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Thread: Gol Darned Western Religions Today

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    Re: Gol Darned Western Religions Today

    Quote Originally Posted by Sahasranama View Post
    How would you define exclusivism? Would you call a Sri Vaishnava an exclusivist? In Sri Vaishnavism it is believed that moksha can only be reached by being devoteed to Vishnu. Many brahmins will not mary outside of their caste, isn't that also exclusivist?
    But those people can still attain moksha, albeit in a different life, correct? And they don't assume that all worshipers of other deities are worshiping "evil", do they? Or that they will be forever tormented by Vishnu for not following their particular rules?

    Hinduism cannot, essentially, be Exclusivist...because everyone DOES essentially end up in the same place. It might not be for many lives...but it should eventually happen.

  2. #32

    Re: Gol Darned Western Religions Today

    Quote Originally Posted by BryonMorrigan View Post
    But those people can still attain moksha, albeit in a different life, correct? And they don't assume that all worshipers of other deities are worshiping "evil", do they? Or that they will be forever tormented by Vishnu for not following their particular rules?

    Hinduism cannot, essentially, be Exclusivist...because everyone DOES essentially end up in the same place. It might not be for many lives...but it should eventually happen.
    Exclusivism in the sense of christianity or islam we are discussing is not a question of one single simple belief of whether 'one religion is true' or 'one path' etc. As I said pluralism is a deeper strain than an outcome of a simplistic belief. Sri Vaishnavas might also believe that final salvation at the feet of the lord can only be obtained by vishnu's grace only. Yet this will not lead to holy wars (most of the time ) or make a vaishnava twich with hatred at the sight of another hindu. The reason is embedded in the culture and all the remaining things one must believe and follow in order to be a Sri Vaishnava.

    In simple words exclusivism is denying the right to someone else's existence simple because it does not tie up with your beliefs, or submits to your own. It is not just the simple belief in that one's own path is superior or only true. One can believe in the later but still have have respect for other cultures and paths. I would say that is more healthy, and intellectually honest.

    From the very inception it was human greed of territorial expansion and dominance which have played the central part in shaping up the christian and islamic religion - the later more directly. They were not results of fundamental enquiry into the issues of human existence like all spiritual paths must be. It was in the destruction of human tolerance that they had been founded on, and no doubt the true adherants of these religions look for every oppertunity to trample the nobel human qualities like tolerance & plurality (NOT universalism) that are the essense of sanatana dharma.

    Please understand the issue is much deeper than simplistic beliefs or one single theological position - its the combination of all the beliefs, practices ,the culture and the invisible force behind the religion** - the very core these systems which I think could not possibly be classified just by theological terms.

    ** Esoterically our beliefs are lot influenced by subtle forces beyond the physical releam. Simply classifying ourselves in one of the groups (be it sri vaishnava, christian or smarta) opens us up to the influence of the subtle forces which shaped up these groups in the physical world. This is understood as kula, but not directly referred to outside esoteric circles. For Islam and Christianity, intolerance, fanatism and brutality must be fundamental to thier kulas. The stories indicate that Muhammad was very much under possession of a spirit when he splet out most verses of Koran, whether the most spiteful or more the more copy-paste type from the jeweish-christian traditions.
    What is Here, is Elsewhere. What is not Here, is Nowhere.

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