Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Comment on a Newsweek article

A brief Newsweek article suggests that American views on God and Life are turning Hindu. This is the contrast they draw:
The Rig Veda, the most ancient Hindu scripture, says this: "Truth is One, but the sages speak of it by many names." A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur'an is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal. The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this. They learn in Sunday school that their religion is true, and others are false. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me."

My point of view: while the overall contrast is perhaps a valid one, the people of the Indic traditions do not believe that all ways to "God"/"Truth"/etc., are equal. Each is as prone to the human frailty that his/her way is the best. All rivers may ultimately lead to the sea, but some are likely more direct and efficacious than others. However, traditionally, disputes over this do not go beyond debates and polemics, or are a matter of indifference.