I would quote scripture to christians although anyone who says hes a christian and believes in reincarnation is not really a christian. Since the topic and spirit of this debate is the three religions, and why christianity is true, and hinduism and buddhism false. The word cremation is derived from the latin word crematus or cremare meaning to burn up. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. What are the christian theological arguments against hinduism. Hinduism is by far the predominant faith in india, where 82% of the population is hindu. Orthodox church recognizes as a source of divine revelation of truth not only holy scripture but also holy tradition which agrees with the scriptures and is always recognized by the entire ancient christian churches. But i would just say that most hindus would have hard time believing that omnipresent, omni. Hinduism is a weapon of class warfare, wielded by the wealthy and powerful against the weak and poor. Its followers, called christians, often believe christ is the son of the holy trinity and walked the earth as the incarnate form of god the father. Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of gautama buddha, whereas christianity is centered on the life and teachings of jesus christ.
Arguments against cremation some christians object to the practice of cremation. Arguments against the existence of god we will now summarize five types of arguments most nontheists use against the existence of god, and then give a christian response to each. Hindus believe in the divinity of their holy books, the vedas, which are. Many have claimed to be followers of jesus, but have murdered others for their selfish gain. So i would not argue against your christian belief system. Enthusiastically he began to tell the story of the saint called ishu, who. Each year in southern india, millions of fervent hindu worshipers endure a dangerous trek up a holy mountain, called sabarimala, to pay homage to the hindu god ayyappa. Jan 14, 2014 what if most modern arguments against religious belief have been attacking the wrong god all along. A christian perspective, may 27, 1994 september 8, 2017 rick rood gives us an understanding of this major world religion which is becoming more a part of the american scene with the growth of a hindu immigrant population. His view saw god manifested in levels with the highest being absolute one, and lower levels revealing god in ever increasing multiplicity.
Vegetarianism, called shakahara in sanskrit, is an essential virtue in hindu thought and practice. Their arguments are based on the biblical concept that one day the bodies of those who have died in christ will be resurrected and reunited with their souls and spirits. Hindu teachers disagree with us on who the almighty, uncreated god is, but they are bound by the plain reality that there must be one supreme and unique. If you have but one player, you cannot have a team or compete against a team.
The vedantic or theist school is the most popular in modern india at present. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or philosophy, i. Science has shown that the world does not run on magic. If all is one, without a second, then reincarnation cannot even get started. This is the first in a series of ten brief posts by jeff cook, listing the top ten arguments againstfor god.
Anyway, that has brought me a problem in line endemic to any organized religion, holy books. Are the limitations of language proof against the divinity. The earliest hindu writings date from roughly 1500 b. God, a clear set of holy scriptures, and has no organized worship. What does god mean when he asks us to be holy as he is holy. The oldest and most revered holy writings are the vedas, consisting of four books or more correctlycollections. God the son became a man, died a sacrificial death on the cross, making real forgiveness of real sins against the real god possible.
Different ways have developed over the history of hinduism, vedic hinduism being the oldest, and then the ascetic and mystical way known as vedantic hinduism, and more recently the way of devotion, or bhakti. What i really recommend is unlike other apologetics books which can get you bogged down in the ideals of pagans and false religions, these books keep christ and gospel center stage and the arguments that expose the false religions to be folly are well devised and actually build your faith. Holy books dont earn a get of out jail free card just because some people view them as divinely inspired. Christian teachings of the immanence and involvement of god and his love for humanity exclude the belief that god is of the same substance as the created universe but. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Christianity vs hinduism difference and comparison diffen. It represents limitless depths of profundity, a rich history, and an elaborate theology. For hinduism, the goal is to get free from the wheel of rebirth and to attain enlightenment or moksha. Three reasons christians should think twice about yoga. Hinduism, christianity, and liberal religious toleration jstor. Hinduism today not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny. Since all living things are manifestations of god, violence against them is. Hindu dharma rejects the following claims by christianity.
Actually there is a whole breed of christian philosophers who say that the bible and christian faith is. We believe that yahweh alone is god to the exclusion of all others. Dec 01, 2017 holy books dont earn a get of out jail free card just because some people view them as divinely inspired. Though brahmins claim the vedas as their holy texts, the religion that we find.
If so, then there is no material available to be reincarnated. Theological arguments against icons then began to appear with iconoclasts arguing that icons could not represent both the divine and the human natures of jesus at the same time. The prince of peace will usher in the time when the wolf will live with the lamb isa. However, a large portion of faithful people, particularly christianity, do not read from the original language their holy book was written in, assuming it. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book argues that the essence of a person is not an immaterial soul but his or her body. But i would just say that most hindus would have hard time believing that omnipresent, omni temporal, omnipotent god would suffer for our sins. Hindu dharm is the way of aligning ones life with the world as per the shared worldview and the sacred.
