The Theological and Philosophical Problems of Hinduism
By Mike Robinson
The Trinity is not a mere oneness or a mere threeness, but always three in one. So, the creation is unity in plurality, fact in law, law in fact.1
Eastern religions place great stress on the notion of tat tvam asi: thou art that. The implication of that phrase is that everything that an individual sees or experiences is you and is one. Thus this circuitously denies the laws of logic (A is A and not Non-A), yet must employ logic in that denial. Hindu dogma rejects the personal Triune God who is the only being with aseity. They posit a god who is dependent, not ultimately purely good, and is part of the cosmos. So Hinduism ultimately lacks explanatory power as per its denial of the independent entirely good God of Christianity. Furthermore, the Trinity solves the problem of the one and many, and like other non-Christian worldviews, Hinduism fails to solve this all-encompassing puzzle of the one and many (see my previous post on The One and The Many Here).
It is interesting to note that most practicing Hindus are polytheistic as they believe and worship many gods (various Hindu scholars hold to a monotheistic personal God including Vaishnavite Bhakti traditions). This leads them to stress the many over the one as they seek ultimate oneness. Added to that, they believe everything is merely an illusion. But why worship that which is only an illusion? Why even participate in this rational and spiritual chimera?
[In Hinduism] there is no absolute dividing line between the sacred and profane (Louis Renou, editor: Hinduism).
Hinduism teaches that evil is just an illusion. Nonetheless, to mark anything as evil one needs an invariant universal moral code and Hinduism lacks such a standard since everything is an illusion. Hinduism is utterly deficient in this because everything is just an illusion, including any moral law and even evil itself.
God is Surely Good
When the Christian observes evil events or things in the world, he can, and should, retain consistency with his presupposition about God’s goodness by now inferring that God has a morally good reason for the evil that exists. … And God is surely good, the Christian will profess, so any evil we find must be compatible with God’s goodness.2
Give up the illusion that you are an individual self (Ashtavakra Gita).
He who is subject to this illusion suffers many sorrows. To take this unreal for the real is bondage (Sankara: The Crest Jewel of Hindu Wisdom).
Those who disparage reason, ironically … use reason to do so. They offer arguments, “reasons,” why reason is worthless.3
The belief that everything is maya, illusionary, denies real evil because it is just one more aspect of the omni-illusion. In this perspective one cannot truly claim that rape, genocide, mass pollution, child abuse, or any wicked acts are evil. This confutes itself because lying would not be evil and it would not really be anything, just an aspect of the illusion. The law of identity would also simply be an illusion. One could then lie repetitively and assert the opposite of what the Hindu really states (A is not A). Since there are no distinctions within Hinduism, then all suppositions are just as valid as their antithesis. This is illogical. Furthermore, one could ask the Hindu if removing Hinduism from the earth would be evil.
Truth is one, the sages call it by many names (Hindu Vedas).
Give up the idea of “me” and “mine.” As long as there is consciousness of diversity and not of unity in the self, a man ignorantly thinks of himself as a separate being (Srimad Bhagavatam 11:4).
The One appears to be many (Mundaka Upanishad 1.1:9).
If everything is illusion, then that would imply that men, bugs, logic, ethics, Hinduism, and reincarnation are just illusions and in fact do not exist.
• Hinduism posits that all is maya (illusionary).
• This illusion would include Hinduism.
• On Hinduism’s ground, Hinduism is an illusion.
• Illusions are not real.
• Hinduism is not real.
Under Hinduism, God or the gods cannot be the absolute standard for absolute good since everything is an illusion—including that which is good. If the Hindu takes the doctrine of illusion as true, he cannot, in principle, conclude that God or the gods are really good. If this were the case, there would be no real standard of goodness. This leads to a conflation and comingling of good and bad as well as evil and righteous. Under consistent Hinduism, the actual division between good and evil is eliminated. When everything is merely an illusion, there is no good and therefore there is no evil. Either everything is an illusion or it is not. Clearly everything is not an illusion or the assertion that “everything is an illusion” is an illusion; the assertion defeats itself and cannot be the case.
Jesus Christ Saves
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:16-21).
All religionists including the Hindu must turn and trust in the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ. Today believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins and turn in faith to Him, or you will perish. Trust in Christ’s death and resurrection for the remission of your sins. You will find pardon, peace, love, and acceptance with God.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us … (Titus 3:4-5).
