• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Search results

  1. LostKiera

    Views on gender and sexuality?

    Interesting. It's sad that this will delay genuine Hijra people getting the rights they need.
  2. LostKiera

    Views on gender and sexuality?

    Does that really happen though? Maybe I'm being naive but I don't think all that many people would claim to be a particular gender just for some legal advantages.
  3. LostKiera

    Essential basic Hindu beliefs?

    Thanks for the responses folks!
  4. LostKiera

    Essential basic Hindu beliefs?

    Hi all What would you say are the beliefs (if any) one has to have to be justified to call oneself a Hindu? For instance it's generally accepted that to be a Christian, you have to at least acknowledge Jesus as your saviour. Do you think there are Hindu equivalents?
  5. LostKiera

    Views on gender and sexuality?

    My understanding of Hijras is they are a mix of transgender, non-gender conformists, transvestites and gay and bisexual men who were lumped into one category by those that rejected them, rather than they themselves uniting due to common feeling. And certain superstitions developed about them...
  6. LostKiera

    Are the physical forms of God real?

    Sorry for being silly - I just get so confused about all this! If Vishnu is Brahman, why is Vishnu necessary, why can't Vaishanavas just say they worship Brahman directly? And why worship "everything" anyway as opposed to a positive aspect of everything? For instance, would it not make more...
  7. LostKiera

    Are the physical forms of God real?

    Thanks Terese. As regards Vishnu being Brahman with attributes, would not these attributes also be part of Brahman if Brahman is everything? How can Vishnu possess something Brahman does not?
  8. LostKiera

    Are the physical forms of God real?

    By these views then, Krishna and Rama had no physical bodies? So would you say that Vishnu has no personality as such as he is Brahman and Brahman is everything? Or is there a difference in personhood between Vishnu and Brahman? For instance, Christian philosophy says God is one substance...
  9. LostKiera

    Are the physical forms of God real?

    Thanks Aup, you always explain things so clearly :)
  10. LostKiera

    Are the physical forms of God real?

    I must admit I struggle a bit with this concept in Hinduism. As far as I can gather one could hold any of the beliefs below and still be regarded a Vaishnava: 1. Vishnu and Brahman are interchangeable names for everything 2. Vishnu is the greatest manifestation of Brahman 3. Vishnu is a...
  11. LostKiera

    How do Vaishnavas interpret the Shvetashvatara Upanishad?

    Thanks guys - I can see this is quite a complex issue! So essentially you would argue that passage should be translated as "Know him to be the supreme source of all religions, ruler of the world of light, where there is neither day nor night, neither what is nor what is not, but only the...
  12. LostKiera

    How do Vaishnavas interpret the Shvetashvatara Upanishad?

    Thanks Aup. Axlyz, I suppose I'm thinking of 4.18-19 of the Easwaran translation which says: "Know him to be the supreme source of all religions, ruler of the world of light, where there is neither day nor night, neither what is nor what is not, but only Shiva. He is far beyond the reach of the...
  13. LostKiera

    How do Vaishnavas interpret the Shvetashvatara Upanishad?

    Ah ok, wasn't trying to offend anyone or spark a debate, was just curious. But point noted!
  14. LostKiera

    How do Vaishnavas interpret the Shvetashvatara Upanishad?

    Hi all I was just reading through axlyz's topic on the greatness of Lord Vishnu and he stated that all the upanishads praise Vishnu as the supreme. But doesn't the Shvetashvatara Upanishad indicate Shiva is the supreme? Or is there a different way it can be interpreted?
  15. LostKiera

    Confusion over the gods

    No need to apologise - nice story and not one I'd heard before :)
  16. LostKiera

    Confusion over the gods

    Wow, thanks for all the respones everyone. Fascinating. I think like a lot of westerners, my view of Kali has been way too coloured by watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as a kid. I'll have to look into her maternal side more. Yeah, I'm beginning to realise that you can pick and...
  17. LostKiera

    Confusion over the gods

    Yeah that's the impression I'm getting. I definitely find this appealing but given my Roman Catholic upbringing it's very differeent to what I'm used to! Yes, it does seem so rich and varied to me. Regarding ISKCON, is Krishna the only one of the avatars of Vishnu that ISKCON accepts or do they...
  18. LostKiera

    Confusion over the gods

    Thank for the response. If it's not too personal a question, why do you view Kali Mata as the supreme?
  19. LostKiera

    Confusion over the gods

    Hi all. I'm fairly new to Hinduism, but more and more I'm feeling I could have found the religion for me. However there ae some things I find plain confusing and would appreciate some guidance about. To start off I want to apologise if I misrepresent any group's views - like I say I'm a bit...
Top