Faith Crisis

[ShadowsAndDust]

I was born a Christian then a few months ago became a Muslim now I have decided to join a Dharmic faith, specifically the Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism. The thing is I am still a strong believer of the Abrahamic fgod yet I find no issue with Hindu teachings. I have personally read some of the Hindu texts and I like them. I personally wish to keep things like salah (the 5 daily acts of worship to Allah) in my religion as I find it the most best way to worship. And I also wish to ask if Hindu idolatry is TRUE idolatry? Are the idols themselves god or really representations of God?
I have found much fault in Islam and its constant requirement to be backed up by unnatural hadiths (traditions) that make no utter rational sense sometimes (no offense, I enjoy the Quran but not hadiths).
As of now I am religiously confused and wish to know If I can still worship Jehovah/Allah but still be a Hindu. I do not care about the doctrine of the Bible or Qu'ran as of now. I just want to know what can I expect from Hinduism or any of the Dharmic faiths. Can I be a follower of Dharmic doctrine yet still worship the god of Abraham? I have no issues being a Kalidasa lol. I feel that the doctrines of the Quran and Bible are suffocating and I cannot find peace in them.
I know syncretism(mixing faiths) sounds stupid but please help me as I am at a crisis of sorts I hope I have hurt no one :sorry1:

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Within Hinduism the concept of Avatars is important.

In particular Vishnu is commonly associated with such things, revealing different aspects of himself (avatars) in different manners to different people at different times - some people consider the Abrahamic god to be one such avatar, though I am not sure how widespread such a belief is (I am not a hindu)

there are ten main avatars I have paraphrased wiki here
1. Matsya, the fish, appeared in the Satya Yuga.
2. Kurma, the tortoise, appeared in the Satya Yuga.
3. Varaha, the boar, appeared in the Satya Yuga.
4. Narasimha, the half-man/half-lion
5. Vamana, the dwarf, appeared in the Treta Yuga.
6. Parashurama, Rama with the axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga.
7. Rama, Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya
8. (South India) Balarama (elder brother of Krishna)-
8. (North India) or 9. (South India) Krishna (meaning 'dark coloured' or 'all attractive')
9. (North India) Buddha, the ascetic prince is listed as an avatar of Vishnu in many Hindu scriptures
10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness")
Although others list alternative ones amongst the ten

However there may be others, I do not know - I also do not know how Brahma and Shiva relate to avatars (though I am fairly sure that shiva also had some, I dont know about Brahma).

edit: it would be good if i could count.

 

[Breathe]

And I also wish to ask if Hindu idolatry is TRUE idolatry? Are the idols themselves god or really representations of God?

Representations of aspects of the Absolute, or the Supreme Deity.

As of now I am religiously confused and wish to know If I can still worship Jehovah/Allah but still be a Hindu. I do not care about the doctrine of the Bible or Qu'ran as of now. I just want to know what can I expect from Hinduism or any of the Dharmic faiths. Can I be a follower of Dharmic doctrine yet still worship the god of Abraham?

I suppose you can -- but, why do you want to follow a God of another religion if its theology and practises are so awkward for you?

Is it because you want one God? Because of tradition? Something else? It's something you need to decide. The only problem with it is, you're going to get some hassle for it -- sometimes by über-conservative Hindus who do not believe you should incorporate non-Hindu deities into Hinduism (there are some out there, even in a religion as liberal as Sanatāna Dharma) and some Muslims who think you are being a bad Muslim or a hypocrite by doing so.

I know syncretism(mixing faiths) sounds stupid but please help me as I am at a crisis of sorts I hope I have hurt no one

I don't think it is. I'm a syncretist.

 

[Breathe]

Within Hinduism the concept of Avatars is important.

Not always. Ārya Samāj is a sect of Hinduism, but rejects polytheism, murti (icons), and avatāras. Some other Hindus do not believe in avatāras either.

You also missed off Buddha from the list of avatāras.

However there may be others, I do not know - I also do not know how Brahma and Shiva relate to avatars (though I am fairly sure that shiva also had some, I dont know about Brahma).

Brahmā has no avatāras. He's not even that powerful though.

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

Representations of aspects of the Absolute, or the Supreme Deity.


I suppose you can -- but, why do you want to follow a God of another religion if its theology and practises are so awkward for you?

