Hindus upset at labeling of rebirth doctrine as "horrible" on an American TV show

Nevada (US), (ANI): Hindus are upset over religion author-commentator Stephen Prothero describing their rebirth tenet as "horrible" in a recent "The Colbert Report" television show.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that the purpose was to realize God and Self-realization sometimes required many lives of spiritual development. Rebirth offered us another chance and continuity, starting our exploration where we left it off with a head start.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said- ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) told us: Just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and acquires new ones, so the Self, who lives within, abandons the worn-out body and acquires the new one.

The ultimate goal, Rajan Zed pointed out, however, was to break the cycle of birth and death and achieve moksh (liberation), a timeless state and union with God where soul entered into eternal bliss, achieved by overcoming desires and ignorance among other means. Amritabindu Upanishad also told us to go beyond rebirth.

Ideas of rebirth had appeared in other religions also, Zed argued.Meanwhile, Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening has asked Prothero to apologize for his comments, which she said were unjustified and unacceptable.

Prothero stated in this show: "In Hinduism, the problem is we keep getting reborn over and over and over again and that is horrible".

"The Colbert Report" show has garnered ratings and critical success as one of the top shows on television. Prothero is a Boston University professor, religion commentator, and author of various books, including bestseller "Religious Literacy: What Americans Need to Know". Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. (ANI)