Can you mingle Hinduism with Christianity?

[Saint Frankenstein]

In core beliefs of Krishna and Jesus; it has a possibility.

Regards

What "core beliefs" do Jesus and Krishna share?

Really, people, what Christ taught and what Hinduism teaches are very different.

 

[Vinayaka]

What "core beliefs" do Jesus and Krishna share?

Really, people, what Christ taught and what Hinduism teaches are very different.

Indeed,

What people do, I've realised, in order to find commonalities, is they take it upon themselves to distort one or both teachings enough so that they do find many common grounds. For example, just in these two personages, they either change Krishna from God into a holy man, or they change Jesus into an avatar. It's about distortion.

And the weird thing to me, is that we can just celebrate the diversity, and get along.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Indeed,

What people do, I've realised, in order to find commonalities, is they take it upon themselves to distort one or both teachings enough so that they do find many common grounds. For example, just in these two personages, they either change Krishna from God into a holy man, or they change Jesus into an avatar. It's about distortion.

And the weird thing to me, is that we can just celebrate the diversity, and get along.

I actually find it a bit offensive, because it misrepresents both of our religions. Plus, it makes it seem that one or the other isn't good enough on its own and that you have to seek out external elements to make it "complete". As a Catholic, I believe I have the fullness of what I need in my Faith. I'm sure you believe the same as a Hindu. That's as it should be.

 

[atanu]

What "core beliefs" do Jesus and Krishna share?

Really, people, what Christ taught and what Hinduism teaches are very different.

Truth cannot be many and cannot be dependent on beliefs and on the manifested variegated Word.

 

[atanu]

Can you mingle Hinduism with Christianity? Is the result palatable?

I recently bought God Talks with Arjuna, the Bhagavad Gita commentary by Paramahansa Yogananda. Somebody had “warned” me it might contain references to Christianity, and he was right. He told me it was written in an era where Hindus had to adopt Christian concepts to gain readers from the western hemisphere. As a matter of fact I don’t know what to think of it, although I got from Christianity to Hinduism via theosophy.

Indeed,

What people do, I've realised, in order to find commonalities, is they take it upon themselves to distort one or both teachings enough so that they do find many common grounds. For example, just in these two personages, they either change Krishna from God into a holy man, or they change Jesus into an avatar. It's about distortion.

...

I'm not sure whether in the context of the OP, I would use the word distortion when talking of Yogananda.

In my opinion, just the reverse is true.

 

[atanu]

The Buddhist view of mind stream is very different from that of a permenant soul or self. Both anatta and anicca- the marks of not self and impermenance make this fairly clear as do the 12 links of causation and the teachings of sunyata. Mind stream is likened to one candle lighting the next or an ice cube melting into the next. Some in the Theravada view go as far as to say that it is only the karma that lives on. If one were to take the Madhyamakka view as beautifully expressed in the Prajnaparamittahrdayasuttra there is ultimately no self only void. Mind stream is only a function of samsara.

The closest Buddhism comes to permanent soul is found in the tathagatagarbha doctrine and the alayavijnana teachings found in the yogachara philosophy of Mahayana which is a relatively young teaching.

Buddhists reach the unborn. Hindus too reach the unborn, irrespective of the language used and irrespective of superiority claims of the respective groups.

 

[paarsurrey]

Can you mingle Hinduism with Christianity?

Krishna and Jesus would be happy to shake hands with one another. Buddha, Zoroaster and Moses many also join them.

Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Truth cannot be many and cannot be dependent on beliefs and on the manifested variegated Word.

I agree with you. Truth has oneness- a strong attribute.

Regards

 

[Vouthon]

What "core beliefs" do Jesus and Krishna share?

Really, people, what Christ taught and what Hinduism teaches are very different.

Yes, outside of moral teachings (which as I say are pretty universal anyway since most of us know instinctively how to be decent human beings) there are many differences between Hinduism and Christianity. What's more, in a tolerant atmosphere this shouldn't be a problem.

Just as there is nothing wrong in a democracy with a right-wing conservative and a socialist disagreeing over economic matters or whether to tax the rich, there should be no problem with doctrinal difference so long as we all recognize our common humanity and respect each other.

Moreover if there are genuine areas of contact - such as teachings on selflessness in both, compassion towards enemies or some overlap in mystical experiences of some of our mystics - then we can have a fruitful dialogue provided that we don't blur our differences or try and convince one another that we have to surrender those differences as if there is something wrong with having distinctive views, which to me is quite totalitarian.

As the Vatican once noted:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...doc_19051991_dialogue-and-proclamatio_en.html

"...4. DISPOSITIONS FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND ITS FRUITS

47. A balanced attitude

Dialogue requires, on the part of Christians as well as of the followers of other traditions, a balanced attitude. They should be neither ingenuous nor overly critical, but open and receptive. Unselfishness and impartiality, acceptance of differences and of possible contradictions, have already been mentioned. The will to engage together in commitment to the truth and the readiness to allow oneself to be transformed by the encounter are other dispositions required.

48. Religious conviction

This does not mean that in entering into dialogue the partners should lay aside their respective religious convictions. The opposite is true: the sincerity of interreligious dialogue requires that each enters into it with the integrity of his or her own faith. At the same time, while remaining firm in their belief that in Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tm 2:4-6), the fullness of revelation has been given to them, Christians must remember that God has also manifested himself in some way to the followers of other religious traditions. Consequently, it is with receptive minds that they approach the convictions and values of others.

