Question about hinduism

[slackerinabox]

I'm Christian by birht but was recently reading the bhagavad gita, just to be informed. What's interesting is the mention of GOD, not GODS. Here's a quote:

?The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.?

.


Also, here's this:

Whatever takes form is false. Only the formless endures. When you understand The truth of this teaching, You will not be born again. For God is infinite, Within the body and without, Like a mirror, And the image in a mirror. As the air is everywhere, Flowing around a pot And filling it, So God is everywhere, Filling all things And flowing through them forever. - Ashtavakra Gita 1: 18-20

Is this belief, that God is in everywhere, in the air, etc. what makes people think of Hinduism as a poly-theism? I know their are many gods, but are they symbolic and exist as a hindu version of christian saints?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I was always taught that there is one god, with many different forms. The religion doesn't say anything about who is right against other religions, but that we're praying to the same person, in different forms.

Basically, just freakin get along and don't get hung up on so many little things - religions have crap against one another is stupid and a waste of time.

 

[Descartes]

You are correct. It is not polytheistic. It's just a common misconception. It's probably perpetuated by the fact that a lot of Hindus describe themselves as devotees of Vishnu, Shiva, etc. It's a very layered and complex worship structure that takes a fair amount of time to really understand.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I was always taught that there is one god, with many different forms. The religion doesn't say anything about who is right against other religions, but that we're praying to the same person, in different forms.

Basically, just freakin get along and don't get hung up on so many little things - religions have crap against one another is stupid and a waste of time.

Hah, don't lecture me - I'm reading up to be more informed, I don't hold any loyalty to one religion. All I've read about Hinduism and Islam seem quite beautiful with small bursts of hysteria/ancient reactionism that can be used by fanatics, it's actually all kinda sad to me.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Descartes
You are correct. It is not polytheistic. It's just a common misconception. It's probably perpetuated by the fact that a lot of Hindus describe themselves as devotees of Vishnu, Shiva, etc. It's a very layered and complex worship structure that takes a fair amount of time to really understand.

Thanks, it's odd how I'm indian and was so misinformed.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

From what little I know, Brahma is the Supreme God and all the others (Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswati etc.) are avatars. Lakshmi is the Goddess of Wealth, Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge and so on. One God, Different Avatars.

My friends say Hinduism as it is practiced by most of its followers today isn't true to its roots - that at its roots, it's a monotheistic religion but the followers took their liberties with additions/deletions that suited their needs. Then again, my Hindu friends aren't exactly practicing Hindus and don't know much about their religion.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: Descartes
You are correct. It is not polytheistic. It's just a common misconception. It's probably perpetuated by the fact that a lot of Hindus describe themselves as devotees of Vishnu, Shiva, etc. It's a very layered and complex worship structure that takes a fair amount of time to really understand.

The practice of Hinduism is best explained by Henotheism - to a certain extent. This is a new term to me but, on first appearances, comes closest to explaining the dichotomy of multiple Gods in practice and a single God in theory.

From the very, very little I know, there is enough theological claim to both arguments depending on which text you follow. IMO, settling on monotheism as the conclusive definition is an oversimplification of the evolution of Hinduism. I wouldn't be surprised to see parallel strains of practical Hinduism that have no identifiable common ancestor in literature and are related merely by cultural affinity - which raises the question, is Hinduism a single religion (or by corollary, even a religion at all)?

 

[lyssword]

yeah, just avoid being born into the lower caste 😉

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: lyssword
yeah, just avoid being born into the lower caste 😉

...or you could end up becoming President

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: athithi
I wouldn't be surprised to see parallel strains of practical Hinduism that have no identifiable common ancestor in literature and are related merely by cultural affinity - which raises the question, is Hinduism a single religion (or by corollary, even a religion at all)?

I remember back when the BJP was campaigning for a Ram-Rajya, they kept saying Hinduism was not a religion but a way of life evolved from Vedic Dharma.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I was always taught that there is one god, with many different forms. The religion doesn't say anything about who is right against other religions, but that we're praying to the same person, in different forms.

Basically, just freakin get along and don't get hung up on so many little things - religions have crap against one another is stupid and a waste of time.</end quote></div>

Hah, don't lecture me - I'm reading up to be more informed, I don't hold any loyalty to one religion. All I've read about Hinduism and Islam seem quite beautiful with small bursts of hysteria/ancient reactionism that can be used by fanatics, it's actually all kinda sad to me.

Hehe, didn't mean it against you, just kind of a general thing I meant to the world or whatever. Sorry if it came off as against you!

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: athithi
I wouldn't be surprised to see parallel strains of practical Hinduism that have no identifiable common ancestor in literature and are related merely by cultural affinity - which raises the question, is Hinduism a single religion (or by corollary, even a religion at all)?</end quote></div>

I remember back when the BJP was campaigning for a Ram-Rajya, they kept saying Hinduism was not a religion but a way of life evolved from Vedic Dharma.

How else are you going to get 140 million Muslims to vote for a pro-Hindu party 😛

I honestly don't care what a political party says about Hinduism. When they have an agenda, the objectivity of their statements immediately becomes suspect. I doubt most BJP activists would treat Hinduism as merely a 'way of life' in their households. Therein lies their hypocrisy. OTOH, I am not unduly worried that if the BJP comes back to power it would establish Hinduism as a state religion. My point is that the BJP could be right about Hinduism being a way of life but that doesn't prevent them from using that information for the wrong reasons.

 

[panipoori]

Its pantheistic

 

[Madwand1]

Hinduism in theory is polytheistic in a similar manner to which Christianity is polytheistic. That is, in essence, not at all, but in detail, also recognizing different aspects. Christianity has different aspects of God, angels, and saints. Hinduism has the same, and there angels are characterized as gods.

Not much of this is emphasized in the end, as it comes down to God and man -- the intermediaries, "also starred", etc., have their roles, but the message is really that God is One, and the only one that really matters, and intermediaries are important only as far as they play their roles towards that end. Even man only matters here as a vessel to God. A variation of this point is the recognition of dualism -- God, and "everything else". If "God is All" and "All is God", as is said in pantheism, what's left? The strong answer is "actually nothing". Row row row your boat...