World religions

The discussions on comparative religion above are interesting.I propose to present how the religious thought has developwd over the ages based on what is given in the scriptures.Some entity worthy of adoration and worship has existed all along from the prehistoric days. It probably started with spirits followed by deities accompanied by idolatory. The idols were not necessarily the graven images as mentioned in the Bible but also people with authority like the rulers in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Before proceeding further let us mention the main religions that are being practiced. In terms of their coming onto being the current organized religions are Hinduism, Judais, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. In terms of number of followers in the descending order world wide they are Christianity, Islam, Budhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism. It is appropriate to discuss the evolution of religious thought in the order the religions came into being. The thought of a single God applies to all the above religions except Buddhism.Whereas the Hindu religion has the concept of a Single God, it also believes in demigods and goddesses totalling 330 million.It is therefore not strictly a monotheistic religion. It believes in a lot of dogmas and rituals.The Hindu society has ben divded according to castes. The priestly class heads the caste sustem. The caste system and particularly the exercise of authority by the priestly class was responsible for Buddhism coming into being in India. Due to later developments Buddhism was almost completely driven out of India. Buddhism does not mention the existence of God but emphasizes moral behavior to come out of the miseries that life presents. Hinduism was followed by what are the great monotheistic religions. Judaism was the first monotheistic religion as described in the Old Testament. The concept of God here is that of a God of one people, Israel. The scripture quotes God as calling Israel His child and God taking on Himself to exticate them from egypt and promise them their own land. God is all powerful but is the God of Israel.Extensive rituals particularly the burnt offerings are laid down. Christianity has a wider view of God's domain but his status is greatly diluted by His existence as part of the Trinity.The God of the New Testament, if one goes by what is recorded therein, is there to support Jesus who performs God's functions. Jesus is described as the Lord, a term used for God in other scriptures. There are a large number of dogmas in Cristianity.Christ was crucified because he pointed out the shortcomings in Jewish religious practices and called himself the son of God. Islam which followed Christianity believes in one all powerful God. He is the God of all universe. The Quran is a record of revelations Prophet received from God. It recognizes the Old and New Testaments but criticizes Jesus for equating himself to God. The scripture almost in its entirety is addressed to Muslim males. Muslim males enjoy supremacy over the females. Everybody is asked to believe in God, the Book and the Last day. Judaism, Christianity and Islam have powerful priestly classes. As may be seen there is an underlying antaginism between these Semitic religions and has been responsible for much bloodshed in the name of religion. All the semitic religions emanated from the Middle East; the Bible and the Quran contain narratives of that area.Islam was followed by the Sikh religion which is the latest of the monotheistic religions. This religion believes in one God, has no dogmas or rituals, has no priestly class. God is the Universal God of the total universe. God is acknowledged with his unlimited majesty. The hymns do not refer to any parrticular region. It asks to repect the scriptures of all religions.There is no gender bias. Until recently the head of the controlling religious organization was a lady. There are three fundamental teachings, namely remembering God. earning honestly and sharing with the needy; in short it is acknowledging God and realizing social responsibility.It would be noticed that religious thought has developed alogwith develoment of human intellect. This is clear from the thought moving from spirits, to idols, exclusive God of the Jews, a God of the New Testament with wider powers, a still more powerul GOd of the Quran and all powerful God of Guru Granth, the scripture of the Sikhs. This is also in line with two other aspects namely development of science and communications. The latter facilitated progressively better interaction between people of the different regions leading to social interaction. Education was also responsible for people protesting against exploitation on the basis of gender or caste. Scientific thinking and facilities for observation of the planetary system helped understand the powers of nature as also to respond to the dogmas being questioned.Rawel SinghThis message has been edited by Rawel Singh, 03-10-2006 06:11 PM EvC is not here for preaching but discussions. This looks very much like it's headed in that direction.This message has been edited by AdminJar, 03-10-2006 09:07 PM

