University of Cincinnati (UC), public research university, is offering “Yoga in its Hindu Matrix”, a three-credit course in Religious Studies, in the upcoming Fall semester.Course description points out that this course will introduce students to Hindu mystical beliefs and practices.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, welcoming this Hinduism related course, called it a “step in the positive direction” for UC.Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, however, criticized the imbalanced approach of UC’s Religious Studies offerings. Besides this course, there was reportedly no other Hinduism related class in the 81 courses offered.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought; and it deserved respectable position in the religious studies departments of all universities/colleges. A public research university like UC should not be in the business of highlighting certain religions and turning blind eye to certain others, Rajan Zed indicated.
Zed urged UC Trustees Chair Thomas D. Cassady and President Neville G. Pinto to launch a thorough overhaul of the Religious Studies so that Hinduism got the fair share it deserved.UC, founded in 1819 and which calls itself a “premier academic institution and a public research powerhouse”, serves over 44,000 students.