Hinduism
We have difficulty in explaining the religion of HINDU, due to the
innumerable customs, concepts and beliefs that have been absorbed, as
well as, the numerous branch-off religions that have come from HINDU.
We will endeavor to qualify our comments due to this vast base of
thought that Hindu is comprised of.
The earliest form of Hindu can be referred to as pre-Vedic and began
about 3,000 years ago. Very little is known of the Indians who lived in
the pre-Vedic period in the Indus valley of Northern India or the
Dravidians of the Indian Peninsula. By the time of Abraham, these
people had developed a civilization resembling the Mesopotamians. Their
polytheistic religion, a sort of proto-Hinduism, was in some ways a
form of witchcraft. The pre-Vedic Hindus especially worshipped a MOTHER
GODDESS and a horned god in the posture of a yogi. They offered
sacrifices to the various gods, but did not maintain any temples.
The VEDIC period began around B.C. 1500, when a central Asian people
called the Aryans invaded Northern India and eventually took over the
Southern Indian area. These light-skinned conquerors imposed their
Vedic civilization and religion on the Indians. Vedic religion differed
greatly from the Dravidian religion - the Aryans worshiped the powers
of nature rather than images. The most important of their gods were
INDRA, a god of the atmosphere and stars, VARUNA, a sky god, and AGNI,
the god of fire. There were many, many other gods, one of which was
SOMA, the god of the soma plant.
The Aryans developed an elaborate system of sacrifices which later
led to the formation of a priesthood (the Brahmins). They also absorbed
the Dravidian gods and concepts into their religion, and this
assimilation resulted in a complicated array of gods and goddesses.
The Vedic period was followed by the Upanishadic period, about B.C.
600. During this time Hinduism began dividing, into the popular
religion of the masses and a more philosophical religion. The
Upanishads were sacred books which reinterpreted the Vedic religion and
boiled all gods down into a single principle or absolute universal
soul. This monistic or pantheistic viewpoint held that the universe is
God, and God is the universe. The impersonal universal soul was called
Brahman, and this form of Hinduism was called Brahmanism.
During the Upanishadic period, the Hindu concept of salvation
shifted from an emphasis on fulfillment and on life to an emphasis on
release and escape from life. Life on earth began to be viewed quite
pessimistically as the doctrines of KARMA and SAMASARA grew.
The law of karma was a moral law of cause and effect, which COULD
NOT BE VIOLATED! It was called "the law of the deed" and one could
build either good or evil karma depending on his or her deeds.
The doctrine of SAMASARA - transmigration-taught that all life goes
through and endless succession of rebirths. EVERY living thing is on
the wheel of life, and each new rebirth depends upon the karma built up
in its past lives. Salvation is defined as the "breaking away from this
wheel" could be achieved by philosophical speculation on the words of
the sages and by meditation. Release and liberation from the wheel of
life (moksha or mukti) would finally come when one realized his
individual soul (the ATMAN) was identical with the universal soul
(Brahman).
Hinduism was now so philosophical in theory and so corrupt and
legalistic in practice that reform movements arose within it. Two of
the most known were BUDDHISM and JAINISM. Another reform was a movement
back to the worship of a supreme personal God. Not that Hinduism became
monotheistic; polytheism was never really eliminated. Instead, a TRIAD
of Hindu gods was often used to represent the impersonal and absolute
Brahman (neuter). Brahma (The masculine form of the word Brahman) was
regarded as the Creator, VISHNU as the Preserver, and SHIVA as the
Destroyer.
Many Hindus (referred to as VAISHNAVITES) chose to worship the god
VISHNU and his 10 incarnations. These incarnations, called AVATARS, or
descendants of God to earth to save the world from grave perils were a
fish, an amphibian, a boar, a man-lion, a dwarf, PARASURAMA, RAMA,
KRISHNA, BUDDHA and KALKIN, who is YET TO COME... The seventh and
eighth incarnations of VISHNU, RAMA and KRISHNA, are the most important
and are worshiped more than VISHNU himself.
Other Hindus (referred to as SHAIVITES) worship the god SHIVA and
his wife, who is variously represented as DURGA, KALI, SATI, PARVATI,
and best known as DEVA. Many of these representations are sinister and
blood-thirsty. Among the KALI worshipers is a cult known as the SHAKTI,
which encourages such immoral practices as temple prostitution.