Dear Mr Anil,This is with reference to your two insertions. You have given a lot of material. Frankly I am not clear what you are trying to convey. Let us do it like this. I have given the evolution of thought as I understand it. You kindly comment on the ideas or give fresh ideas. The treatise given by you is wide rqnging and mostly in the form of a sermon. I do not object to that, but there should be some direction to what is being put across. Let me ask you about idolatry in temples including erotica. We can start from here and cover various aspects. Or if you would like to pick up any other point kindly do so. Let us have one understanding: there is no place for abrasive words when discussing spirituality.Let the discussion be productive.Rawel SinghThis message has been edited by Rawel Singh, 03-11-2006 10:20 AM

Thanks. Since we were discussing evolution of thought, let us proceed to see how idol worship came about. In the earlier stages people used to have their personal deities and worshipped them by singing together. One of the venerable personalitiesin Hindu mythology is the sage Narada. He was one with very deep knowledge and travelled all over to teach. One of his famous disciples was Dhrua, who was the son of king but saw that his mother was illtreated. On inquiring the reason, the mother told him that it was becuse she had agnored to remember God. The young boy left the palace and went into the jungle to pray. There he was met by Narada and benefitted from his teachings. Narada being very learned, but of fickle mind, thought of something to concetrate on, and idolatry started. However this was not limited to the Hindus.In the Old Testament we see Abraham's father making and selling idols. When Abraham was enlightened, he asked the idols to eat; when they did not, he broke and threw away all the idols. Similarly when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai for a long time the people got impatient and went back to idol worship. When Moses returned after getting direction from God, he had the idol destroyed.You have given the view that idol worship should continue since the idols represent the Lord. Can you pl quote where this is said, althiugh I agree people sayit that way. And that is just the reason that ones who take to idol worship are never able to give it up. The reason lies in the fact that that when they see the idol and burn incense or offer flowers and food the find theselves doing something tangible. There is no doubt that this is done with great devotion. Once that happens they are tied in bondage. The Quran and Guru Granth point out the futility of worshipping something 'you have made yourself'. Saint Kabir makes the point that the idol is graven with the artisan putting his foot on it; if it had any powers, it would devour him. You takled of graduation from school to college.Could you please say if there is any example where people once taking to idol worship have given it up? Incidentally where is that college?.The place to worship the Lord is in the mind, for that is where His abode is. Going to places of worship and participating in cogregations is necesary because there we are reminded of what we should be doing. Also it promotes a feeling of togetherness with the others. For this no images are required; just the focus on the One Lord.God Bless

I draw your attention to two things the Gita teaches on the subject. Firstly that those who worship gods and goddesses do it the wrong way. Secondly and this a confirmation of the first that worshiping gods and goddesses can get the fruits the objects of worship can give them. In the same vein Krishna says those who worship gods and goddesses get them those who worship me reach me. When anyone worships an idol it is that of a god or goddess not of God. God cannot be made into a statue and installed. Doubtless you would have noticed people competing with each other as to who has more impressive shows at Ram Lila, Krishan Janamashtami, Durga puja or Christmas. This is ego; not worshipping the One Lord who needs no such show.It should be appreciated that when one worships a statue it is not of God but of a deity. Most of the temples have statues of the supposed incarnations of Vishnu or goddesses. Vishnu is not God; he represents just one attribute of God namely the sustainer. God is sought to be fragmented into Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar. There are separate temples for them and the followers take names after them kike Vaishnavs ans Saivites. This is ego and cause for friction. Again the incarnations of Vishnu came in different ages or Yugas, showing different attributes in Satyug, Treta,duapar and Kalyug. Does that mean God has been changing with time? No God is one Universal Entity, unchanging, ever the same. The Scriptures say that different ways of worship were prevelent in the different yugas e.g.it was the penace in Treta and Puja in Duapar. In Kalyug it is praising God. That would mean God has liked different ways in different yugas. Guru Nanak says seek refuge in the One Universe LOrd, who pervades the whole universe, does not incarnate, is unchanging and shall ever remain the same.Do not worship those who are born and are subject to death.God BlessThis message has been edited by Rawel Singh, 03-12-2006 06:42 AM

Dear Mr Dattaswami,You have given two posts no 75 and 76. They do not deal with the issue we are discussing namely idolatry. Let us please maintain focus. In case you are starting a new issue please say so and present it as an issue and not just restate what is there in the Ramayana or Mahabharta. Another request; please keep it crisp dealing with an issue at a time.
It appears you agree with what is stated in my last post at 74.God Bless!