How Can One Love Two Religions

[dsaly1969]

Hmmm... if you like both Hinduism and Islam, I'm surprised that you have not explored Sikhism and some of the more modern related offshoots like Sant Mat and Sant Nirankari.

 

[Gaura Priya]

Zakir Naik is terrible. He had a little bit on Hinduism and his arguments were terrible. And while Muslims may consider Krishna as a prophet, Vaishnavas consider Krishna as God Himself (or Vishnu), since out of the different religions of Hindu culture, Vaishnavism is a devotional and somewhat strict monotheism.

Vaishnavas only worship Sri Vishnu and His avataras, and never the other devatas - they are the angels of God, and we do not worship them via the instructions in the Gita.

In terms of other religions or sects that are of a Hindu-Muslim fusion, Sikhism might be of interest, as well as the Sant Nirankari Mission. People like Saint Kabir have mixed sentiments that blend Hindu and Islamic thought very well. For non-iconic Hinduism, groups such as the Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, and even Ramakrishna Mission may be of interest. Ekasarana Dharma (or Neo-Vaishnavism) is also aniconic; that is, it is Vaishnavism without icon worship.

The Druze, of which some are syncretic with Islamic elements, believe in reincarnation, and if tasteful, I am sure one can do a puja to Allah in His Name in Arabic form, facing East, and an altar can be created to surround that.

 

[Wolke]

I would like to ask if am I the only one who faces this issue? Have people like myself outgrown organized religion and dogma? How does one come to terms with their love of multiple religions and varying teachings?

At the mystical level, all of the major religions are one in substance. Religious differences are at the popular level of myth and symbol.

The reason for religious differences is that no direct description of mystical consciousness can ever be possible. It must always be symbolic. Individuals in different cultures will come up with different symbols, different artistic representations, to suggest the experience of mystical illumination. When Jesus experienced the unity of his Self with the divine ground of being, he only had biblical theology to fall back upon. So he said he was the Son of God, the messiah. A Buddhist or Hindu having the same experience would put it differently.

 

[Maya3]

At the mystical level, all of the major religions are one in substance. Religious differences are at the popular level of myth and symbol.

The reason for religious differences is that no direct description of mystical consciousness can ever be possible. It must always be symbolic. Individuals in different cultures will come up with different symbols, different artistic representations, to suggest the experience of mystical illumination. When Jesus experienced the unity of his Self with the divine ground of being, he only had biblical theology to fall back upon. So he said he was the Son of God, the messiah. A Buddhist or Hindu having the same experience would put it differently.

Well said. Though I think that you can experience consciousness, but you can never describe it in a human language.

Maya

 

[Gaura Priya]

Just for the record, Christianity and Vaishnavism are both close to my heart.

So to the OP, don't worry - you're not alone.