Connections between Religions

[Sir.Ludo]

Hey, the more I look the more connections I seem to feel exist. They seem to be there, beneath the surface, submerged enough that they do not pop out to the casual reader, but there seems to be some sort of.. connection. Specifically I see relation between the Abrahamic religions, and Hindu traditions, but I see some connections else where.

I am wondering what other people think of this, whether they have reason to believe in the absolute secularity of their (or a specific) religion, or whether they also see these connections, and could maybe elaborate their own perceptions. I suppose I'll start with one of my own recent discoveries. It seems that the prophet Mohammad was mentioned in several Hindu texts, as well as Abraham (Brahma?) being featured in both of them. Also I have heard of a connection between Christ and Krishna (similar names, both being virgin births, teaching, miracles ect).

Anyways, i suppose what i am ultimately looking for is some sort of cohesive story which ties together history with these great religions, but anyones input is valued.

 

[pharon85]

In my religion islam we believe that in all the human history there was one religion
the main goal for that religion which all prophets came to earth for it is whorshiping the only god
so you will notice that there are alot of similar things in all religions but not all matched because of the interfere of the human element which changed the words of god

 

[doppelganger]

The basic human experience of reconciling the observing ego (self awareness) with the sense of alienation and separation from reality and ensuing anxiety of non-being or death is fundamentally the same for every human. We adopt systems of symbols to reconcile ourselves to this conflict from the surrounding culture and each of us makes those symbols our own, adapting them and mixing them to align with our experiences, feelings and needs and trying to find a way to increase our feeling of connectedness, and belonging.

You can see the differences in the details of the symbolic systems and how they accomplish that reconciliation. Or you can focus a little differently and see that all of them are an expression of the same fundamentally human experience. With practice at seeing the similarities, one can learn to make use of the differences and accomplish reconciliation through any of the symbolic systems, and combines elements from many of them to create their own symbolic system for dealing with the traumatic side effects of self-consciousness.

So they are both similar and different, depending on how one looks.

 

[Surya Deva]

You see, while I agree twith Doppleganger in his philosophical speculation that all religions are trying to understand reality and thus common themes are going to emerge independently, when there are actually very explicit connections, then one can no longer argue that the ideas are independent. If you know that x idea existed in an older religion which later appeared in a new religion, then it is far more likely that the new religion has borrowed that idea and near certainity if you can show that both religions were in contact. I have argued the same in another thread, "Is Western Philosophy full of plagiarism of Eastern Philosophy"

As a matter of the fact Western Philosophy and religion is heavily influenced by Indian Philosophy and Hinduism and these influences are seldom given credit. Early Christianity or Christian Gnosticism is heavily influenced by Hinduism or Buddhism, and some of its themes even carry over into orthodox Christianity.

Islam is a syncretic religion which is built up on abrahmic theology and Hindu and Arabic pagan rituals. But it is not true that Prophet Mohammed is mentioned in Hindu texts, this was propoganda created by a Islamic fundamentalist scholar Dr Zakir Naik, who has found Mohammed mentioned in every religion

There is talk that Judaism and Hinduism maybe connected as well. Many scholars point out the Abraham and Brahma similarity, and there are apparently records saying the Jews were Hindus. But to be honest none of this evidence is compelling enough and Judaistic theology is diametrically opposite Hindu theology.

 

[Kcnorwood]

For me I'd have to say that Christianty has a bit of all religions in it, if you dig deep enough it's there. Some people just refuse to see it.

 

[Comicaze247]

For me I'd have to say that Christianty has a bit of all religions in it, if you dig deep enough it's there. Some people just refuse to see it.

Very true. I'm sorry to say, but much of the mythology and practices in Christianity are taken from the older pagan religions.

For one thing, when Rome converted to Catholicism, they added the practice of worshiping saints so as to make it easier for the Romans to convert, as they worshiped multiple gods.

Also, most religions have a myth of a flood. I can't think of the specific examples right now, but it's there.