After the time of Christ, philosophical Hinduism was dominated by
VEDANTIC thought. The VEDANTA, a philosophical hindu book based on the
earlier Upanishads, teaches that man needs liberation, Individuals go
through stages of wanting pleasure and worldly success. If they mature,
their desires may turn to self- renunciation and moral duty (DHARAMA).
But the deepest need, whether people recognize it or not, is for
liberation (MOKSHA).
MOKSHA occurs when a person extends his being (SAT), awareness
(CHIT), and bliss (ANANDA) to an infinite level. Since Brahman, the
impersonal absolute, is infinite being, awareness, and bliss, the only
way a man can obtain MOKSHA is to come to the realization that his
hidden self (ATMAN) is actually the same as Brahman. TAT TWAM ASI (used
in TM) means "Thou Art That" is the term for coming to this
realization. Salvation is achieved by detachment from the finite self
and attachment to reality as a whole. This is called NIRVANA or "State
of Passionless Peace."
AS there are MANY teachings as to HOW one reaches this state, we
will not delve into them. It is sufficient to comment that Hinduism
created the CASTE system. Originally there were but four caste -
Brahmins (Priest), Kshatriyas (warriors or rulers), Vaisyas (Craftsmen,
farmers,artisans), and Sudras (Servants). Below these were the
"uncaste" or "untouchables." Today, there are now over 3,000 subcastes
that have been created.
BIBLICAL EVALUATION
In philosophical Hinduism, God is generally an IT, not a person as
in the Bible.
In popular Hinduism, there are great multitudes of gods (3 Million
by one count!) and goddesses. This is polytheistic and idolatrous
according to God's Word.
Popular Hinduism abounds in immoral practices, superstitions, fear
and occultism. Demon worship and possession are also integral to
Popular Hinduism.
The caste system is rigid, unjust and cruel. There were very few
attempts to reform this system UNTIL Christianity was introduced and
began to influence Hinduism.
There is no recognition of sin and moral guilt. Sin is an illusion.
In an ultimate sense, man is God. He is therefore not separated from
God by his sin, as the Bible teaches so clearly, and human experience
confirms so deeply.
Hinduism is a system of works. Forgiveness of sins does not fit into
the picture of KARMA (Law of cause and effect). Each person has many
lives in which to achieve 'salvation'. There is a slow, evolving
process toward the highest level. (SATORI)
Hinduism denies the exclusive claims of Christ and despises the
Christian teaching that Christ is the ONLY way to God.
When we REALLY look at this religion, we will come to a
'realization' that ALL CULTS HAVE THE SAME BASIC FOUNDATION as
Hinduism! Mormonism, JW, The WAY, etc all have similar heresies and
false teachings that LOCK a follower into a system that keeps the
follower from the saving knowledge of JESUS.
The 'toleration' of faiths in America has given rise to the practice
by many young people into forms of Hinduism and its derivatives, such
as TM. Hinduism claims to be tolerant of all faiths and believes that
"all faiths have truth" and can be assimilated into Hinduism.
Christianity is the ONLY faith and religion that offers a REAL
solution to the problem of SIN. ONLY the vicarious work of JESUS the
CHRIST adequately copes with man's sinfulness. Hinduism, Christian
Science and others only COVER UP sin as being an "illusion."
It is imperative that Christians DEFINE THEIR TERMS, because our
terminology has TOTALLY different meanings to a HINDU. Salvation and
other terms just do not mean the same to a Hindu as they mean to a
Christian. Explain your meanings in clear, concise words to avoid this
problem. In fact, this is the best way to talk to anyone who does not
KNOW CHRIST as personal Lord and SAVIOUR!
One other area to witness to is the area of AUTHORITY. Ask a Hindu
what AUTHORITY he represents (basis of teaching, etc). The normal
response will be for him to allude to the many Christian sects, but the
Bible is CONSISTENT and harmonious in its picture of God's plan of
salvation. The Hindu works all contradict one another at some point or
another - NO HINDU CAN ASCRIBE TO THE HINDU SCRIPTURES CONSISTENTLY
BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS CONTRADICTIONS!
Bring them to Christ. Show them RELEASE and FREEDOM from their SINS
through the FORGIVENESS of their sins from the payment of JESUS CHRIST
on the CROSS AT CALVARY. To this end, we pray.
Computers For Christ - San Jose
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