Biblical Creationism versus Hindu Creationism

[Hespera]

Really, what is a "god" if satan... immortal, extremely powerful... is not a 'god"?

 

[BananaSlug]

Post with massive information does not really help. So let's simply pick one of the comparisons you listed.

Sorry about that. I believe that a healthy information dense post helps to prevent low brain activity. It's how I start every day.

In Christianity, believers only have to deal with one God.
In Hinduism, which god should one deal with? The one fits you the best? or the most powerful one? Why not go straight toward the most powerful one and skip all the other gods?

That is the point though, Hinduism doesn't force you to have to follow a certain god. It doesn't even force you to have to follow Hinduism because the belief system is that all genuine religions pave the way to the divine being. You are free to worship any god or gods that you want. In Christianity, if you don't worship THE God in the way that he wants you to you are doomed to an eternity in Hell.

Obviously, there are many many more questions to answer in Hinduism. That is why there is NO creation science in Hinduism. Does this answer the OP?

To me, many religions have a lot of unanswered questions.

 

[Split Rock]

Really, what is a "god" if satan... immortal, extremely powerful... is not a 'god"?

Creationists here certainly attribute impressive powers to Lucifer. Apparently he can cause earthquakes, tsunamis and is personally responsible for trying to kill creationists with lightning bolts. In fact, they claim that Satan rules here on earth at the present time. Sounds like a god to me...

 

[juvenissun]

That is the point though, Hinduism doesn't force you to have to follow a certain god. It doesn't even force you to have to follow Hinduism because the belief system is that all genuine religions pave the way to the divine being. You are free to worship any god or gods that you want. In Christianity, if you don't worship THE God in the way that he wants you to you are doomed to an eternity in Hell.

Have many gods means that any one of them is not a complete god. Why do we want to pursue some one or something that is not complete?

 

[juvenissun]

You really should do your own research on basic topics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Hinduism

I am serious. Please define "god" according to Hinduism. I bet that you will be surprised.

 

[ragarth]

I am serious. Please define "god" according to Hinduism. I bet that you will be surprised.

I am too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Hinduism and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Hinduism#Characteristics_of_God

You should do your own research. I told AV the same thing, it's not my job to make your argument for you. If you feel you have a good point then by all means say it, but don't be lazy and try to make others construct the argument and proof it for you.

 

[ragarth]

Have many gods means that any one of them is not a complete god. Why do we want to pursue some one or something that is not complete?

That's quite an unfounded assumption. Having many Gods does not mean that any one of them is not complete, just that there are many Gods. Why don't you logically prove that multiple Gods means that they are not complete? An easy way is this:

If I am human, then I am bipedal. If I am bipedal, then I normally have two feet. Therefore, since I am human, I normally have two feet.

 

[juvenissun]

I am too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Hinduism and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Hinduism#Characteristics_of_God

You should do your own research. I told AV the same thing, it's not my job to make your argument for you. If you feel you have a good point then by all means say it, but don't be lazy and try to make others construct the argument and proof it for you.

No one is trying to be lazy. I think you are one who refuse to compose a definition of a term in request. Give wiki links does not mean you understand.

Now, I give you one and the ball will be on your side: Hinduism suggests that anyone can become a god. What say you?

 

[juvenissun]

That's quite an unfounded assumption. Having many Gods does not mean that any one of them is not complete, just that there are many Gods. Why don't you logically prove that multiple Gods means that they are not complete? An easy way is this:

If I am human, then I am bipedal. If I am bipedal, then I normally have two feet. Therefore, since I am human, I normally have two feet.

Regards to the OP, I think your question has been answered.
If you still have question, what is it?
Otherwise, this thread can be closed.

 

[pgp_protector]

Regards to the OP, I think your question has been answered.
If you still have question, what is it?
Otherwise, this thread can be closed.

Isn't calling for the closing of a thread up to the OP, not you ?

 

[ragarth]

Now, I give you one and the ball will be on your side: Hinduism suggests that anyone can become a god. What say you?

I say this is a bit oversimplified. Gods and other transcendental or Divine entities in Hinduism possess free will by act of knowledge of self. An individual lacks free will because their actions are ruled by the history of their actions both in this life and past ones. By gaining knowledge of one's self, they free themselves from this stricture and gain a knowledge of self that provides true free will. (They recognize themselves as they are both in this life and past, and therefore free themselves of being beholden to those limits.) This does not mean they are Gods, but that they have transcended the chaos of life and have gained control of themselves.

Once an individual reaches a certain point, they leave the cycle of reincarnation and joins the Source/Divine/Universe. In this sense, yes a person can become a God, by becoming a part of God, the one true source from which all other divine entities are the avatar of. This is akin to Christian theology if Heaven weren't a realm but actually God himself, and by going to heaven, you become a part of God.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion based on 10 minutes of research. Take it for what it's worth. I've said it many times in this thread: I know little about Hinduism and did almost all of my research after creating this thread.