Another thing, the Roman army worshiped a god that was born on the winter solstice of virgin birth (sound familiar?). And coincidentally, the Catholic Church claimed Jesus was born on that day. However, if one recalls why Mary and Joseph returned to Bethlehem, it was because of the Roman census, where they measure the population of each town/village/city/what have you. The key thing is, the Roman Census always took place in spring, and supposedly, Mary was already about to give birth at the time they arrived in Bethlehem. Now unless Mary was pregnant for an extra 9 or so months, Jesus couldn't have really been born on the winter solstice, but in spring. That in mind, it's obvious that the Catholic Church changed the mythology in order to win over the Roman army.

I'm currently reading a book "Bible Myths and Their Parallels in Other Religions" by Thomas William Doane. I'll get back to you once I'm further into it

 

[horizon_mj1]

I have always had the same internal nagging belief that yes, all religions are intermingled. Every religion from Pagan, Druidic, Buddism, Judiasim, Christianity, etc. all are linked. I kind of see it like this; you know how you have ten people in a row and you tell one person a short story. The first person tells another person, until it reaches the tenth person. The tenth person usually has a similar, yet varied account of the original story. I believe that in a way this is what happen with religions, but instead of it being an honest mistake, other religions were started because there were a few shared beliefs, but not enough to keep people from going off and starting their own from what they felt was right.

 

[Delamere]

There seems to be a lot of wishful thinking in this thread and too much evidence that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The vast range of speculations in the world religions is bound to allow for superficial similiarities but it takes more intelligence to recognise what is unique and distinctive. Brahman is an impersonal force and nothing like the personal God of Judaism or Christianity. Muslim 'scholars' are desparate to find any mention of Muhammed in the scriptures of other world religions and their efforts are entirely breathtaking. One such 'scholar' tells his gullible audience that he has found the name of Muhammed in the Old Testament of the Bible because there is a word which contains an M, a D, and another M. It is a Hebrew word meaning "my beloved". The Muslim inclination to impose bogus interpetations onto scriptures which they did not write is audacity of the highest order.

I would be interested to hear a response on this.

 

[Delamere]

I don't think anyone believes that Jesus was born on Christmas Day but only that his birth is particularly remembered and honoured on that day. I am not a Roman Catholic but I do not think the Catholic Church ever taught that Jesus was born on December 25th of any year. There are a lot of Aunt Sally's here!

 

[LuisDantas]

As an anthropological phenomenon (sp?), religion naturally tends to assert itself in similar ways, to the degree that it attempts to answer largely the same sorts of needs among various societies.

It also changes and adapts in similar ways, e.g. forming sincretic faiths at frontier regions and developing "folk" varieties that tend to emphasize belief in spirits.

That said, it is also likely to develop wildly different specifics... all the while also creating a strong desire to bridge over them somehow. Religion, after all, is at its heart an effort at conciliating the desire of being part of the whole with the desire of being one's own person.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

I find it offensive to connect certain religions with mine.

 

[Surya Deva]

Delmare, that 'scholar' is Zakir Naik. He used simiar arguments to prove Mohammed is in the Vedas. His two main arguments were to combine to Sanskrit words 'Mahama' and 'id' as Mohammed, when it actually is a sentence meaning "Great is"; the other argument was to substitute Mohammed for every Sanskrit word that meant "Praiseworthy" because Mohammed means praiseworthy, but he ended up with ridiculous translations like "Oh sun god, you are divine, you are Mohammed(praiseworthy)" which apparently means Mohammed is the sun god now and he should worship the sun god His 'scholarship' is basically twisting words arbitarily until he can get something that says Mohammed. The hilarious attempt was when he attempted to decode a Sanskrit word by first reversing it, then rearranging the letters, until it sounded like an Arabic word. Nobody but Muslim web sites take this man seriously.

