Hinduism, therefore, is a bit unique in this sense -- it is simultaneously polytheistic, monotheistic, atheistic, and pantheistic, depending upon one's perspective and definitions.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The role of deity, or The Definition of God
I think we can all agree by now that the term "god" is used a bit more loosely in Hinduism than any other religions we are likely to encounter. There are countless gods, but all of them are aspects of one God, which is more of a principle than a being, and is present within everything that exists.
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You make a good point, Hinduism really is something of a uniquely catch-all religion. It almost seems that, according to Hinduism, everyone is a Hindu, they just don't realize it. Since everything is a part of Brahman, it doesn't matter what someone worships, because in the end they are worshiping Brahman. Also, perhaps "god" isn't the best term. Maybe a more fitting one is "entity that is believed in", though maybe that is just what "god" means in this situation.
ReplyDeleteExcept that even "entity" is too narrow for this context.
DeleteI think that if one considers "god" a variable rather than an identifier, it is actually an acceptable term.
I would agree, I think god in JonDavid's sense is probably an accurate usage of the word. As for Kaz, you make an interesting point. If the metaphysical principles of Hinduism hold true with the world, than to that extent, everyone would be Hindu. Just an intriguing thought to consider.
ReplyDeleteYes, and even if the classical metaphysics of Hinduism are wrong, it's likely that much of the Gita's practical problem-solving approach is relevant to everyone's problems.
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