Hindus & Hinduism have influenced America for 250 years | Jeffrey D Long

In this episode of That’s So Hindu, Mat McDermott talks with Professor Jeffrey D Long (Elizabethtown College) about the deep roots and growing presence of Hinduism in the United States. We explore the history from the colonial period to modern American spirituality, and how Western leaders and intellectuals have been influenced by Hindu thought for the past 250 years 

In this episode:

• The early awareness of Indian influence in America dating back to the 1600s
• The role of founding fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in engaging with Indian texts and ideas
• American perceptions of Hindu concepts, including reincarnation and caste, in the 18th and 19th centuries
• The transcendentalist movement, Emerson and Thoreau's fascination with Hindu philosophy, and its influence on American culture
• The emergence of Hindu organizations and the impact of Swami Vivekananda’s arrival in the US
• The relationship between Western philosophical traditions and Hindu thought, highlighting influences from Greece to America
• The evolution of Hindu-American identity and the modern resurgence of Hindu pride and pride in its philosophical heritage

Timestamps: 

00:24 - Jeffrey Long’s bio and his book “Hinduism in America” 

01:05 - Personal connection to Hindu practices and history in America 

01:41 - Early Indian influence in colonial America 

02:09 - American figures and their interest in Hindu texts 

03:05 - The growth of Hindu temples across the U.S. 

04:01 - The convergence of Hindu migrant communities and American-born Hindus 

05:14 - The rise of non-Indian Hindus in America 

07:19 - Historical references to Hindus in the 1600s 

08:05 - Indian sailors and early Asian presence in America 

10:24 - Founding fathers’ fascination with Hindu philosophy 

11:47 - Deism, Jefferson’s Bible, and early American religious diversification 

13:10 - Influence of Benjamin Franklin and Quaker spirituality 

14:04 - George Washington and early American religious tolerance 

15:01 - Reflections on religious pluralism in the founding era 

16:43 - Indian influence and references in early American literature 

17:19 - Public perception and common knowledge of Hinduism in early America 

18:05 - Education and awareness of Hindu beliefs among common people 

19:57 - Stereotypes and misconceptions of Hinduism in the 19th century 

20:49 - Mythologies around Jesus' travels in India 

21:16 - Broad understanding and stereotypes of Hindu beliefs 

22:50 - Challenges and pushback against religious pluralism 

24:15 - Influence of Transcendentalism on American thought 

25:39 - Emerson’s interest in Hindu texts and nature spirituality 

29:57 - The Theosophical Society and wave of Indian nationalism 

32:20 - Vivekananda’s groundbreaking impact at the World Parliament of Religions 

39:12 - The first influential Indian teachers in America before Vivekananda 

44:39 - Western expectations of Swami Vivekananda’s appearance and presentation 

48:52 - The role of Vivekananda in inspiring Indian independence and pride 

50:48 - The potential for a renewed dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies

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