When politics collides with faith, things get fiery! Vivek Ramaswamy turned a question about his Hindu beliefs into a headline-making moment at a Charlie Kirk event. The Indian-American entrepreneur, now running for Ohio governor, made a prominent appearance at Turning Point USA’s gathering at Montana’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. At the event, Ramaswamy engaged with one of the attendees during the Q&A segment, questioning about his religious believes and had him read Article 6 of the Constitution of no religious test for office. As a practicing Hindu, Ramaswamy has frequently faced questions about his faith, particularly in right-leaning political circles where roughly more than 50 per cent of Republicans identify as Christian, according to Pew Research Center data.But, as usual, he gave the befitting reply in the past and some of them are:
‘Can a Hindu be US president?’
Vivek Ramaswamy addressed questions about Hinduism during an event, expressing that he was “happy to address” the issue. When inquiring about the individual’s knowledge of Hinduism, the man replied, “Hinduism a polytheistic religion…”. Ramaswamy responded by sharing his views, stating, “I believe there’s one true God – from the Vedanta tradition of Advaita philosophy.” He further questioned the attendee about Christianity, asking, “Do you believe in the Holy Trinity?”. Upon receiving an affirmative response, he remarked, “And that doesn’t make you a polytheist, does it?”Acknowledging the complexity of spiritual questions, Ramaswamy stated, “Every religion has its reconciling of the One and the Many. In my faith, I believe there’s one true God. He resides in all of us, and he appears in different forms, but it’s one true God.” Identifying as an “ethical monotheist,” the former presidential candidate added, “I’m not running to be a pastor, I’m running to governor of Ohio. I didn’t run to be pastor of America. I ran to be the president of the United States of America.” He posed another question, “Do you think it’s inappropriate for someone who is a Hindu to be say… a US president?”, to which the man responded, “Hinduism believes in Shiva and the flute God,” leading Ramaswamy to correct him, “Krishna.”
How Vivek Ramaswamy reacted to being grilled about his faith’s place in US
Vivek Ramaswamy addressed hundreds at a Turning Point USA event held at Penn State’s Spark Building on Thursday, October 17, 2024. The Indian-origin American entrepreneur his background, college experiences, and his introduction to politics. A notable moment occurred when an attendee questioned Ramaswamy’s Hindu faith and its place in the United States. The individual accused Ramaswamy of likening Hindu gods to Jesus Christ, asserting that the absence of a public declaration of his Hindu identity throughout the lecture might have led the majority of the audience to believe he was referring to “the only true God, Jesus Christ.” The attendee further criticized Hinduism as a “wicked, pagan religion” incompatible with America, claiming that Ramaswamy attempted to draw a parallel between Christian moral principles and Hindu values.Ramaswamy then picked up his mic again and began, “It’s okay. I’ve had a lot of harsh challenges than this one, so don’t pat yourself on the back too hard there. Don’t want you to sprain your back with that one.” The audience quickly broke into applause. “I don’t want you to go with a back sprained,” the former presidential candidate quipped.His actual answer started thereafter, as he dismissed the student’s suspicion. “You run for US President at the age of 37. As somebody who’s been in business, who’s actually…easiest thing to call myself, some Vic Ramsey and pretend to be a Christian, got other people on that debate stage last time who shortened their names and called themselves to be a Christian, too. I man up and tell you who I am, and believe me, your suspicion is off base. Listen to any number of the campaign speeches I gave over thousands of them over the course of the last year. So, we can take the disingenuous accusation off the table, but level with what I do think is an interesting coming,” Ramaswamy said.
‘I’m Hindu, and I’m proud of that. I stand for that without apology’
“What is your opinion of Jesus Christ?” an Iowan asked Ramaswamy at a campaign stop in Nevada in 2023. When Ramaswamy explained that in his Hindu faith, Jesus is “a” son of God and not “the” son of God, the potential caucusgoer followed up with another question about “the fact that the only way to heaven is Jesus Christ.” This is a common occurrence as Ramaswamy tours Iowa. It was the second time he was questioned about his faith that day and the sixth time in his last two visits to the state. The inquiries are not limited to Iowa. In New Hampshire over Labor Day weekend, a voter asked about Ramaswamy’s religion, prompting him to speak about the importance of religious liberty in the US: “I’m Hindu, and I’m proud of that. I stand for that without apology. I think I’m going to be able to be more ardent as a defender of religious liberty.” Ramaswamy, a first-time candidate, gained renewed attention following his debate performance last month, set against a demographic backdrop that has posed challenges for other Republican presidential hopefuls.
‘I’d rather lose elections than converting… not here to spread Christianity’: Ramaswamy
In 2023, Ramaswamy defended his Hindu faith and respectfully stated that all religions impart similar teachings while discussing religious freedom. Speaking to a crowd of Iowa voters at a CNN town hall on Wednesday night, Ramaswamy said, “I would speak the truth and lose an election rather than winning by playing some political snakes and ladders.” When a woman from the audience questioned whether his religious beliefs conflicted with those of the Founding Fathers, he responded, “If I have to wrap up my political career, I will. But I would never fake convert (the religion).”
