How Hinduism has survived despite centuries of repeated attacks on it?

Question

Hinduism is world’s oldest major religion. It has been there for around 5000 years and follower are huge, around billion.

Despite centuries of repeated attacks and brutality by Muslim rulers on Hindus, aggressive conversions by christian missionaries for last 200 hundred years and despite deep impact of Buddhism in east Asia, how it is survived?

Answer 1

It is the absolute truth. You call it hinduism or by any other name. By way of science or by intuition or by realization, whenver total knowledge is obtained, it would be the same as hinduism.

One may probably interpret this as a fanatic view. But just look at its teachings. It has stood the test of time and all its sermons are timeless truths.

Look at it from another angle. It is closed philosophy at one end and open at the other. You do not have to struggle to integrate cloning, test tube baby or any other newer invention unlike many other religions.

Answer 2

The Hindu drank in with his mother's milk that this life is as nothing--a dream. In this he is at one with the Westerners; but the Westerner sees no further and his conclusion is that of the Charvaka--to "make hay while the sun shines." "This world being a miserable hole, let us enjoy to the utmost what morsels of pleasure are left to us." To the Hindu, on the other hand, God and soul are the only realities, infinitely more real than this world, and he is therefore ever ready to let this go for the other.

Answer 3

It is because "Satya meva Jayatey"...which means Truth shall prevail.

Hinduism is the only true way of living life. Thats why no matter how many different cultures try to change it, it will remain intact.

And more over Bhagwan Krishna has said "Paritranaya sadhoo naam, vinashaya cha dushkritam, Dharma sanstha panarthaya.. sambhawani yugey yugey.."...

To rejuvenate the good people.. and kill the evil and to re-establish religion in this World He will re-incarnate again and again.

Hinduism will survive, no matter how much the Christian missionaries or Islamic Fundamentalists try.

Answer 4

Of course it had some effects cause by years of distortions, Hinduism is a water down version of Brahmanism.

Back in the day of Buddha, he had high praises of the piety of the real Brahmans, and Buddha had expressed sorrows for the degeneration in the True Brahmanism as Religion.

Answer 5

Hinduism survived because of its flexible philosophy. " Bow down if you see a powerful enemy and destroy if he is weaker than you".

Using this magical trick, the Hindus bowed down before Greeks, Muslims and the British. But ruthlessly uprooted the Buddhists, the Jains and the Portuguese.

They married their princesses to Muslim Kings, they accepted the secularist politics of the British and so on.

                                            Muhammad Javed Iqbal