——————————————————————————————————————————-
1. John Frame, Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought, (P & R, Phillipsburg: NJ, 1995), p. 135.
2. Bahnsen, Always Ready, pp. 171-172.
3. Daniel Taylor, The Myth of Certainty, (Zondervan, Grand Rapids: MI, 1992), p. 69.
Purchase my new Apologetics eBook that Critiques Hinduism and Eastern Thought HERE
Hinduism: Christian Philosophy & Presuppositions Examine the Religion of the Gods and Karma evaluates the claims of Hinduism and examines the evidence for the Christian counterclaim, equipping you with strong apologetic answers. This pioneering edition provides resources and leading-edge argumentation throughout. The book defines difficult terminology and explains challenging concepts so no one is baffled by the clear contentions furnished. This fresh resource establishes the necessary reliability of the New Testament, and in contrast with Hindu scripture, that Christianity is the only sound worldview; it alone provides logical, philosophical, and theological essentials. If you desire to find out how a philosophical, biblical, theological, and transcendental analysis refutes Eastern Religions and Hindu thought, then this book is for you.
It is a well known fact that Jesus lived in India in his early life, and learned spirituality in India. Later he dissipated the knowledge, that he gained in India, to the rest of the world.
Christian Church however denies this, as the truth will rob them of their bred and butter (or so do they think). The Vatican hides facts and teaches only that that is good for its revenues and profits. This book is just another example of indiscriminate attack on peaceful and spiritual followers of Hinduism.
Pruthu: Incorrect. Jesus’ teaching on monotheism, the requirement of the Cross and grace alone, and His Resurrection are antithetical to Hinduism. It appears you have read too many comic books. Today, turn from your ways and trust in Jesus Christ alone who died for sinners and rose again on the third day.
Pruthu,
I don’t think this book is an indiscriminate attack on the followers of Hinduism, but is engaging the content of Hinduism itself. If engaging with the belief contents of a religion or worldview constitute it being an “indiscriminate attack” on the followers, then are you not guilty of this too?
jesus grave is still in kashmir maintained by kashmiri jews/muslims
Untrue. Numerous eyewitnesses, friendly and hostile, all affirm Christ was buried in Jerusalem. Moreover it is impossible for Christ to be buried in a grave for it would break the Scriptures. Christ is alive, turn to Him and find pardon and forgiveness for all your sins and misdeeds.
Mike i dont think you understood hinduism in right context. When u r trying to know the meaning of a sentence or a word u need right context. For a simple fact you labelling maya as illusion is like equating computer virus with organic virus. You need a right guru to get the context.
Incorrect. If maya is not a real illusion then Hinduism should coin another term. Additionally there are explications of the notion of Maya by Hindu thinkers as illusion in the post as well as countless examples in my book.
jesus never says he is a god. Hinduism has a History of more then lakhs of Year and which is scientifically proven.. if jesus is a god then why did not he born before lakhs of year?
srikanth: Incorrect. See John 8:58; Rev. 1:7-8; John 10:30; etc.–among many places Jesus declared that He was God. Instead of reading only non-Christian literature, read the Bible. Moreover, turn away from your sin, trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior who died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the grave. Then seek out a Bible-based church and join the congregation.
with due respects, i would state that the article is based on a very shallow knowledge of both the religions. Hinduism and Christianity. I don’t know if it is supported by the believers or not but even if it is, it is due to the lack of knowledge of the reader. Any authentic scholar would never agree to a bit of what is written and i would like the author to reconsider.
Utkarsh: Thanks for your opinion, but the quotes speak for themselves. Additionally, the arguments presented are solid and more than difficult to refute with mere opinion.
Really pathetic attempt. Since you decided that the your so called arguments are solid, it is difficult to get into that head of yours. While your argument on illusion is right, it is too soon for you to conclude Hindu texts (religious texts) also speak the same.
There are two problems for you to consider.
1. Interpretation and commentaries: Are the commentators (like Sankara) faithful to original Sanskrit texts?
2. Are the translations faithful to the original Sanskrit text?
I am sure you are unqualified to analyze on both counts.
From Rig Veda if you do not know where this comes from.
The verse speaks about Vedic God being called by different names, that He is one independent entity.
The reference is incomplete….References to Bhagavatm verses must contain 3 levels like 1.2.3 or 3.6.5.
Assuming this verse exists, it talks about “duality in consciousness”, being swayed by pleasure and pain, like and dislike etc. and thinking oneself to be independent..as opposed to unity or being strong and equipoised mind.
Rough translation of the original verse…
From the all-knowing, all-wise One, whose austerities are perfect with Wisdom,
from Him come to be produced Brahma, with essence and form and food as well.
None of the verses talk about Universe being an illusion…If these are the kind of verses you have quoted in your book, I suggest you dump your useless book and rewrite it again with some real scholar’s help…