In this video, charlie campbell, a christian apologist, interacts with a formidable scripturewielding jehovahs witness well, a pretend one in a versebyverse examination of the most popular proof texts used to deny the deity of christ. Only one aspect of hinduism is common for all the different variants. Having grown up hindu and read a few books about it, and having studied christianity in detail from a faithbased perspective for several years, at some level there is no difference conflict. But, it seems to me that socalled holy or christian yoga would more accurately described as syncretism. Over the years we have all heard about the many attempts that have been made in india to convert various sections of society from hinduism to either christianity or islam. Vegetarianism and meateating in 8 religions hinduism today. Other schools like carvaka and its material atheism, nyaya or study of logical epistemology, samkya of dualistic atheism are no longer practiced yet remain highly relevant in indian philosophy. The doctrine of karma and reincarnation is a direct challenge to christian teachings on salvation and the afterlife. Are the limitations of language proof against the divinity of. Hinduism and war krishna reveals his true form to prove arjunas destiny as a warrior. Criticism of atheism of religion history of atheism. As a hindu, i find it very difficult to find any arguments or debates against hinduism on many sites, or even on youtube, where hitchens and dawkins primarily argue against christianity and islam, both which i find very interesting.
In the mid1990s a 15yearold boy named aji kumar joined the treacherous journey to fulfill the vows his hindu parents had made to their god. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. Since the languages are human inventions, that means that. Christians believe god to be both transcendent wholly independent of, and removed from, the material universe and immanent involved in the world. Space limitations preclude direct quotes, but some of the most important thinkers on these arguments include immanuel kant and georg hegel in addition to those we.
He is presented as distinct and unique from all other creaturesangels and the animal kingdom alike. Yet, it will be noticed that every major religion of the world has a plurality in some respect or the other. I would describe myself as about 70% atheist and 30% agnostic. As a hindu, i find it very difficult to find any arguments or debates against hinduism on many sites, or even on youtube, where hitchens and dawkins primarily argue against christianity and islam, both which i find very interesting indeed, but fail to relate to the concept as a whole. Oct 24, 20 having grown up hindu and read a few books about it, and having studied christianity in detail from a faithbased perspective for several years, at some level there is no difference conflict. A digital billboard, sponsored by the american atheists organization, on display in new york. Take a look at the document dominus jesus of the cath. What are the hindu theological arguments against christianity.
The term hinduism refers to a singular religious identity of the hindu tradition. The rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to 33 gods especially to indri and agni. This is an attempt to combine two or more contradictory beliefs into a new religious system. In the field of comparative religion, many scholars, academics, religious figures have looked at.
Hindus also believe that eating meat is not only detrimental to ones spiritual life, but also harmful to ones health and the environment. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Comparing hinduism and christianity is difficult, in part, because hinduism is a slippery religion for westerners to grasp. Furthermore, the aspects of these books that tend to lead to trouble need to be analyzed and criticized in public forums, just as any other books ought to be. An examination of th e worlds third largest religio n dvd by charlie campbell. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Hinduism is a label that covers a wide range of indian religious groups.
Based on gods word, the christian views hinduism as a corruption due to. Hinduism stack exchange is a question and answer site for followers of the hindu religion and those interested in learning more about hinduism. Hinduism is an umbrella term for a variety of schools of thought. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. There are 14 million mormons in the world and 7 million jehovahs witnesses. Apologetics resources apologetics worthy christian forums. Mar 18, 2015 a bbc religion and ethics feature on euthanasia summarizes the christian view as follows. Still the holy scripts or religious books of every religion ask us to follow one particular god because it is easy for us get confused and our. Jun 25, 2019 multilevel pantheism is seen in certain forms of hinduism, especially as communicated by philosopher radhakrishnan 18881975. The war against hinduism written july, 2001, but still going on by stephen knapp. The whole thrust of the bible opposes reincarnation. It shows that man is the special creation of god, created in gods image with both a material body and an immaterial soul and spirit. The popular appeal of buddhism today is one of coolness,tolerance, and nondissention. The arguments are usually based on the beliefs that life is given by god, and that human beings are made in gods image.
In this atmosphere, no public depictions of god the father were even attempted and such depictions only began to appear two centuries later. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hinduism. Kaliyan bought the vedas as a boon and so all the previous religious books including agamas and puranas lost. Oct 03, 2012 this is the first in a series of ten brief posts by jeff cook, listing the top ten arguments againstfor god. The arguments against hinduism being a religion are essentially founded on the multiplicity of deities, systems of worship and even codes of conduct. What is pantheism and why does christianity refute it. So, the final goal of hinduism is to escape or be released from the cycle of reincarnation. From the bible to the vedas, each of them is a document that defines their respective religions. I was trying to creat a positive argument against reincarnation itself, and other two to show that reincarnation creates internal problem to given beliefs i cited hinduism and brazilian kardecism as examples, the first believing in a panentheistic everything, eternal souls, cosmic justice and the illusion of being and the other in a. Keeping in mind that i know protestant christianity. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. Aside from that, believing in multiple gods is no more logical than believing in one god.
