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Re: Image comments for OMG, it's early?
Posted by: BlahX3
Date: 19/05/2011 03:59PM
This is not meant as an argument at all but just some information. It isn't even necessarily what I personally believe but it seems of interest to me.

I have learned that is a common Christian misconception that all religions other than Judaism, Islam and Christianity do not believe in the same God. In Vedic Hinduism (not the so called Hindu cults and sects that worship specific deities exclusively) there is only one real God. They even have a Trinity. Of course it is different in some ways but the idea in Vedic Hinduism is there is one God portrayed in different roles and types of action similar to a man being a father, a husband, a worker, etc. Different hats so to speak. In looking closely at Hinduism one can see more similarities than differences between it and Christianity but we have been taught the opposite. Many Hindus are also taught the opposite just as many members of western religions have been taught things that are contrary to the basis of their religions. Also in Vedic scriptures the terms gods or deities are used for specific spiritual beings can be thought of as referring angels or spirit servants of God, not as God proper and a differentiation is made between the God-head and lesser "gods." True Vedanta is not polytheistic nor pantheistic at all.

Hinduism and Buddhism also recognize Jesus but with different names than we use. The may not call him "the Son of God" but they do call him the equivalent in their language and culture, i.e God has become Man to dwell among us and show us the path to right behavior and salvation.

It is also a misconception that Buddhism is atheistic. The basic tenets of Buddhism do not focus on a deity of any sort at all but on obtaining clarity of mind independent of any religious beliefs and teachings. God is a non-issue however the existence of God is not denied and in some branches God is incorporated into the belief system in various ways but is always considered to be the One Divine Being. Your own mind is the issue in basic Buddhism. Of course that system of thought has also been bastardized over history just like all the other existing religions have been so it is understandable that we have misconceptions about it. It is very foreign to us and difficult for us to understand without studying it and learning some details.

Another interesting thing (to me anyway) is that the coming of Christ has been predicted and acknowledged by many non-Christian religions. The three Magi who visited Bethlehem were Zoroastrian priests from Persia. They had no connection to the Hebrews at all at that time. Some Vedantist Hindus believe he is Kalki, the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu (God) for this age who came to earth on a comet (the star of Bethlehem?) and Vishnu's next return will be the beginning of another age (the 2nd comming of Christ?). Tantric and Tibetan Buddhists call Jesus Avalokiteshvara (in Sanskrit) and Chenrezig (in Tibetan). In India he is called Sri Ishi by Hindus.

Also remember that the name Jesus is Latinization of the Greek name Iesu which in turn is a Helenization of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which is his real name, which prompts some second thinking concerning using the name of Jesus as the source of God's power to answer prayer.

If we worked on understanding the other religions I think we would be at an advantage towards finding common ground between the various world religions. I do not advocate one world religion and I doubt that is possible or necessary and would most likely do more harm than good. The bottom line is we are best off making up our own minds but more information can help in making that decision a more informed one.

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