Christianity's Similarities with Hinduism

[Jainarayan]

This would start a tormenta de mierda (a **** storm) at another Hindu Dharma site, but I think it's pretty interesting nevertheless. I don't see why there couldn't be some truth to it.

Christianity's Similarities with Hinduism - by Stephen Knapp

 

[Onkara]

This is the last line from that article:

Conscientious Christian and Western scholars can realize how the world humanity's basic culture is Vedic through proper research.

lol, well perhaps once someone understands Hinduism then the Bible starts to make more sense

The issue with this topic is that it seems to be political, because Christian set out to convert Hindus rather than let them be. It can be considered an infringement.

 

[Gaura Priya]

This is the last line from that article:



lol, well perhaps once someone understands Hinduism then the Bible starts to make more sense

The issue with this topic is that it seems to be political, because Christian set out to convert Hindus rather than let them be. It can be considered an infringement.

And Stephen Knapp's books were so designed to preach Vaishnava Hinduism and Vaishnava Dharma in the first place, LOL.

I think that Michael Cremo's books are especially good. I hope and pray that the next time he or any of his representatives are here, I will buy another one of his books!

 

[Jainarayan]

Indeed, Christians do have that annoying tendency.

Note especially the 3rd from last paragraph:

Many Western and Christian historians have tried to nullify this India influence on Christians and ancient Greece by saying that it is the West through the Aryan invasion, and later the onslaught of Alexander the Great of India, which influenced Indian astronomy, mathematics, architecture, philosophy-and not vice versa. But new archeological and linguistic discoveries have proved that there never was an Aryan invasion and that there is a continuity from the ancient Vedic civilization to the Saraswati culture.

I was particularly struck by this paragraph:

Unfortunately, remarks American Indianist David Frawley, "from the second century onwards, Christian leaders decided to break away from the Hindu influence and show that Christianity only started with the birth of Christ." Hence, many later saints began branding Brahmins as "heretics," and Saint Gregory set a future trend by publicly destroying the "pagan" idols of the Hindus.

 

[Jainarayan]

And Stephen Knapp's books were so designed to preach Vaishnava Hinduism and Vaishnava Dharma in the first place, LOL.

I use his site for finding prayers. In fact I found the entire text of Gajendra's Prayer to Lord Vishnu asking for help, harking back to my question asking who the "elephant chief" is.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I think groups such as the historical Essenes, Ebionites, or Nazoreans can be a group to be influenced strongly by Hinduism, and yet Christian in essence. They all wore white, separated the sexes, were strongly celibate, studied other religions such as Buddhism, wre vegetarian, etc.

However, they died away along with other Christian sects upon the rising of Pauline Christianity.

However, the Christian altar seems to be similar to a tantric altar with Jesus' body and blood and its presence; the sprinkling of holy water in certain Christian rituals; the anointing of oil and of ashes during Ash Wednesday; the usage of statues, icons and the monstrance, and offering prayers such as the rosary, and litanies to them; offering roses on Mother Mary's feet, and touching her feet for her blessings; utilising the rosary or chotki to recite prayers and the practice of hesychasm (vaidhi-bhakti); even confirmation or passing down the Holy Spirit is nothing short of diksha and becoming initiated into mantras and becoming officially part of a certain sampradaya...

There are many things that could have been Vedic influences into the religion.

 

[Jainarayan]

I think Christianity has two roots:

1. A Mesopotamian root.
2. A Vedic root.

Modern mainstream and moderate Christianity, and this is all just my opinions, derives from the Vedic root, whether Christians want to admit it or not. Fundamentalists and OT bible literalists hold on to the Mesopotamian root.

All the things you mention are too close (in Christianity) to Hindu practice to be coincidence. Just as it's no coincidence that Greek, Russian, Latin, et al are related to Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati... Just as the languages diverged and took on new names and morphologies, perhaps Christianity did too, away from Hinduism.

 

[kaisersose]

This would start a tormenta de mierda (a **** storm) at another Hindu Dharma site, but I think it's pretty interesting nevertheless. I don't see why there couldn't be some truth to it.

Christianity's Similarities with Hinduism - by Stephen Knapp

Stephen Knapp is a Hare Krishna and like most HKs, he is ideologically motivated to prove that the Bhagavatam version of history is correct - that Hinduism was a world religion, humans existed forever, Krishna was the one God, the Bhagavad Gita is 5000 years old, etc. As a HK, he is likely to have an Indian name as well, but I do not know it.

Same with Richard Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa) who wrote books on alternate history.

 

[Gaura Priya]

Stephen Knapp is a Hare Krishna and like most HKs, he is ideologically motivated to prove that the Bhagavatam version of history is correct - that Hinduism was a world religion, humans existed forever, Krishna was the one God, the Bhagavad Gita is 5000 years old, etc. As a HK, he is likely to have an Indian name as well, but I do not know it.

