Hinduism - Monotheistic or Poly?

[TanNinety]

One thing christians pride on often is the ONE God that they worship. Hindus are often mocked because they don't know who their god is because they have so many. This is ignorance of what hinduism is. The ONE god of hinduism is Brahma. From him/it proceed forth the rest of the personalities of the dieties. So worshipping any one of these deities is worshipping the one god of hinduism. Just like a trinitarian would say if you worship Jesus' deity you are worshipping one true god.

This would be a question to the trinitarians. Do you(trinitarian) believe hinduism to be polytheistic? If YES, explain with your trinitarian reasoning how hinduism is polytheistic and trinitarianism is not.

Please refrain from proving how hinduism is wrong or christianity is right. The purpose of this thread is not that. I reiterate the question. Can you prove using trinitarian reasoning that hinduism is polytheistic?

 

[ChristineES]

You are comparing the Hindus 6 million gods to Christianity? You are comparing the Trinity to Hinduism? :o :o :o
I don't think I read your post correctly, did I?

 

[TanNinety]

You are comparing the Hindus 6 million gods to Christianity? You are comparing the Trinity to Hinduism? :o :o :o
I don't think I read your post correctly, did I?

Exactly what difference does it make from 6 million gods(even though there aren't 6 million) of hinduism to 3 gods of christianity? Before you say these 3 gods of christianity are one, let me remind you that the 6 million gods of hinduism that you are talking about are none but different personalities of one god of hinduism called Brahma. So hindus like trinitarians have one god but instead of triple persons in the godhead they have multiple persons in the godhead. Either way this doesn't support the claim that hindus are polytheistic. Seems to me like they are monotheistic as well.

 

[ChristineES]

We have only one God in Christianity. Whether you are Oneness, Trinitarian, nontrinitarian or whatever, we all believe that there is only one God. No one ever said anything else. I don't even know why I am wasting my time telling you this, you don't get it. Saying it again will hardly help you understand it since you are not even willing. Even nonTrinitarians on this board get that trinitarians believe in one God. :roll:

God Bless You.

 

[TanNinety]

We have only one God in Christianity. Whether you are Oneness, Trinitarian, nontrinitarian or whatever, we all believe that there is only one God. No one ever said anything else. I don't even know why I am wasting my time telling you this, you don't get it. Saying it again will hardly help you understand it since you are not even willing. Even nonTrinitarians on this board get that trinitarians believe in one God. :roll:

God Bless You.

Do you believe hinduism to be polytheistic or monotheistic?

If you consider hinduism to be polytheistic, why? That is the discussion. Whether I believe in one god or not is irrelavant but I do believe in the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Y'shua.

 

[ChristineES]

Okay, Hinduim is polytheistic. Hindus know that as well as the rest of us. I have studied most of the World's Religions including Hinduim, Buddhism, Islam, and so on. As for proof, I am not getting into that on this board too deeply, for one thing I doubt many people are that interested in it. :roll:
It is my fault, I took your bait. Bye, I am no longer biting. I am finished with this discussion. :-D

 

[BradtheImpaler]

One thing christians pride on often is the ONE God that they worship. Hindus are often mocked because they don't know who their god is because they have so many. This is ignorance of what hinduism is. The ONE god of hinduism is Brahma. From him/it proceed forth the rest of the personalities of the dieties. So worshipping any one of these deities is worshipping the one god of hinduism. Just like a trinitarian would say if you worship Jesus' deity you are worshipping one true god.

This would be a question to the trinitarians. Do you(trinitarian) believe hinduism to be polytheistic? If YES, explain with your trinitarian reasoning how hinduism is polytheistic and trinitarianism is not.

Please refrain from proving how hinduism is wrong or christianity is right. The purpose of this thread is not that. I reiterate the question. Can you prove using trinitarian reasoning that hinduism is polytheistic?

Excellent, TN. Now you strike at the heart of the matter. What Trinitarianism is, is a fusion of monotheism and polytheism. It pays lip-service to monotheism but has all the characteristics of polytheism. As will be seen by your Hindu example, this sort of theology is so blurred as to be meaningless. Trinitarians doggedly insist they still believe in one God, but what exactly do they mean by "one"? A "one" which contains multiple divine persons is no different from a "more than one" which contains multiple divine persons. ALL polytheistic religions believe in multiple divine persons. True monotheistic religions like Judaism and Islam do not.

 

[R7-12]

It was said earlier,

We have only one God in Christianity. Whether you are Oneness, Trinitarian, nontrinitarian or whatever, we all believe that there is only one God. No one ever said anything else. I don't even know why I am wasting my time telling you this, you don't get it. Saying it again will hardly help you understand it since you are not even willing. Even nonTrinitarians on this board get that trinitarians believe in one God.

