Your points are well made LH. However the monotheism of Hinduism is more real than apparent, if you see what I mean - the overwhelming impresssion of Hinduism is of glorious and almost chaotic diversity. This accounts for Hinduism's remarkable historic tolerance, spawning and then re-absorbing (some of)Buddhism (in Hinduism he is an avatar of Vishnu - neat!) and coexisting happily with Jainism, tribal religion and even managing to subtly hybridise more uptight religions once they have been in India for a while.

You are quite right to point out that if you go to the roots we are all in 'a dream of Brahma' - but on a day to day level many or most Hindus seem to live as happy polytheists, albeit usually with a particular devotion to one specific deity or spirit or another. As one travels from one area to another in India life becomes even more confusing, as different gods are given many different names due to the many languages and to indicate the quality of their manifestation in that place! One of the things that pulls me back to India over and over again.

I'm sorry to hear that Carol C has been hassled in the past. Perhaps this accounts for her remarkable reflexive hostility and itchy trigger finger.