Re: Jesus; God-realised or Avatar?
namaste everyone.
There is a proverb in Tamil that says "one leg in the river water and one on the shore". I can understand that traces of the influence of Jesus and Christianity still linger in the minds of the Western Hindus here, especially when they are yet to understand the dimensions and practices of Hinduism. So more often than not, they take us into a discussion on Jesus and his teachings, which are at best redundant and inadequate for us Hindus.
My personal take is that Jesus Christ has no historical existence, and that the Bible has no message that is worthwhile for Hindus.
• I am surprised that Yajvan puts the blame of the MahAbhArata war on YudhiShthira by saying that he "orchestrated a war that brought death to millions in 18 days", ignoring the fact that the war was fought at the behest of shrI KRShNa.
YudhiShthira is identified as the son of Yama DharmarAjA in the MahAbhArata, but it was the avatar of KRShNa that was responsible for the restoration of dharma by the MahAbhArata war. YudhiShthira, if at all, was only used as a tool, being the eldest of the PANDavas.
• Even if for argument sake, YudhiShthira "orchestrated" the War, he never professed himself to be a saint or an avatar unlike Jesus, so there is no comparison here.
• There is no teaching in Hinduism that reviles other faiths, whereas it is the teachings of Jesus in the Bible that are responsible for the Christian aggression and crusades, so Jesus is responsible for the adharma that mankind had and still has to suffer in the name of Christianity.
• Unless and until the doctrines of Christianity and Islam are revised to repudiate conversion and openly declare their intention of peaceful co-existence with Hinduism and other religions, and then demonstrate it in practice, Hindus should denounce the teachings of exclusivity in these religions and weigh it against anything good in their scriptures. If they don't do it, but instead succumb to their professed monotheism by diluting traditional Hinduism, Hindus and Hinduism will be in great danger, as MahaHrada rightly points out.
• The concept of monotheism in Christianity amounts to nothing, as most Christians consider only Jesus to be God, elevating him above the status of a son. Further, when there is a son to God, who is also God, and still stays as such in the Heavens after his ascension, how can there be monotheism and a single God? And then there is the Holy Ghost!
• As a religion, I find Christianity to have no self-respect, when in the name of 'inculturation' they seek to absorb the 'pagan' ways of worship, when Jesus in Bible sought for their elimination. Their only aim is, as Satay would rightly put it, market the brand name of Jesus by hook and by crook. Some links:
Atma Jyoti Ashram: Wolf in sheep's clothing
http://hvk.org/articles/0709/16.html
Atma Jyoti Ashram: Christian Priests Uncloaked!
http://hamsa.org/ashram.htm
Atma Jyoti Ashram: Sannyasins or Swindlers?
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPag...ID=8810&SKIN=C
• Kumar_Das seems to think that St.Thomas visited India. I suggest that he take a look at this Website that disproves it: http://hamsa.org/ You can also find a book citing evidences against the historical existence of Jesus: http://hamsa.org/artifice-intro.htm
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I would request our Western Hindus to read deeper into the teachings, concepts and philosophy of Hinduism and decide for themselves if they are relevant to them vis-a-vis the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, instead of wasting our time here in fruitless discussions of comparison. There is no point in becoming a Hindu if you people are not convinced about the need to let go your earlier Christian affiliations. As for our native Hindus who seek to raise the issue, there is no need at all to go into the teachings of Abrahamic religions to learn about anything which is not in Hinduism.
Last edited by saidevo; 13 June 2010 at 11:16 PM.
रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥
To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.
--viShNu purANam
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