Same with Richard Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa) who wrote books on alternate history.

His initiated name is Nandanandana dasa.

The Christians have their propaganda theorists; same with Muslims. Let the Hindus have theirs too.

 

[Jainarayan]

Stephen Knapp is a Hare Krishna and like most HKs, he is ideologically motivated to prove that the Bhagavatam version of history is correct - that Hinduism was a world religion, humans existed forever, Krishna was the one God, the Bhagavad Gita is 5000 years old, etc. As a HK, he is likely to have an Indian name as well, but I do not know it.

Same with Richard Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa) who wrote books on alternate history.

Did you read the article? The thrust of the article is the similarities between Christianity and Hinduism, with Hinduism being the source. He doesn't mention the Bhagavad Gita, or Hare Krishnas or Vaishnavism. Only in passing he mentions that Lord Krishna is viewed as Supreme Lord, which is not untrue if you ask any Vaishnava.

 

[Gaura Priya]

Also, David Frawley, of which he is mentioned in the article, is not a Hare Krishna. He is a modern Hindu convert and now pundit, and I believe his philosophy is a form of Smartism or Neo-Vedanta.

 

[Chewbarker1054]

The thing is with both Hinduism and Christianity is that they are both huge traditions which hold many different beliefs within them. Each has many school of thought within them and each have a goal whether it be moska or salvation. I can seem some of the links between Augustine/John Calvin and Shri Madhva regarding the soul/jiva and predestination. Also the similarities between Ramanuja and the Orthodox Churches teaching on divinzation.

 

[SageTree]

lol, well perhaps once someone understands Hinduism then the Bible starts to make more sense

Actually my Friend, what you said here was my EXACT experience with The Dharma.

It's a longer story that I think I can put into a concise post or want to subject you to, but I'll still try

Over the years I've come to the conclusion that I was a Dharma Child born into a Christan family.

And in engaging in the languages I understood clearly, I was able to come back and make sense of where my Journey started.

When I read the Upanishads I realize, 'this is how I experienced Supreme Being/ Ground of Existence/ God as a Child...'
When I read the Bhagavad Gita, I remember my Devotional Love for That Being and Being in all things...
And when I read the Buddha-Dharma I see a Way to Practice and Experience more deeply the Essence and Heart of what Jesus was trying to teach us.

This has also helped me reach out and see the Truth in other Abrahamic understandings....

And many many Alternative Ways of Knowing/ Languages of Reverence.

:namaste
SageTree

 

[Bob Dixon]

Actually my Friend, what you said here was my EXACT experience with The Dharma.

It's a longer story that I think I can put into a concise post or want to subject you to, but I'll still try

Over the years I've come to the conclusion that I was a Dharma Child born into a Christan family.

And in engaging in the languages I understood clearly, I was able to come back and make sense of where my Journey started.

When I read the Upanishads I realize, 'this is how I experienced Supreme Being/ Ground of Existence/ God as a Child...'
When I read the Bhagavad Gita, I remember my Devotional Love for That Being and Being in all things...
And when I read the Buddha-Dharma I see a Way to Practice and Experience more deeply the Essence and Heart of what Jesus was trying to teach us.

This has also helped me reach out and see the Truth in other Abrahamic understandings....

And many many Alternative Ways of Knowing/ Languages of Reverence.

:namaste
SageTree

God never sent a messenger to a people, save in their own language.
Some people understand different languages better, so they need different religions. That's all!
I'm glad you found the unity of God and the unity of His teachings within everything. I'm finding the same, actually.

 

[SageTree]

God never sent a messenger to a people, save in their own language.
Some people understand different languages better, so they need different religions. That's all!
I'm glad you found the unity of God and the unity of His teachings within everything. I'm finding the same, actually.

Thanks for sharing that with us.

:namaste
SageTree

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

However, the Christian altar seems to be similar to a tantric altar with Jesus' body and blood and its presence;

I have never seen a Tantric Altar with blood on it. Many Tantrics are Vegetarian.

 

[Onkara]

Actually my Friend, what you said here was my EXACT experience with The Dharma.

My experience too. All scripture started to resonated with something spiritually profound. As if I had tuned into multiple stations on the same frequency. I don't think we are alone

 

[SageTree]

My experience too. All scripture started to resonated with something spiritually profound. As if I had tuned into multiple stations on the same frequency. I don't think we are alone

When you Love more than Fear, the World changes, and everything in it.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I have never seen a Tantric Altar with blood on it. Many Tantrics are Vegetarian.

I was thinking more along the lines of symbol... since I know also that oft-times the so-called five items are generally symbolised on the altar, no?

 

[Chewbarker1054]

Five is a sacred to all tantric followers whether they follow Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti. The non-vedic agamas follow by Shivites and the Pancarata followed by Ramnuja Vashnivas all make use of five objects in their worrship. In left handed tantra the main offerings are five those of wine, meat, fish, grain and sex.