There are many examples of brutal acts by hindus against their own people such as the practice of widow burning. First of all, hinduism correct name is sanatana dharma believes that there are thousand paths to realize god. Jesus is the human manifestation of christ for the christian, it is the christian ishtadevata, so to speak, and for the christian is the definitive and public manifestation of god. Examining the fundamental differences of buddhism vs. God not karma is the moral judge of the cosmos, and no human being reincarnates but rather will be part either of the resurrection of the just saved by grace or of the unjust justly condemned by their works. For years, his family adhered to the meticulous hindu traditions. It is also ones own personal opinion on the credibility of such evidence, based on science or otherwise. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The vedas are the ultimate scriptural authority for hindus. The hindu teaching about grace sees no need for an atonement for sin, but simply offers forgiveness without any satisfaction of the judgment on sin required by a holy god. What if most modern arguments against religious belief have been attacking the wrong god all along.
With the exception of certain creationists, i dont know of any religious people who would deny that human beings predate the holy books. Multilevel pantheism is seen in certain forms of hinduism, especially as communicated by philosopher radhakrishnan 18881975. Its hard to come up with specific arguments against hinduism because while there are many stories in the mythology that are pretty fantastical just in the ramayana, bears and monkeys have a government that is a monarchy, they can talk to humans and humans can talk to them, a squirrel understands what is happening when rama is trying to build a bridge to cross over to lanka and helps as much. I was thinking against arguing against reincarnation with a hindu or a kardecist. In christianity, god is the eternal being who created and preserves all things. Or, even against other peoples such as the modernday persecution of christians by militant hindus. It is true that christianity has had a bloody history. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world today with about 800 million adherents. Sep 22, 2017 what i really recommend is unlike other apologetics books which can get you bogged down in the ideals of pagans and false religions, these books keep christ and gospel center stage and the arguments that expose the false religions to be folly are well devised and actually build your faith. For example, by showing that reincarnation is unfair or makes the world into a fatalist place. During the process of cremation, human remains are placed in a wooden box, and then into a crematorium or furnace. Logical and biblical defeaters of reincarnation and karma.
Christians, of course, do not believe that shiva, vishnu, krishna, brahman, who any other hindu deity is the supreme god. Christianity broadly consists of individuals who believe in the deity jesus christ. Buddhism vs christianity difference and comparison diffen. Get this special guide with 10 biblical and practical tips for christians in the. The one theology book all atheists really should read. Nor is it based on the teachings of a founder or holy book. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. These actions by persons claiming to be hindus do not make hinduism false. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. From my point of view, christianity is the only true religion because it is catholic universal, and hinduism is the religion of truth. There is no eternal hell, no damnation, in hinduism, and no intrinsic evilno satanic force that opposes the will of god. Its a belief system that many feel can help them detach, maintain neutrality, and find peace in a world of injustice and suffering. Twelve good arguments atheists advance against christianity.
This means that god has sent him to us for a specific mission to fulfil gods will on earth. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Hinduism is a peaceful religion, but christianity has a bloody history. Orthodox accepts the 39 old testament and the 27 new testament books, as well as a collection of books that arent in the. Notwithstanding the abysmal image projected by the aforementioned professing christians, homosexuality is not some kind of special sin that god can never forgive. It was originally published in the united kingdom by atlantic books as god is not great. Witnessing to hindus christian answers network home. God is not great is a 2007 book by britishamerican author and journalist christopher hitchens, in which he makes a case against organized religion. Modal pantheism developed from the ideas of seventeenthcentury rationalist spinoza. But there are more than 900 million followers of hindu. A bonus of the book is the argument against the existence of soull that plays a central role in most religions. He concludes the chapter writing of the religious wish for obliterationfor a.
The bible teaches that at death, while mans body is mortal, decays and returns to dust, his soul and. Permeational pantheism is encountered in zen buddhism. The one theology book all atheists really should read news. Hinduism and jainism have a rather similar view on the topic of asceticism, or, in simpler terms, abstinence. It is rooted in the spiritual aspiration to maintain a balanced state of mind and body. I am a hindu, why should i consider becoming a christian. The only two religions with more adherents are christianity 2 billion and islam 1. However, are the limitations of languages then counter to their claims. Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of siddhartha gautama, who came to be known as the buddha the enlightened one, or one who is awake whereas christianity is centered on the life and teachings of jesus christ. Mots arguments against gods existence are original and unuque, some other proffs can easily apply to other religions.
Christianity is a monotheistic religion and believes that christ is the son of god. He contended that only one absolute substance exists in which all finite things are mere modes or moments. Many religions like islam and hinduism have holy booksthe quran and the vedas, respectively which claim some kind of superhuman origin. Just joined the ar and already excited to meet many like minded people.