Acharya Prashant clarifies that Hinduism, when defined as the philosophy of Vedanta, is far from being backward. He argues that what people commonly criticize as backward—such as the caste system, dowry, and untouchability—is actually 'folk religion' and not the true essence of Vedic Hinduism. He emphasizes that Vedanta is the only philosophy that begins by defining religion as a mirror for the ego, rather than a set of beliefs or commands from a creator. While many religions start with the superstition of a creator, Vedanta questions the very existence of the observer and the observed world, demanding epistemic honesty and intellectual rigor.