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One or Two?

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
In case, where both husband-wife doesn't want to live with each other and want divorce for very personal reasons. Can they ?
In case, where a Hindu girl is in love with a christian body, and further wants to marry him. Can she ?
In case, where the member of a polygamy family marry to the member of a polyandry family ?
Yes, sure, they can. It is part of the civil law. In olden days, the only option was to go back to the father's house.
Sure, she can. It is allowed under the civil law, though the society may not like or accept it.
There are no instances of that now. But Arjuna and Bheem of the Pandavas married other women also. Arjuna married Krishna's sister, Subhadra, a naga princess, Ulupi, and a Manipur princess, Chitrangada. Bheem married a demoness, Hidimba, who is worshiped as a Goddess in Manali, India.

lossy-page1-220px-Hidimba_Devi_Temple_-_North-east_View_-_Manali_2014-05-11_2648-2649.TIF.jpg
Hidimba Devi temple in Manali (Wikipedia)
 
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Brian2

Veteran Member
Of course, argument will NOT provide back the lost identity.

Do we actually eventually remember we are God or is that a false memory given to us by a belief that we really are God?
What provides back the lost identity?
If I am God really then surely I am doing what God would do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,whether I love everyone or murder and rape and steal, that must all be what God would do.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
That is for each Hindu to decide. Hinduism leaves that consideration open.
For me everything is not any God. I am an atheist. What exists is the substrate, the stuff, the star stuff, which constitutes it all.

How did all that stuff come to be?
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
This is the beauty of Hinduism. There is no standardized doctrine. There are at least six major schools of philosophy in Hinduism and may sub-schools under each of those.

I could give you my perspective, but you might get several others as well from the other Hindus on the forum. There is no one answer.

An open ended religion. No wonder it is so accepting of other religions and deities,,,,,,,,,,,even though I hear that conservative Hindus don't like proselytising (by Christians at least) and taking Hindus away from Hinduism.
I wonder what it takes to set up your own branch of Hinduism.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
The only standard are your deeds. Are they according to your obligations, are they righteous? Will they help the society or harm it? That is 'dharma'. I term it as the "least common factor" in all Hinduism. The rest what one does or does not do is one's own choice. For example, I am a strong atheist.

There do seem to be rules in Hinduism of course such as the Caste system. Yet I presume Ghandi was a Hindu who did not follow the rules. Is the Caste system pervasive in India or just amongst conservative Hindus or in rural areas or certain branches of Hinduism or something?
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
This makes a lot more sense to me than the standard anthropomorphized sentient being described by most religious people, at least here where Abrahamic religionists dominate.

If you read the Bible you can very easily see that the Bible God is not really an old man in the sky as many want to say.
In the Bible we are made by God to have a relationship with Him and so have been made like Him and to be like Him...............but of course have fallen dramatically away from that and God wants to bring us back. In a sense I guess this is something like Hinduism where we are really God and I guess God is trying to bring us back to that realisation of who we really are.
In both there seems to be a recognition of our moral fall at least. I guess Hinduism says we can pull ourselves up by our boot straps and the Bible tells us we need God to pull us out of our situation.
It is good that Hinduism has proposed reincarnation because it is plain that we cannot pull ourselves up in one life time and repay our karma.

This is definitely more kid friendly than the "vengeful sky king with superpowers" image that is so common. But it still seems to put God into a rather limited, human shaped, box. I cannot believe the Original Source of Everything is remotely like that.
Tom

In the Bible not vengeful but the ultimate judge.
Hinduism has replaced the judge with a law, karma and I guess in this way the Hindu God/s are not seen as vengeful.
I wonder where the mercy comes in to play when all there is is a law that has to be met.
No doubt there are ways to avoid karma in such a religion.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
How did all that stuff come to be?
That question leads to many more questions. Is there really any stuff? Science has a Zero-energy theory which says that the net energy of the universe is 0. And if the stuff is there the, what are its properties? Can it disappear at any time? Are existence and non-existence just two phases of 'what exists'? Obviously, science does not know the answer and religion has only one unsatisfactory answer - 'Goddidit'. Therefore, we need to wait for more time. Perhaps we may know the answer after a 100 or 200 years.
 

chinu

chinu
Do we actually eventually remember we are God or is that a false memory given to us by a belief that we really are God?
Belief doesn't provide memory. Belief works like shaking the body of someone who is sleeping to make him/her awake. And when one awake from that sleep memory returns back automatically. And enlightenment happens.

What provides back the lost identity?
Belief and devotion towards God.

If I am God really then surely I am doing what God would do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,whether I love everyone or murder and rape and steal, that must all be what God would do.
Of course you are God. But, keep thing in mind that your fellow humans are also God. Yes you can love them, but if murder, rape or steal, you will be obliged to get the same in return, one day or another. Nobody can save you from that.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
There do seem to be rules in Hinduism of course such as the Caste system. Yet I presume Ghandi was a Hindu who did not follow the rules. Is the Caste system pervasive in India or just among conservative Hindus or in rural areas or certain branches of Hinduism or something?
Caste system is still pervasive though there are strong laws against it. It is strong in rural areas. But the shackles are breaking. In cities intercaste marriage may not raise an eye-brow. At work, nobody cares much about castes, because we have to interact with all. Though personally, I do not have anything against caste if care is taken about not disrespecting people of other castes. If an Italian wants to marry another Italian, I do not see any harm in it, meaning - intercaste marriages will come in time, there is no need to get concerned about that. Because in today's world education and work bring people from different groups together. In my family, my son and three nephews, all married girls from castes other than our own.
 