49. Openness to truth

Moreover, the fullness of truth received in Jesus Christ does not give individual Christians the guarantee that they have grasped that truth fully. In the last analysis truth is not a thing we possess, but a person by whom we must allow ourselves to be possessed. This is an unending process. While keeping their identity intact, Christians must be prepared to learn and to receive from and through others the positive values of their traditions. Through dialogue they may be moved to give up ingrained prejudices, to revise preconceived ideas, and even sometimes to allow the understanding of their faith to be purified.

50. New dimensions of faith

If Christians cultivate such openness and allow themselves to be tested, they will be able to gather the fruits of dialogue. They will discover with admiration all that God's action through Jesus Christ in his Spirit has accomplished and continues to accomplish in the world and in the whole of humankind. Far from weakening their own faith, true dialogue will deepen it. They will become increasingly aware of their Christian identity and perceive more clearly the distinctive elements of the Christian message. Their faith will gain new dimensions as they discover the active presence of the mystery of Jesus Christ beyond the visible boundaries of the Church and of the Christian fold..."

- Dialogue and Proclamation, PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, 1991

 

[Desert Snake]

What "core beliefs" do Jesus and Krishna share?

Really, people, what Christ taught and what Hinduism teaches are very different.

I don't see the problem with religious merger, if it works for someone, who cares, I find this over criticism odd.

 

[Desert Snake]

I actually find it a bit offensive, because it misrepresents both of our religions. Plus, it makes it seem that one or the other isn't good enough on its own and that you have to seek out external elements to make it "complete". As a Catholic, I believe I have the fullness of what I need in my Faith. I'm sure you believe the same as a Hindu. That's as it should be.

Hmm I'm Syncretic, it's very traditional, that's an inaccurate viewpoint imo.

 

[Vouthon]

I don't see the problem with religious merger, if it works for someone, who cares, I find this over criticism odd.

If it works for someone, of course I am not against it. However what I am against is the assumption that religions should be merged and that those who are against this are intolerant.

From an informed and strictly secular vantage point, religions do not all teach the same things. This is a basic fact, as true as to say that not all political parties have identical manifestos. If a person wishes to combine religions, good for them. They have the freedom to believe whatever they want to believe. However they should be aware that there is no "both/and".

One is not both a Christian and a Hindu. One has rather combined elements of Christianity and Hinduism into a new, personalized philosophy - into something new and different that is no longer either strictly Christian or Hindu.

 

[Desert Snake]

If it works for someone, of course I am not against it. However what I am against is the assumption that religions should be merged and that those who are against this are intolerant.

From an informed and strictly secular vantage point, religions do not all teach the same things. This is a basic fact, as true as to say that not all political parties have identical manifestos. If a person wishes to combine religions, good for them. However they should be aware that there is no "both/and".

One is not both a Christian and a Hindu. One has rather combined elements of Christianity and Hinduism into a new, personalized philosophy - into something new and different.

Perhaps, I don't know. there are different sects in Hinduism, and Christianity, that's a pretty broad statement you're making. I'm Syncretic with beliefs that many people don't think merge, but they do. So, if that is the case, it might be the same with these two belief systems.

The fact is we need more specifics anyway, were talking vagueries here.

 

[Vinayaka]

Perhaps, I don't know. there are different sects in Hinduism, and Christianity, that's a pretty broad statement you're making. I'm Syncretic with beliefs that many people don't think merge, but they do. So, if that is the case, it might be the same with these two belief systems.

The fact is we need more specifics anyway, were talking vagueries here.

Here's a few more specifics then. Not all are either/or, but could be both. Some simplyu cannot be both.

Heaven/hell, or reincarnation

Burial, or cremation

Vedas or Bible

Jesus, no specific prophet

God is outside, or God is inside

Vegetarian, or non-vegetarian

These are just a few.

 

[Desert Snake]

Here's a few more specifics then. Not all are either/or, but could be both. Some simplyu cannot be both.

Heaven/hell, or reincarnation

Burial, or cremation

Vedas or Bible

Jesus, no specific prophet

God is outside, or God is inside

Vegetarian, or non-vegetarian

These are just a few.

hmm ok not sure whats traditionthere, or religion.

btw you probably know more about Christian 'tradition' than I do, so I'm not trolling here.
Hmm yea loks like some differences cool.

 

[Vinayaka]

btw you probably know more about Christian 'tradition' than I do, so I'm not trolling here.

I know very little at all, other than from brief summaries found in comparative texts. You'd also be surprised that I've never read the Bhagavad Gita, so in some ways you know much more about Hinduism than I do.

 

[Desert Snake]

I know very little at all, other than from brief summaries found in comparative texts. You'd also be surprised that I've never read the Bhagavad Gita, so in some ways you know much more about Hinduism than I do.

Oh I see. That works, we seem similar in that regard. Thing is, I don't know anything about Hindic culture, so I'm just going on deity comparison really.

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm just going on deity comparison really.

In Hinduism, because it's actually a conglomerate of many religions, there is no standard of what 'deity' is.

Imagine a religion called Jerusalamism, and combine the western big 3 into one, and you'd get a sense of our vastness.

 

[Desert Snake]

In Hinduism, because it's actually a conglomerate of many religions, there is no standard of what 'deity' is.

Imagine a religion called Jerusalamism, and combine the western big 3 into one, and you'd get a sense of our vastness.

Ahh I see.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hmm I'm Syncretic, it's very traditional, that's an inaccurate viewpoint imo.

Hmm?