Very few people today worship Thor or Aphrodite. But there are one billion Hindus around the world, with an estimated 1.5 million in the United States, according to a2004 State Department report. And many of them care deeply about their revered deities.

Nevada-based Rajan Zed describes himself as a “Hindu leader” and is head of an organization called the Universal Society of Hinduism. He has slammed Smite, saying ...