I also agree with you Abrahmic theology is very different from Hindu theology, so the similarities between Abrahmic religion and Hinduism are minimal. But with Hinduism/Buddhism Christianity shares remarkable similarity, enough to conclusively assert that Christianity heavily borrows from them. Early Christianity is completely different from Abrahmic theology:

It preaches asceticism and detachment
It preaches trinity(ALL in ONE)
It preaches that god has forms and incarnations
It preaches devotion
It preaches logos, sound as the manifestation of the universe
It preaches body and senses to be an obstacle
It preaches non dualism, "I and my father are one", "Ye are gods"
It preaches reincarnation and karma-like ideas
It preaches gnosis, meditation using Mantras to realise oneself.
Early Christians also set up altars using incense etc
It preaches Maya like ideas
It preaches transcendenta consciousness(Christ consciousness)
It has a guru-student set-up(Jesus and his disciples)

All of this is in remarkable convergence with Hinduism. Also, contrary to what you said that Hindu god is impersonal, actually during that period there were many Bhakti schools which had personal gods and practiced devotion just like Christians, only they are many centuries older.

 

[Comicaze247]

I don't think anyone believes that Jesus was born on Christmas Day but only that his birth is particularly remembered and honoured on that day. I am not a Roman Catholic but I do not think the Catholic Church ever taught that Jesus was born on December 25th of any year. There are a lot of Aunt Sally's here!

Then why do I hear so many Christians call it "The day of our Savior's birth" when they talk about Christmas?

 

[Comicaze247]

There seems to be a lot of wishful thinking in this thread and too much evidence that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The vast range of speculations in the world religions is bound to allow for superficial similiarities but it takes more intelligence to recognise what is unique and distinctive. Brahman is an impersonal force and nothing like the personal God of Judaism or Christianity. Muslim 'scholars' are desparate to find any mention of Muhammed in the scriptures of other world religions and their efforts are entirely breathtaking. One such 'scholar' tells his gullible audience that he has found the name of Muhammed in the Old Testament of the Bible because there is a word which contains an M, a D, and another M. It is a Hebrew word meaning "my beloved". The Muslim inclination to impose bogus interpetations onto scriptures which they did not write is audacity of the highest order.

I would be interested to hear a response on this.

Actually, Buddhism has a belief similar to Brahman, in that there is an underlying divine energy flowing through everyone and everything. Also, many Neo-Pagans believe the same thing. Is it really wrong to try to find things we have in common?

And about the comparison of the Christian God to Brahman, I think it depends on how people compare them. I think comparing the Christian God to Brahman doesn't work because they are different concepts (if anything, a better comparison would be the Holy Trinity to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and their functions). But what I DO believe most religions have in common is the concept of a higher power. For Christians, their way of understanding this is their God. For Hindus, this is Brahman and the many gods.

Now the trying to find Mohammed thing, that's ridiculous, I'll give you that.

 

[LuisDantas]

What would that higher power be in Buddhism?

 

[Comicaze247]

What would that higher power be in Buddhism?

I don't know the name for it (or if it even has one), but they do believe in something similar to Brahman. I have to look at my notes again

 

[LuisDantas]

Would it perchance be Alaya? It is the closest I can think to such a concept.

Store consciousness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Comicaze247]

Would it perchance be Alaya? It is the closest I can think to such a concept.

Store consciousness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Looking at my notes again, I never saw the name. But reading this, yes, I assume that's what it's called. The underlying energy is consciousness itself in Buddhism, from my understanding.

 

[LuisDantas]

I fail to see how it can be considered similar to Brahman. Nor is it even typical of Buddhism itself. Certain schools, sure, but not Buddhism in general.

 

[Comicaze247]

I fail to see how it can be considered similar to Brahman. Nor is it even typical of Buddhism itself. Certain schools, sure, but not Buddhism in general.

Brahman is said the be the underlying energy of the universe.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Buddhism professes that consciousness is in everyone?

I believe that the underlying energy IS consciousness itself, hence why we are all connected.