Is it because you want one God? Because of tradition? Something else? It's something you need to decide. The only problem with it is, you're going to get some hassle for it -- sometimes by über-conservative Hindus who do not believe you should incorporate non-Hindu deities into Hinduism (there are some out there, even in a religion as liberal as Sanatāna Dharma) and some Muslims who think you are being a bad Muslim or a hypocrite by doing so.


I don't think it is. I'm a syncretist.

I primarily believe in the worship of one supreme god, Brahman as hindu's would say. I wish to retain Islamic practices like salat but I wish to worship only 1 supreme god which in my eyes is no different then Brahman. I really stopped caring about the Muslims and no longer care for their doctrine at all anymore. Islam does not teach people to live life outside of a shell honestly, even though it seems offensive to say that I find it VERY restrictive and makes Islam seem false.
In all honesty I really am just irreligious and basically I would be clarified as a syncretist.
I just wish to fuse Hindu values but the idea of 1 god together.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

lol yes i noticed that (it would be good if i could count!!!)

I was saying it was important - mainly in regards to his expressed desire to relate it to other religions, in which case it can be seen as a powerful tool by which to embrace other religions by acknowledging the possibility that they are an avatar (such as Buddah as you noticed ^.^).

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

lol yes i noticed that (it would be good if i could count!!!)

I was saying it was important - mainly in regards to his expressed desire to relate it to other religions, in which case it can be seen as a powerful tool by which to embrace other religions by acknowledging the possibility that they are an avatar (such as Buddah as you noticed ^.^).

Couldnt say it better. I do not denounce the existence of other spiritual beings at all, God created so much and yet so little is mentioned. All religions across the earth didnt form form dust and farts. They all started from a truth, that truth may have been corrupted but it is still a truth.

 

[Breathe]

I just wish to fuse Hindu values but the idea of 1 god together.

Hindu monotheism is nothing special; many Hindus are monotheists, panentheists or pantheists. If you reaaaallly want something explicitly monotheistic/panentheistic, consider Ārya Samāj; only one God, no icons, no incarnations. Sounds right up your street.

lol yes i noticed that (it would be good if i could count!!!)

Numbers and I don't get on either.

I was saying it was important - mainly in regards to his expressed desire to relate it to other religions, in which case it can be seen as a powerful tool by which to embrace other religions by acknowledging the possibility that they are an avatar (such as Buddah as you noticed ^.^).

True, true.
Although some Śaivas (Śiva as supreme) do not believe in avatāras anyway: Śiva is described as ayonija: not-womb-born, and so they understand avatāras differently to how a Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu as supreme) would. I've never heard of a Śākta (the Divine Mother as supreme) who believes in avatāras personally but I know they exist.

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

Hindu monotheism is nothing special; many Hindus are monotheists, panentheists or pantheists. If you reaaaallly want something explicitly monotheistic/panentheistic, consider Ārya Samāj; only one God, no icons, no incarnations. Sounds right up your street.

Thank you so much . Your wisdom astonishes me! I knew so many Dharmic sects existed and I have the right one! But I feel best to consider myself a syncretist though now I think of it

 

[Breathe]

Thank you so much . Your wisdom astonishes me! I knew so many Dharmic sects existed and I have the right one! But I feel best to consider myself a syncretist though now I think of it

Haha, thank you, but I'm just an ignorant layperson.

Staying as a syncretist is fine; slow and steady wins the race. Maybe you will stay one, maybe you will adopt only one religion. Time will tell. Just remember, ekaṁ sad vipra bahudha vadanti: "Truth is One, sages know it by many names"; as long as you worship God with loving devotion, I don't think it matters to God whether you call yourself a Muslim, a Hindu, a Sikh, a Christian, or something else.

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

Haha, thank you, but I'm just an ignorant layperson.

Staying as a syncretist is fine; slow and steady wins the race. Maybe you will stay one, maybe you will adopt only one religion. Time will tell. Just remember, ekaṁ sad vipra bahudha vadanti: "Truth is One, sages know it by many names"; as long as you worship God with loving devotion, I don't think it matters to God whether you call yourself a Muslim, a Hindu, a Sikh, a Christian, or something else.

I will call it "********ism " or "Muslindu". Now I am just being silly lol

 

[Me Myself]

I think that only getting your beliefs in combos is stupid.

