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Regardless of these possible mistranslations in the Vedas, cow reverence is found through out many important Hindu scriptures. As I posted in another thread-
Actually, Lord Krishna's fondness for cows is probably one of the main reasons they've become so revered. In his childhood he was known to play with baby calves, and drink directly from cow's utters, who would allow him to do such along with their own calves.
Furthermore many of the so called references to cows being eaten by notable rishis, are actually contested to be mistranslations themselves, by many other scholars.
__________________ Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
Truth is Shiva, and Shiva is beautiful.
Hinduism is fascinating. I just don't know how much I could believe myself, but it's a really deep religion.
Might I suggest that you are confusing depth with vagueness? In my experience with Hinduism (of which I have more than I care to say), the appearance of depth and profundity comes mostly from indeterminate statements coupled with the exotic appeal that Hinduism has to most Westerners. Ultimately if Hindu teaching can't be condensed into concrete teachings but remains in the form of whimsical vagaries, how is it of any use?
__________________ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
Might I suggest that you are confusing depth with vagueness? In my experience with Hinduism (of which I have more than I care to say), the appearance of depth and profundity comes mostly from indeterminate statements coupled with the exotic appeal that Hinduism has to most Westerners. Ultimately if Hindu teaching can't be condensed into concrete teachings but remains in the form of whimsical vagaries, how is it of any use?
I take it your family was very non-sectarian then?
__________________ Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
Truth is Shiva, and Shiva is beautiful.
I take it your family was very non-sectarian then?
Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here.
__________________ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here.
A very common occurance these days is that few if any hindus are raised in any sort of specific tradition, just Hinduism in general. Leaving them almost lost when it comes to ideas about God, Dharma, or ritual practice.I'm not saying non-secterianism is a bad thing here, I myself am rather non-secterian in nature, but I feel many Hindus would benefit from belonging to a formal sect which lays these ideas down a bit clearer.
__________________ Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
Truth is Shiva, and Shiva is beautiful.
Might I suggest that you are confusing depth with vagueness? In my experience with Hinduism (of which I have more than I care to say), the appearance of depth and profundity comes mostly from indeterminate statements coupled with the exotic appeal that Hinduism has to most Westerners. Ultimately if Hindu teaching can't be condensed into concrete teachings but remains in the form of whimsical vagaries, how is it of any use?
Not quite. It can be vague, I don't disagree with you there, but there are lots of things in it, such as yoga, so many different explanations for God, et cetera.
A very common occurance these days is that few if any hindus are raised in any sort of specific tradition, just Hinduism in general. Leaving them almost lost when it comes to ideas about God, Dharma, or ritual practice.I'm not saying non-secterianism is a bad thing here, I myself am rather non-secterian in nature, but I feel many Hindus would benefit from belonging to a formal sect which lays these ideas down a bit clearer.
I take it that you attribute the severe vagueness and ill-defined nature of Hindu beliefs to the fractured nature of Hindu communities and the lack of well-defined sects? You may be correct. However, when I refer to this vagueness, I am referring to an intrinsic quality of fundamental Hindu teachings and Scriptures.
There are two points I hope to make. First, you say that you desire for Hindu teachings to be portrayed more clearly, but I must wonder if Hinduism was historically ever well-defined. Hinduism, like most world religions, is historically an indiginous and tribal faith (this is in contrast to Christianity, whose Scriptures specify the universal nature of the Gospel as relevant for all people). The globalization of Hinduism is, I think, a recent advent. As an indiginous faith, it has never had any well-recognized confessions or other well-defined beliefs. Secondly, even if Hindu doctrine were clearly spelled out, this does not alter the objective nature of truth. And as we (Christians) purport that the truth is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, a formal definition of Hindu doctrines still would not change my proposition that Jesus Christ is the only Lord and that there is no salvation in Sri Krishna.
Originally Posted by InnocentOdion
Not quite. It can be vague, I don't disagree with you there, but there are lots of things in it, such as yoga, so many different explanations for God, et cetera.
Do not the multitude of definitions of God add to Hindu vagueness rather than provide clarity?
__________________ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
Why Is The Cow Sacred? 
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