 

[ragarth]

Regards to the OP, I think your question has been answered.
If you still have question, what is it?
Otherwise, this thread can be closed.

That's a bit rude of a statement for you to make, but I'll entertain your assertion, how is the bible more trust worthy than the Vedas et al? If it's already been answered, then you should be able to state this beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

[BananaSlug]

No one is trying to be lazy. I think you are one who refuse to compose a definition of a term in request. Give wiki links does not mean you understand.

Now, I give you one and the ball will be on your side: Hinduism suggests that anyone can become a god. What say you?

Psalm 82:1-7 1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
6 I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes."

 

[Hespera]

Interesting post, Banana. i really am totally puzzled by the whole "christianity is monotheistic" bit. There was one 4th grade teacher, she put so much emphasis on how Christianity was IT because it is monotheistic. I didnt see why that meant Christianity was true, but i dont even think it is monotheistic. Oh well.

 

[ragarth]

Interesting post, Banana. i really am totally puzzled by the whole "christianity is monotheistic" bit. There was one 4th grade teacher, she put so much emphasis on how Christianity was IT because it is monotheistic. I didnt see why that meant Christianity was true, but i dont even think it is monotheistic. Oh well.

Back a time ago, I was Christian. Problem is I have this little voice in the back of my head that's constantly analyzing things, let's call it my demon. It's irritating too, I can't shut it up and that's an especially big problem during boring sex. Anyway, when I first started getting disillusioned with Christianity, I set back, took on the mantle of agnosticism and analyzed those things about the faith that most bothered me and several major concepts came forth, one of which was monotheism.

To make a long story short, the solution I came up with was that a single creator made little sense, reality as we know it is defined by energy gradients, without them there would be nothing. Heat is a transition of energy between a high point and low point, movement, light, stars are all this, and it's not the high or low energy levels that generate existence, it's the transition between them. So, given this I reasoned that it takes two forces minimum for creation, and the actual creation takes place at the boundary between them. From that I went to Wicca as my next step on the long path to atheism.

So I agree with you, Hespera, monotheism is not the good argument some people seem to prop it up to be.

 

[Hespera]

Ragarth..

Your ideas make sense in context but we could hardly be further apart in religious views really.

I didnt start out with any religion and i dont see it as very likely that i would adopt one.

I mean, its like I'd have to decide to believe something. But I dont think I can do that. If something makes sense, and there is some sort of evidence for it then i likely will believe it. That is way different from deciding, which is like trying to fool myself that i believe.

I am totally unconvinced that there is anything supernatural. If there was some way to bet on it I'd put everything on there not being any sort of god, spirits, supernatural, none of it.

 

[ragarth]

Ragarth..

Your ideas make sense in context but we could hardly be further apart in religious views really.

I didnt start out with any religion and i dont see it as very likely that i would adopt one.

I mean, its like I'd have to decide to believe something. But I dont think I can do that. If something makes sense, and there is some sort of evidence for it then i likely will believe it. That is way different from deciding, which is like trying to fool myself that i believe.

I am totally unconvinced that there is anything supernatural. If there was some way to bet on it I'd put everything on there not being any sort of god, spirits, supernatural, none of it.

Oh that was a long time ago. I'm an Atheist through and through. That little demon I mentioned in my last post? It didn't shut up, Wicca wasn't 'real' enough and so I moved through a progression of new-age religions before I gained the nerve to confront my fear of death and critically analyze it. This is why I believe much of religion is built around a fear of death or childhood indoctrination.

In any case, that's just my opinion, I don't plan on making everyone an atheist because I accept the possibility that I am wrong. To know beyond a doubt that you are right is not rational.

Back on topic, I'm still waiting for someone to answer the original post. Juvenissun seemed to think it was already answered.

how is the bible more trust worthy than the Vedas et al?

 

[juvenissun]

... you become a part of God ...

This recognition effectively says: there is no god.
I think that is what Buddhism says. Hinduism should not be far away from it.

If you do not agree, you still have to find a way to define what a god is.

 

[juvenissun]

That's a bit rude of a statement for you to make, but I'll entertain your assertion, how is the bible more trust worthy than the Vedas et al? If it's already been answered, then you should be able to state this beyond a reasonable doubt.

Because Christianity has a well-defined God. Basically, it takes the whole Bible to define Him. So, it could not be defined any better. The center of the whole Christian doctrine is: to know this God.

It makes a perfect sense.

 

[juvenissun]

Psalm 82:1-7 1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
6 I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes."

Psalm 86:8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.