Mixing things up is just natural.

Cherry picking is good, very good. Why would you eat something poisonous just to keep in the same garden when there are a myriad of Eden's in which to choose?

I worship Krishna, Shiva and Ganesh regularly, and I feel con inncoherence on quoting Jesus's words neither.

The way I see it, I am sure Jesus had hindu or buddhist influences.

Forget the pre-made combos, they are unnecesarily restrictive more often than not.

You gotta follow your heart.

And as Buddha put it:

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Blessings in your search :namaste

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

I think that only getting your beliefs in combos is stupid.

Mixing things up is just natural.

Cherry picking is good, very good. Why would you eat something poisonous just to keep in the same garden when there are a myriad of Eden's in which to choose?

I worship Krishna, Shiva and Ganesh regularly, and I feel con inncoherence on quoting Jesus's words neither.

The way I see it, I am sure Jesus had hindu or buddhist influences.

Forget the pre-made combos, they are unnecesarily restrictive more often than not.

You gotta follow your heart.

And as Buddha put it:

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Blessings in your search :namaste

You speak words of wisdom :yes: . And I agree with you, I rushed into Islam with great ignorance. But in all honesty I also feel more comfortable with polytheism also and pantheism. Call it strange but I seem to be shedding my past religious views as of lately. Took 14 years but I am being more sure of my religious views

 

[jg22]

Hinduism is an extremely complex and multi-faceted religion; you ought to dedicate a lot of time researching the variety of views within it before committing to or declaring yourself a believer.

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

Hinduism is an extremely complex and multi-faceted religion; you ought to dedicate a lot of time researching the variety of views within it before committing to or declaring yourself a believer.

But I have brother, been studying the doctrine of Sanatana Dharma before reading the Quran :run:
I find Hinduism more natural now. I use to be so fixated on Abrahamic faiths

 

[Jacksnyte]

Not always. Ārya Samāj is a sect of Hinduism, but rejects polytheism, murti (icons), and avatāras. Some other Hindus do not believe in avatāras either.

You also missed off Buddha from the list of avatāras.


Brahmā has no avatāras. He's not even that powerful though.

Brahma IS that powerful, he just isn't worshipped like the others. He is one of Hinduisms "big three": Brahma(creator), Vishnu(sustainer), Shiva(destroyer/changer)!

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Also if you consider it in those terms - their roles; it is simply unnecessary for him to utilise avatars, after all - interaction with what has already been created is usually for the sake of preserving or altering some aspect, in this fashion the other two are more likely to need to interact with what has already been created (such as through the use of avatars) whereas Brahma rarely involves himself in the affairs of the other Gods, let alone our own - so there is no need for Avatars.

 

[Breathe]

Brahma IS that powerful, he just isn't worshipped like the others. He is one of Hinduisms "big three": Brahma(creator), Vishnu(sustainer), Shiva(destroyer/changer)!

I should have worded it as "Seen as as powerful as they", instead, since he is a powerful divinity in his own right.

However, Brahmā, out of the trimūrti, is the only one who is universally accepted as dying; he has no avatāras, and he is cursed to not be worshipped in mythology because of various reasons, usually involving him being considered egotistical or lustful. Out of the trimūrti, Brahmā draws the short straw.

Whilst he was a very powerful deva in Vedic Hinduism, most likely the rise of Buddhism made him -- like Indra, less powerful divinities. Ironically, Brahmā worship is more common in Buddhist nations than it is in Hindu nations, and Brahmā is commonly found interesting to people who follow Hinduism later on in life. He's actually one of my favourite devas who drew me to Sanatāna Dharma.

 

[Marco19]

Brahmā is commonly found interesting to people who follow Hinduism later on in life. He's actually one of my favourite devas who drew me to Sanatāna Dharma.

Hello Odion,

i wonder if this is the case with "west" people? i have never heard of any Brahma temple in the west.

 

[Breathe]

Hello Odion,

i wonder if this is the case with "west" people? i have never heard of any Brahma temple in the west.

Hi Marco,

You won't find many temples to Brahmā at all. There's probably less than 10.
But from my experience, many people who are learning about Hinduism, or new to it, find Brahmā to be an interesting deva; maybe it's a leftover from Abrahamic beliefs, with God as the creator and supreme.