God Bless You.

It's asserted by Trinitarians that the God they worship is one God but consisting of three persons. Those who adhere to the Oneness Theology or Modalism also claim to believe in one God but see no tangible distinction between the Father and the son. In all these cases, the one identified as Jesus Christ is worshipped as God.

Here is the crux of the matter that most people don’t seem to realize. IF the Biblical truth is that Jesus Christ is a subordinate elohim or theos (Psalm 45:6-7, Hebrews 1:8-9, Zechariah 12:8, John 1:1, John 1:18 - NASB) and therefore the beginning of the creation of God as a created Morning Star (Revelation 3:14, Revelation 22:16 et al), then those of the above theologies are worshipping a false god (elohim).

Only God the Father is to be the object of worship (Matthew 6:6-9, Luke 11:2, John 16:26).

The consequences for breaking the first great commandment are serious and it should be taken that way.

Consider, even the fallen host who are the ones whom we wrestle with daily know that God is one God, one being. Even they are Unitarian in their understanding of who their Creator is.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believeâ€â€and tremble! (James 2:19, NKJV).

And tremble they should.

Knowing the only true God, Eloah and His son, Yashuah Messiah whom He sent, is essential to eternal life according to John 17:3.

R7-12

 

[TanNinety]

Okay, Hinduim is polytheistic.

Well saying it doesn’t make it so. It is a biased idea/teaching that Hinduism is polytheistic. Just like you wouldn’t want an atheist to describe what Christianity is objectively for you when he hasn’t been for even a few seconds in his life a Christian, it is as presumptuous to describe Hinduism as polytheistic.

Hindus know that as well as the rest of us.

Not true. Please check out the link for a hindu’s point of view. http://hinduism.about.com/cs/basics/a/aa072103a.htm

I have studied most of the World's Religions including Hinduim

What have you found different from the different deities of Hinduism and trinitarianism? Can you find ANY difference at all?

I doubt many people are that interested in it. :roll:

Not often do I find people interested in the truth. It is easy to defend faith that isn’t questioned. When there is strong argument against ones faith obviously there won’t be any interest in the subject matter.

It is my fault, I took your bait. Bye, I am no longer biting. I am finished with this discussion. :-D

It wasn’t bait (did Peter become fisher of men without any bait). If you really studied Hinduism and are strongly confident that they are polytheistic explain why they are and why that same reasoning doesn’t apply to trinitarianism. I mean seriously, I know it’s a hard task, but give it a try.

 

[stray bullet]

One thing christians pride on often is the ONE God that they worship. Hindus are often mocked because they don't know who their god is because they have so many. This is ignorance of what hinduism is. The ONE god of hinduism is Brahma. From him/it proceed forth the rest of the personalities of the dieties. So worshipping any one of these deities is worshipping the one god of hinduism. Just like a trinitarian would say if you worship Jesus' deity you are worshipping one true god.

This would be a question to the trinitarians. Do you(trinitarian) believe hinduism to be polytheistic? If YES, explain with your trinitarian reasoning how hinduism is polytheistic and trinitarianism is not.

Please refrain from proving how hinduism is wrong or christianity is right. The purpose of this thread is not that. I reiterate the question. Can you prove using trinitarian reasoning that hinduism is polytheistic?

When did you convert to Hinduism?

 

[ChristineES]

This whole thread is a riot. Should I convert to hinduism? George Harrison was a Hindu, and I listen to his music. No, I like being a Christian.
Are you a Hindu? I have seen all different denominations of Christianity (Protestant, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox), Jews, Muslims, and atheists, but this is the first I have ever heard of a Hindu coming on here. Why would a Hindu even want to come on a Christian board? There are some on the George Harrison board I post at sometimes.
I am rambling, I have no answers for you. Time to go.
:-D :o

 

[TanNinety]

Should I convert to hinduism?

Nowhere in this thread did I imply that. Infact in my OP I mentioned this is not to discuss which religion is right over another.

Are you a Hindu?

No.

this is the first I have ever heard of a Hindu coming on here. Why would a Hindu even want to come on a Christian board?

Who? Where? If you can tell me who it is I would like to ask him if he thinks his religion is polytheistic.

The point is Christine, it is fun and easy to call and label another religion polytheistic. But the truth is trinitarians use the same reasoning a monotheistic hindu would use to prove that they serve only one god. Like Brad said, 3 person-1 god or 1000 persons-1 god, all it is, is theological sleight of hand.

