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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
hindu ceremony okay to attend?	Elizabeth	Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Question: My high school daughter is 15 and goes to a school that has a very diverse population of mainly first- or second- generation East Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Sikhs, Irani, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao, Hispanic, and Russian kids--you name it--as well as more mainstream types of American kids. A Hindu friend of hers invited her to attend (but not participate in) a Hindu ceremony at the friend's home. I worry about demonic influence at such an occassion. Would it be okay for her to go (in the name of cultural exchange and understanding) or should she stay home (in the name of spiritual caution)? Also, she has friends who are Wiccan (!). I have warned her about this and advised her to stay away, but she is quite a reader and a book on topic would be more convincing than good old mom, I think. She has a college-level reading ability, so could read anything. Do you know of an authoritative work that would spell the matter out clearly for her? Thank you so much and God bless you for your good works.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Elizabeth: The answer to your question depends on what Hindu ceremony we are talking about. Some of their ceremonies may be spiritual dangerous and not worth the cultural interest -- especially for a 15 year old. Despite how "grown-up" she may think of herself and despite how carefully she thinks she can "think" with caution and prudence, the biological facts prove that such abilities are limites. The teenage brain is not fully formed and cannot process things in the way that an adult brain can. Thus, if she was my daughter I would not let her attend. I would also not allow Wiccan friends. The Bible specifially warns us not to associate with such people. I do not know of any books that deal with the dangers of Hinduism specifically. Elements of Hinduism are in the New Age philosophies. I would recommend our Spirirtual Warfare Reading List as a place to start for your daughter. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

hindu ceremony okay to attend?

Elizabeth

Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Question:

My high school daughter is 15 and goes to a school that has a very diverse population of mainly first- or second- generation East Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Sikhs, Irani, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao, Hispanic, and Russian kids--you name it--as well as more mainstream types of American kids.

A Hindu friend of hers invited her to attend (but not participate in) a Hindu ceremony at the friend's home. I worry about demonic influence at such an occassion. Would it be okay for her to go (in the name of cultural exchange and understanding) or should she stay home (in the name of spiritual caution)?

Also, she has friends who are Wiccan (!). I have warned her about this and advised her to stay away, but she is quite a reader and a book on topic would be more convincing than good old mom, I think. She has a college-level reading ability, so could read anything. Do you know of an authoritative work that would spell the matter out clearly for her?

Thank you so much and God bless you for your good works.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Elizabeth:

The answer to your question depends on what Hindu ceremony we are talking about. Some of their ceremonies may be spiritual dangerous and not worth the cultural interest -- especially for a 15 year old. Despite how "grown-up" she may think of herself and despite how carefully she thinks she can "think" with caution and prudence, the biological facts prove that such abilities are limites. The teenage brain is not fully formed and cannot process things in the way that an adult brain can. Thus, if she was my daughter I would not let her attend.

I would also not allow Wiccan friends. The Bible specifially warns us not to associate with such people.

I do not know of any books that deal with the dangers of Hinduism specifically. Elements of Hinduism are in the New Age philosophies.

I would recommend our Spirirtual Warfare Reading List as a place to start for your daughter.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum