Shiv Ling??

[dharma_seeker]

First you need to understand the concept of God in Hinduism as Islam,

For that you can refer to the dialogue happened between Dr. Zakir Naik and Shri Shri Ravishankar. Topic - "Concept of God in BHinduism and Islam", if you watch this you will come to know about more things, it happened in Banglore, India and lakhs of people attended the conference. I request you to watch the talk kindly first.

ZAKIR NAIK who call himself a doctor and has done his doctorate in saying that "If you eat a pig then you will become a pig" LOL

He talks about Muhammad being in the hindu scriptures. Yes MAHAMADA (Muhamad) is there in Bhavishya Purana and he is said to be the demon and is an reincarnation of Tripurasura (a demon). He will spread his demonic religion in the forein land of Mecca. So basically his religion will ADHARMIC or demonic.

Now about the debate with Sri Sri RaviShankar and Zakir Naik. Let me tell you briefly what happened.

you should go and watch it again!! I have watched it myself..Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an highly spritual being and would never bash Islam or any other Religions in front of people. The debate was held because Sri Sri R. Shankar wrote a book to bring Islam and Hinduism together..his intention was to bring love between Religions by showing similarities between the two. This is what each Hindu tries to do but you guys always want hatred so have it..Sri Sri RAviShankar did not come to attend a debate...he was there to clarify about the book he wrote to bring Hindus and Muslims together...But Zakir, he just wants hatred and he even said in one video that he supports Osama Bin LAden!!:icon_lol:

If you watch the debate properly, Ravi Shankar talked about love toward GOD and other aspects of Bhakti Yoga rather than talking BS about Islam. For me this is the sign of an highly intellectual person! And there was no winning or losing in this!! It was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who was more appropriate and thus for me he won in the end. If you still feel that there were some comments by Zakir Naik that were left unanswered by SSR Shankaracharaya, since he would not bash any relgion, then you can refer them to me!!:yes:

Zakir Naik is a fraud, who preaches wrong things about Islam and misguides people about Hinduism.
he talks about scientific evidences in Quran that were already present long before islam.. here is one of his most intellectual comment "if you eat pig, you will behave like pig" Muslim communities even issued a FAtwa again Zakir NAIK once

m:

 

[dharma_seeker]

@ TOPIC SHIVA LING is not phalic worshipping. It is the purest symbol of Lord Shiva and gets worshipped in this form on EARTH. This mistranslation have been done by the westerners who have no knowledge about the importance of the idols and symbols in Hinduism.

Siva means auspiciousness and linga means a sign or a symbol. Hence the Sivalinga is regarded as a "symbol of the great God of the universe who is all-auspiciousness. Some associate Shiva Linga with the famous hymn in the Atharva-Veda Samhitâ sung in praise of the Yupa-Stambha, the sacrificial post. In that hymn a description is found of the beginningless and endless Stambha or Skambha and it is shown that the said Skambha is put in place of the eternal Brahman.

Swami Vivekananda gave a lecture at the Paris Congress of the History of Religions in 1900 during which he refuted the statements of some Western scholars that referred to Shiva linga as phallic worship. Vivekananda's words at the congress were in connection with the paper read by Mr.Gustav Oppert, a German Orientalist, who tried to trace the origin of the Shalagrama-Shila and the Shiva-Linga to phallicism. To this Vivekananda objected, adducing proof from the Vedas, and particularly the Atharva-Veda Samhita, to the effect that the Shiva-Linga had its origin in the idea of the Yupa-Stambha or Skambha—the sacrificial post, idealized in Vedic ritual as the symbol of the Eternal Brahman. According to Vivekananda, the explanation of the Shalagrama-Shila as a phallic emblem was an imaginary invention. Vivekananda argued that the explanation of the Shiva-Linga as a phallic emblem was brought forward by the most thoughtless, and was forthcoming in India in her most degraded times, those of the downfall of Buddhism.

 

[ihsan_pno]

Then will you allow me stand on Quran?
See this .

You are not following teachings of Quran.Your God says in Quran ,that he is everywhere.Hence,it is there in Shiv ling also.




So,Quran is equal to your Brother's face.Are you alright?


Atleast I dont kiss stones,like you do,it is like kissing brother or sister..I forgot that you worship thin air.


I will remain silent.Whats wrong with depicting pictures?




Hindu god is everywhere,not like the God u worship.


Brother,Allah is a stupid name.You are limiting God,by using such a stupid name.Remember:If u tell that God is Allah,then God is limiting to that name.
If you want Hindus to throw the Shiv ling out,you please throw out this Allah.

I would like to tell you only one thing again,

The Deff, the Dunb and the Bling will not come to the right path, There is no use in arguing with you, I pray Almighty Allah to show u the right path.

 

[Metempsychosis]

I would like to tell you only one thing again,

The Deff, the Dunb and the Bling will not come to the right path, There is no use in arguing with you, I pray Almighty Allah to show u the right path.

Thank you.

 

[Kerr]

Brother,

When Allah ask you on the day on Judgement, Did we send you the warner or the guide (Prophet) to you or not? That time the disbelievers will say, Yes, Warner and Guide had come to us, but we rejected him Then Allah says all the disbelievers to enter in to the Hell fire. then Allah will ask the Hell, are you fille? Then the Hell will reply, Is there anything more?? Bring it to me. i am fready to punish those. So the disbelivers will be in the hell fire forever in the life hereafter. Kindly accept Islam,

If Allah exist and that is how he is, then he sure is counter productive. Such unproportionate and merciless crimes drives people away.

 

[RamaRaksha]

Brother,

When Allah ask you on the day on Judgement, Did we send you the warner or the guide (Prophet) to you or not? That time the disbelievers will say, Yes, Warner and Guide had come to us, but we rejected him Then Allah says all the disbelievers to enter in to the Hell fire. then Allah will ask the Hell, are you fille? Then the Hell will reply, Is there anything more?? Bring it to me. i am fready to punish those. So the disbelivers will be in the hell fire forever in the life hereafter. Kindly accept Islam,

A sick version of God - a god who uses torture and abuse to get his way. You either believe in him or else! Reminds me of the movie where this nutcase ties up the heroine, holds a knife to her throat and tells her he only wants her to love him!

This is where the religion decends into a cult:
1. Threats of hell to non-believers
2. Goodies to believers - convert and you go straight to heaven!

Thank god i am Hindu - my faith is not a cult. We don't abuse non-believers this way, nor does being a Hindu give you a right to enter heaven. There is a nice story about this:

In a village there lived a religious man who visited the temple every day, imploring god to give him more money! Never helped his fellow man. And then in the same village lived an Atheist, who mocked the very concept of God, lived his life helping others. It is the latter that God Rama welcomes with open arms!

 

[Metempsychosis]

Then the Hell will reply, Is there anything more??

Yes,there is Allah.

 

[dharma_seeker]

Some enlightening verses from Quran.

In this world, all terrorists are spreading terror in the name of Islam. Why???

The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers

They are saying that the Koran has given them the authority to defeat the infidels and when they go and blow themselves up, they seem to be shouting Allah hu Akbar. Moreover, they also have millions of sympathizers/supporters in the Islamic world.

Most muslims are protected or unaware of the following barbaric verses of the Koran:

"The unbelievers are like beasts which, call out to them as one may, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they understand nothing" (2:172).

"Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you. Idolatry is worse than carnage. . . . f they attack you put them to the sword. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded: but if they desist, God is forgiving and merciful. Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evil-doers"(2:190-93).

"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not" (2:216).

"They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your faith—if they are able. But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever, his works shall come to nothing in this world and in the world to come. Such men shall be the tenants of Hell, wherein they shall abide forever. Those that have embraced the Faith, and those that have fled their land and fought for the cause of God, may hope for God's mercy" (2:217-18).

"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush" (9:5)

"Let the believers not make friends with infidels in preference to the faithful—he that does this has nothing to hope for from God—except in self-defense" (3:28).

"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people. They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is evident from what they utter with their mouths, but greater is the hatred which their breasts conceal" (3:118).

""Believers, do not follow the example of the infidels, who say of their brothers when they meet death abroad or in battle: 'Had they stayed with us they would not have died, nor would they have been killed.' God will cause them to regret their words. . . . If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, God's forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches they amass" (3:156).

Never think that those who were slain in the cause of God are dead. They are alive, and well provided for by their Lord; pleased with His gifts and rejoicing that those they left behind, who have not yet joined them, have nothing to fear or to regret; rejoicing in God's grace and bounty. God will not deny the faithful their reward" (3:169).

Direct verses from the Koran are prescribing such hate and intolerance towards non-muslims, ANY EXPLAINATIONS??. And God is promising them a great reward in the afterlife for dealing with infidels in such a way???? HOW CAN GOD TELL HIS OWN CREATED PEOPLE (HUMANS) TO KILL OTHER HUMANS???? GOD SHOULD NEVER SAY THAT!!! If it does that it is not a peaceful religion!!!

After reading these verses, one should ask themself if it is surprising to see these terrorists act in such a way.

More importantly, is this right? Isn't this dehumanizing people who follow other faiths? Does anyone has any explainations for all these verses???

 

[Kerr]

In this world, all terrorists are spreading terror in the name of Islam. Why???

Correction, they are the ones that makes the most noise and are given the most space in the media. But there are many other terrorists and terrorist organisations as well.

 

[Riverwolf]

Some enlightening verses from Quran.

In this world, all terrorists are spreading terror in the name of Islam. Why???

The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers

They are saying that the Koran has given them the authority to defeat the infidels and when they go and blow themselves up, they seem to be shouting Allah hu Akbar. Moreover, they also have millions of sympathizers/supporters in the Islamic world.

Most muslims are protected or unaware of the following barbaric verses of the Koran:

"The unbelievers are like beasts which, call out to them as one may, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they understand nothing" (2:172).

"Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you. Idolatry is worse than carnage. . . . f they attack you put them to the sword. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded: but if they desist, God is forgiving and merciful. Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evil-doers"(2:190-93).

"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not" (2:216).

"They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your faith—if they are able. But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever, his works shall come to nothing in this world and in the world to come. Such men shall be the tenants of Hell, wherein they shall abide forever. Those that have embraced the Faith, and those that have fled their land and fought for the cause of God, may hope for God's mercy" (2:217-18).

"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush" (9:5)

"Let the believers not make friends with infidels in preference to the faithful—he that does this has nothing to hope for from God—except in self-defense" (3:28).

"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people. They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is evident from what they utter with their mouths, but greater is the hatred which their breasts conceal" (3:118).

""Believers, do not follow the example of the infidels, who say of their brothers when they meet death abroad or in battle: 'Had they stayed with us they would not have died, nor would they have been killed.' God will cause them to regret their words. . . . If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, God's forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches they amass" (3:156).

Never think that those who were slain in the cause of God are dead. They are alive, and well provided for by their Lord; pleased with His gifts and rejoicing that those they left behind, who have not yet joined them, have nothing to fear or to regret; rejoicing in God's grace and bounty. God will not deny the faithful their reward" (3:169).

Direct verses from the Koran are prescribing such hate and intolerance towards non-muslims, ANY EXPLAINATIONS??. And God is promising them a great reward in the afterlife for dealing with infidels in such a way???? HOW CAN GOD TELL HIS OWN CREATED PEOPLE (HUMANS) TO KILL OTHER HUMANS???? GOD SHOULD NEVER SAY THAT!!! If it does that it is not a peaceful religion!!!

After reading these verses, one should ask themself if it is surprising to see these terrorists act in such a way.

More importantly, is this right? Isn't this dehumanizing people who follow other faiths? Does anyone has any explainations for all these verses???

Say (O Prophet): O ye who reject faith! (1)
I worship not that which ye worship; (2)
Nor worship ye that which I worship. (3)
And I shall not worship that which ye worship. (4)
Nor will ye worship that which I worship. (5)
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. (6)
-Surah 109

If you actually READ those verses, you'd know that they're not talking about non-Muslims in general. One, they were given during times of war; Islam had a lot of opposition in its early years; two, the kinds of people they're talking about are the same kinds of people who followed the sons of Dhritarashtra.

I am ashamed that Islam fell so quickly into a conquering religion, and now in the world, because of the 9/11 attacks (which, by the way, violate a verse that forbids aggression; sorry, I don't know where it is), Muslim terrorists get top press.

But if you look at the Sufis, you'd find that there are those who have found God through the Qur'an. For me, that's evidence enough to tell me that at least part of the Qur'an is from God.

We don't have to be Muslim to consider the Qur'an a Sruti text.

 

[dharma_seeker]

Say (O Prophet): O ye who reject faith! (1)
I worship not that which ye worship; (2)
Nor worship ye that which I worship. (3)
And I shall not worship that which ye worship. (4)
Nor will ye worship that which I worship. (5)
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. (6)
-Surah 109

If you actually READ those verses, you'd know that they're not talking about non-Muslims in general. One, they were given during times of war; Islam had a lot of opposition in its early years; two, the kinds of people they're talking about are the same kinds of people who followed the sons of Dhritarashtra.

If considering Quran a Shruti, then the message has to be kept universal, applicable in any age, Yuga, or timeperiod. It has to be eternal. I think of it more like a Smriti TEXT --- it need alot of evolution in its philosophies about women, infidels and especially ALLAH.

About the verses I posted above, they dont mention any event of wartimes. There are only these verses and are told to follow them. In one of the verses, it is said to fight till there are no more idolaters left even if they desist, still keep on fighting them, till they are no more polytheists. (Hence, all the destruction caused by Mughals)

Regarding Mahabharat, In GITA, nowhere it is said to kill the NON-HINDUS or KILL them whereever you find them. The concept is very different. The war was not wanted by anyone who was on the Dharma side. Pandavas even tried to make several peace treaties and tried to stop the war. Even Lord Krishna himself went to make the Kauravas understand that there is no need of war but vinaash kale viprit Bhudhi..The Kauravas did not understand or agree and even tried to arrest the supreme LORD himself. In hinduism, war is the last option, and must be avoided till the last. There must be alternative peace options that must be tried before engaging into the war. If those options fails and no other option is left, only then the to uphold the principles of the DHARMA, Kshatriya must fight. This is different from Islam perspective, which tells to kill all the polytheists where ever you find them..

I am ashamed that Islam fell so quickly into a conquering religion, and now in the world, because of the 9/11 attacks (which, by the way, violate a verse that forbids aggression; sorry, I don't know where it is), Muslim terrorists get top press.

You probably know that the there is only Death for apostasy in ISLAM.

But if you look at the Sufis, you'd find that there are those who have found God through the Qur'an. For me, that's evidence enough to tell me that at least part of the Qur'an is from God.

We don't have to be Muslim to consider the Qur'an a Sruti text.

It can only be considered a Sruti if it was revealed the way it is said it was revealed. Then you can't make excuses of war times or other events since the message has to be universal.

SUFISM is considered HARAM in ISLAM. There have been numerous FATWAS issued already against and is not acceptable by Islamic LAW. Sufism has been influenced and initiated by Bhakti Yoga of Hinduism. The way they sit, their love towards different Saguna forms other than ALLAH, postures, gestures and much more are all influences of Bhakti YOGA. So Basically, they Sufist or A Bhakti Yogi is no different and found GOD through Bhakti not Quran.

 

[Metempsychosis]

Regarding Mahabharat, In GITA, nowhere it is said to kill the NON-HINDUS or KILL them whereever you find them. The concept is very different. The war was not wanted by anyone who was on the Dharma side. Pandavas even tried to make several peace treaties and tried to stop the war. Even Lord Krishna himself went to make the Kauravas understand that there is no need of war but vinaash kale viprit Bhudhi..The Kauravas did not understand or agree and even tried to arrest the supreme LORD himself. In hinduism, war is the last option, and must be avoided till the last. There must be alternative peace options that must be tried before engaging into the war. If those options fails and no other option is left, only then the to uphold the principles of the DHARMA, Kshatriya must fight. This is different from Islam perspective, which tells to kill all the polytheists where ever you find them..

Thats true ,in Gita it is a fights between dharmic and demonic HINDUS.Gita does not talk much about Mundane things.There are lots of thread regarding the "Islamic perspective".
Their is an abrahamic obsession towards polytheist and idolatry.
I can understand your points,but dont deviate from the topic .Shruti and smriti are hindu standards and hence cannot be used to judge another completely different religion called Islam.

Ihsan_pno has no knowledge of Shaivism and its tantric principles.His aim is to bash idolatrous Hinduism/Buddhism.That was clear from his first post.This is not any thing uncommon to Hindus/Buddhists.Muslims have been desecrating the Dharmic Idols right from 7th century AD. When I asked him,whether he worshiped thin air.He failed too any give answer just like the Joker Naik.

SUFISM is considered HARAM in ISLAM. There have been numerous FATWAS issued already against and is not acceptable by Islamic LAW. Sufism has been influenced and initiated by Bhakti Yoga of Hinduism. The way they sit, their love towards different Saguna forms other than ALLAH, postures, gestures and much more are all influences of Bhakti YOGA. So Basically, they Sufist or A Bhakti Yogi is no different and found GOD through Bhakti not Quran.

Any kind of mysticism is heresy in Abrahamic religions (esp.Christianity and Islam).They are frowned upon.There are various threads regarding Sufism and Islam.
IMHO,There are two kinds of Sufism.One that is religious ,they follow Islam closely.And other that is not that Islamic and but goes beyond religion.

BTW.Hinduism/Buddhism did not always influence Sufism (in the middle east).Abrahamic religions have their own esoteric sects.

 

[nameless]

But if you look at the Sufis, you'd find that there are those who have found God through the Qur'an. For me, that's evidence enough to tell me that at least part of the Qur'an is from God..

Sufis goes beyond quran, that made them possible to find god. Unlike muslims, Sufis are open to everything that is good, so they accepted meditation and yoga from the east.

 

[Riverwolf]

Sufis goes beyond quran, that made them possible to find god. Unlike muslims, Sufis are open to everything that is good, so they accepted meditation and yoga from the east.

I think we both know that God is not found in any Scripture; Scripture is just the starting point.

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

Personally cannot accept that the meaning of the words [quran] are to be taken as they appear as the words should be internalized and non-believers should be taken as humans who are unconscious. Idolaters simply would mean people attached with a form as no-form is the way. It simply appears that the quran is misinterpreted by those with vested interests.
It is just an opinion.

Love & rgds

 

[RamaRaksha]

Most muslims are protected or unaware of the following barbaric verses of the Koran:

"The unbelievers are like beasts which, call out to them as one may, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they understand nothing" (2:172).

"Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you. Idolatry is worse than carnage. . . . f they attack you put them to the sword. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded: but if they desist, God is forgiving and merciful. Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evil-doers"(2:190-93).

"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not" (2:216).

"They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your faith—if they are able. But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever, his works shall come to nothing in this world and in the world to come. Such men shall be the tenants of Hell, wherein they shall abide forever. Those that have embraced the Faith, and those that have fled their land and fought for the cause of God, may hope for God's mercy" (2:217-18).

"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush" (9:5)

"Let the believers not make friends with infidels in preference to the faithful—he that does this has nothing to hope for from God—except in self-defense" (3:28).

"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people. They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is evident from what they utter with their mouths, but greater is the hatred which their breasts conceal" (3:118).

""Believers, do not follow the example of the infidels, who say of their brothers when they meet death abroad or in battle: 'Had they stayed with us they would not have died, nor would they have been killed.' God will cause them to regret their words. . . . If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, God's forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches they amass" (3:156).

Never think that those who were slain in the cause of God are dead. They are alive, and well provided for by their Lord; pleased with His gifts and rejoicing that those they left behind, who have not yet joined them, have nothing to fear or to regret; rejoicing in God's grace and bounty. God will not deny the faithful their reward" (3:169).

Obviously looking thru any religions books, one might come across uncomfortable passages. first of all we don't know who wrote them and secondly we may be taking them out of context. As a poster before me wrote, this may be a time of war and he may be talking about the enemy. But we don't know that either, he very well could be talking about anyone not a muslim. The problem is we don't know who this person is - could be any bigot.

What if a few thousand years ago a certain KKK member got hold of the Bible and wrote something down and passed it off as the view of God? This may very well have happened. The problem is that they say that this is the word of god, and so they paint themselves into a corner.

To take a broad view, these are King Religions - god made in the image of a King. Hence the goodies thrown towards followers (loyalists) and the threats to non-followers. They say that a King cannot afford any enemies, he must kill even babies if they are the progeny of his enemy & so you see verses like the above.

 

[xkatz]

BTW.A new section in religious debates should be dedicated to expose this fool.

I made one: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/religious-debates/91108-zakir-naik.html

 

[Metempsychosis]

I made one: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/religious-debates/91108-zakir-naik.html

Thank you xkatz.

 

[dharma_seeker]

Obviously looking thru any religions books, one might come across uncomfortable passages. first of all we don't know who wrote them and secondly we may be taking them out of context. As a poster before me wrote, this may be a time of war and he may be talking about the enemy. But we don't know that either, he very well could be talking about anyone not a muslim. The problem is we don't know who this person is - could be any bigot.

Islamist think Quran is the word of GOD and I think they know better than us.
There is no proof if this is war time! Sanatana Dharma does not talk about killing Non-hindus whereever you find them. Islam tells to kill non-mulsims whereever you find them and keeping on killing them (polutheist) even if they desist untill they are no more polytheist. Meaning if this is a war (no proof), then after the war is finished, still kill all the polytheist even if they surrender??

What if a few thousand years ago a certain KKK member got hold of the Bible and wrote something down and passed it off as the view of God? This may very well have happened. The problem is that they say that this is the word of god, and so they paint themselves into a corner.

ARe you trying to say Quran or bible might be corrupted??

Vedas follow a meter system based on syllables and all the meter are in order meaning they are same as original.

To take a broad view, these are King Religions - god made in the image of a King. Hence the goodies thrown towards followers (loyalists) and the threats to non-followers. They say that a King cannot afford any enemies, he must kill even babies if they are the progeny of his enemy & so you see verses like the above.

these seems like man made religions. GOD is localized and is not universal. There is no universal brotherhood but muslim-brotherhood only!!

 

[RamaRaksha]

"ARe you trying to say Quran or bible might be corrupted??"

We don't know who wrote these religious books, not just the Koran or the bible but also Hindu epics like the Gita. For Hindus our book of God is not the Gita but the Ramayana, namely the Ramayana written by the Sage Valmiki. He lived during Rama's time and wrote the story of Rama.

These books were written thousands of years ago - it's fine for theists to say these words were inspired by god, but logic tells us that these are words written by men. It is said that a group of men got together and decided what goes into the bible and what does not. Same thing may have happened with the koran and the Gita.

If we take the big picture then we get a clearer view - the abrahamic god was inspired by their king. Kings pass laws and judge their subjects. Most of them were men so god had to be a man. Brought before the king, the subject/slave fell to their knees and shook with fear (Fear of god) for this man was judge and jury. He had no room for disloyal people in his kingdom, his throne is threatened by them, hence segregated heavens for members only.

Hinduism, Buddhism are Teacher faiths. I have never heard a Hindu expressing a fear of God. I think it is wrong for Hindus & Buddhists to kneel before God. A King runs a heaven and hell (in his kingdom or sent out) but a Hindu/Buddhist's goal is Moksha, Enlightenment. God is our guru on this journey. She is there to help and guide us but will not impose her will on us. A student may decide to skip class or pay no attention to the teacher. At the end of the year, when he fails to pass the class, he then realizes his folly. Similarly Karma & Rebirth make it clear that we are responsible for our actions.