For all practical purposes, Hinduism is a religion. The multitude of interpretations of the word 'Dharma' only indicates that for Hindus, the scope of what constitutes religion is much more vast than Abrahamic religions.
There's an interesting observable trend here.
Polytheism: Every aspect of human behaviour and society is connected to Divinity.
Monotheism: Separation of human behaviour and society into secular and religious.
Liberalism: Religious fervour is limited to political activism alone.
Polytheism: Every aspect of human behaviour and society is connected to Divinity.
Monotheism: Separation of human behaviour and society into secular and religious.
Liberalism: Religious fervour is limited to political activism alone.
Why I think this happened:
Monotheism abandoned all Gods but one. So, certain aspects of human existence had to be set beyond the domain of religion for a society to function coherently. Liberalism further mutilated the One God because efficiency was put on the highest pedestal.
Monotheism abandoned all Gods but one. So, certain aspects of human existence had to be set beyond the domain of religion for a society to function coherently. Liberalism further mutilated the One God because efficiency was put on the highest pedestal.
Since human efficiency was put on the highest pedestal, political activism naturally assumed the greatest significance. Therefore, all religious fervor was directed away from the One God and invested into political activism. Thus, in due course, even the One God was abandoned.
Essentially, Monotheists abandoned the Multiplicity of the Divine, so Divinity (Gods) abandoned them in certain aspects of human existence. Liberalism put human efficiency on the pedestal, so Divinity abandoned them altogether. Thus, they are left with only a shadow of religion.