MNoBody

Well-Known Member
from the window of mortality, the view is how expansive?
How does it appear from "down here"?
Certainly different from the supposed"up there"
Is it attainable for the mere mortal to contain the perspective of the immortal?
Would the position of perspective survive it?
lots to mull over.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
An open ended religion. No wonder it is so accepting of other religions and deities,,,,,,,,,,,even though I hear that conservative Hindus don't like proselytising (by Christians at least) and taking Hindus away from Hinduism.

I can't say that I'm really a fan of proselytizing either, but it's what they do. It's part of their path.

I wonder what it takes to set up your own branch of Hinduism.

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savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Assuming there is a god, are we ultimately identical with that god, or are we ultimately separate from that god? That is, are we ultimately god, or are we ultimately not god?


BONUS QUESTION: Which is the truer statement...

@adrian009 secretly wishes he had armpit hair as beautiful as @Sunstone's.​

or​

@Sunstone secretly wishes he had brains as functional as @adrian009's.​


Wow what a bucket! Does anybody wish for armpit hair of any kind? Yes, I really want to know!

The right and righteous and the true answer of course is neither. We are linked forever (but only if you are good) but there is no place in Heaven to be God. You know it!
One God alone. God bless the Jews!
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
That question leads to many more questions. Is there really any stuff? Science has a Zero-energy theory which says that the net energy of the universe is 0. And if the stuff is there the, what are its properties? Can it disappear at any time? Are existence and non-existence just two phases of 'what exists'? Obviously, science does not know the answer and religion has only one unsatisfactory answer - 'Goddidit'. Therefore, we need to wait for more time. Perhaps we may know the answer after a 100 or 200 years.

I have not heard of that net Zero energy idea. I guess science has many ideas I have never heard of.
You may need to wait longer for an answer, which of course you will never get unless you live another 100 or 200 years. I think the Goddidit answer is very satisfactory.
Science itself has to posit illogical and magical answers at this end search for answers and science will never stop looking even if the most reasonable answer is Goddidit. And many people will never stop trusting that science will one day find an answer even if the answer can never be verified.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
Belief doesn't provide memory. Belief works like shaking the body of someone who is sleeping to make him/her awake. And when one awake from that sleep memory returns back automatically. And enlightenment happens.

Interesting idea. Certainly some people have either claimed to be or others have claimed some people to be enlightened.

Belief and devotion towards God.

Would that work even if you are an atheist Hindu like Aupmanyav?

Of course you are God. But, keep thing in mind that your fellow humans are also God. Yes you can love them, but if murder, rape or steal, you will be obliged to get the same in return, one day or another. Nobody can save you from that.

Where does that leave the teachings of Jesus that we can receive complete forgiveness without judgement and punishment for our evil deeds?
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
Caste system is still pervasive though there are strong laws against it. It is strong in rural areas. But the shackles are breaking. In cities intercaste marriage may not raise an eye-brow. At work, nobody cares much about castes, because we have to interact with all. Though personally, I do not have anything against caste if care is taken about not disrespecting people of other castes. If an Italian wants to marry another Italian, I do not see any harm in it, meaning - intercaste marriages will come in time, there is no need to get concerned about that. Because in today's world education and work bring people from different groups together. In my family, my son and three nephews, all married girls from castes other than our own.

In India I did not see evidence of the caste system, but I may not have noticed even if I did see it.
Certainly modern working conditions make for a mixing bowl of people.
Someone like Modi may have other ideas however, if he could, which seems unlikely.
 

chinu

chinu
Would that work even if you are an atheist Hindu like Aupmanyav?
Friend, please don't do this. I will NOT answer this question. I have NO right to answer this question. Friend Aupmanyav can tell you better about this.
Where does that leave the teachings of Jesus that we can receive complete forgiveness without judgement and punishment for our evil deeds?
Provide the verse.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
I can't say that I'm really a fan of proselytizing either, but it's what they do. It's part of their path.

It's what their Lord told them to do so that would make it part of their path.
It sounds like absolute truth has a not very important place in Hinduism. Would that be a fair statement?

Only 6 easy payments of $39.95!! Send your credit card information to [email protected]. You'll receive your own genuine notarized imitation certificate recognized by three islands in the Philippines with your new religion's name written in cursive on the front. Act within 24 hours and you'll receive your personal deity's name and made-up esoteric history. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older to create your own religion and be a member in good standing on RF. RF does not recognize, endorse, or have any affiliation with YourOwnReligion.con.

Thanks I'll keep it in mind but I must be free to make it myself even though certification could come in handy for tax purposes if nothing else.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
Friend, please don't do this. I will NOT answer this question. I have NO right to answer this question. Friend Aupmanyav can tell you better about this.

I think he might be a Buddhist without realising it.

Provide the verse.

This seems to be a common verse used for such occasions.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Of course it probably contains a number of things that Hinduism would not agree with.
 
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