going on vision quests, or meditating. This kind of experimenting with whatever works for you also sounds Hindu. According to a 2008 poll, 24 percent of Americans believe in reincarnation and there are many more cremations than ever before. Yet more Hindu practices and another sign of the changes taking place in beliefs about important matters. Although only about a million Hindus live in the United States, their understanding of things is gaining ground.