I haven't seen one daring soul who will prove that hinduism is polytheistic, yet why the same reasoning will not make trinitarianism polytheistic! Either that or trinitarians on this board agree that hinduism is monotheistic and not poly unlike the popular belief. :-D :roll:

 

[BradtheImpaler]

We have only one God in Christianity. Whether you are Oneness, Trinitarian, nontrinitarian or whatever, we all believe that there is only one God. No one ever said anything else. I don't even know why I am wasting my time telling you this, you don't get it. Saying it again will hardly help you understand it since you are not even willing. Even nonTrinitarians on this board get that trinitarians believe in one God. :roll:

But what do you mean by "one" God? You believe there are 3 divine persons, each of whom is not the other. Polytheistic religions believe in more than one divine person who are not each other. One divine person = one God. The point of TN's post is that if what Trinitarianism claims is valid, that 3 distinct persons can be one God, then a religion with 100, or 1000, or more, divine persons, can also claim to really believe in only one God. If 3 persons can be one God, then any polytheistic belief can qualify as monotheism as long as it claims there is only really one true God behind it all, or one true God that includes, all these divine persons.

In short, if Trinitarianism is not self-contradictory as concerning it's definition of what "one God" is, then there is no such thing as polytheism.

 

[ChristineES]

You guys are something else. This thread is just making fun of what you call Trinitarians. I am not surprised, as there are a lot of them. It is not more than one God, it is only one God. Nothing you say can change that. I can't change what you believe and won't even try. My beliefs:
Jesus was The Son while on Earth, as he was born of a woman (Mary/Miriam), He is God. He said He was God in which plenty of scripture has been supplied so I won't bother posting it again.
My favorite analogy of God is this : The Mind (The Father), The Word or Body (The Son) and the Holy Spirit (The Holy Spirit). I have a mind, it is my logic, I have a body, it is my emotions, feelings etc, and I have a spirit, my conciousness so to speak. All humans have those things. Animals have a body and a mind but no spirit, and that makes them different from us.
You may say "animals aren't as intelligent" but I disagree. A lioness knows exactly where to bite a another animal so it dies instantly, a beaver can build a dam, birds know exactly how to build a nest, my cat knows how to ask me to feed her, and so on.

 

[undertow]

Okay, Hinduim is polytheistic. Hindus know that as well as the rest of us.

I have talked with a number of Hindu's. They are often very insistent that their religion is not polytheistic.

At the end of the day, Hinduism is monotheistic (Believes in One God). However, Hinduism believes not only in One God, but also in His Infinite manifestations around us and within us perpetually. Realizing that it is impossible for mankind to visualize the Infinite, Hinduism presents us with His forms to help us visualize him. This belief of Hinduism is often confused with polytheism.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9410/hindu1.html

 

[TanNinety]

You guys are something else. This thread is just making fun of what you call Trinitarians. I am not surprised, as there are a lot of them. It is not more than one God, it is only one God. Nothing you say can change that. I can't change what you believe and won't even try. My beliefs:
Jesus was The Son while on Earth, as he was born of a woman (Mary/Miriam), He is God. He said He was God in which plenty of scripture has been supplied so I won't bother posting it again.

All I gather from the above post (which I can make relevant to this thread) is that hinduism is monotheistic just like trinitarianism. Even though you haven't explicitly said it, you seem to imply with your example that son of god can be god the son, which will perfectly fit the hindu sons and daughters of god who are gods the sons and daughters hence they are monotheistic argument.

As for the rest of your post, I can dismember your trinitarian analogy, but I will refrain from doing so. Because the point of this thread is not defend trinity teaching but "if hinduism is polytheistic why isn't trinitarianism". How can a trinitarian classify hinduism as polytheism when he himself performs the same theological acrobatics of a hindu claiming monotheism?

So far no brave takers.

 

[undertow]

Hinduism seems to claim "manifestations" of the one God. Christians talk about 3 "persons". Depending on what exactly these "persons" are, perhaps Hinduism may have a far better claim to being monotheistic?

 

[TanNinety]

Hinduism seems to claim "manifestations" of the one God. Christians talk about 3 "persons". Depending on what exactly these "persons" are, perhaps Hinduism may have a far better claim to being monotheistic?

You are spot on undertow. At least hindu gods are talked of in manifestations of their same one ultimate god.

If trinitarians want to call these manifestations of hinduism polytheistic, would the burning bush, pillar of fire, pillar of smoke and such manifestations in the OT be polytheistic as well?

 

[JM]

Athanasian Creed

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

42. and shall give account of their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

________________________________________________________

Above is the historic Christian statement on the Holy Trinity.

 

[Vic C.]

: , Jason. LOL