04-18-2007, 08:37 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Ashok Kumar+Apr 17 2007, 05:55 PM-->QUOTE(Ashok Kumar @ Apr 17 2007, 05:55 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Re: the venn diagrams above by Shiv
I prefer C, but there is still a lot of white-space left outside the big saffron circle.
My picture is of whole page filled with saffron with small overlapping circles of blue and green.
That is, hinduism/dharma is the universal set, and christianity/Islam (or any other ism) are overlapping subsets within that universal set.
[right][snapback]67228[/snapback][/right]
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This response was after studying the following picture
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/cyb...igions.jpg
When I first created the diagrams a few days ago, I was also in favor of 'C' as a possible description of the relationship between Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
But I had more thoughts after I kept staring at the diagrams.
Diagram B would be, for example, the Christian narrative, with Hinduism as a separate Island that needs to be totally absorbed.
I am wondering if diagram A represents reality, even if the proportions may be wrong. While we like to claim that Hinduism is inded a universal subset, it has shadow areas that it does not cover. Areas of darkness if you laike. Those areas of darkness are occupied by Christianity and Islam.
But look at the following characteristics of Christianity and Islam and tell me where they occur within the universal subset of Hinduism:
Where in Hinduism do you find the compulsion to follow only one God? Where in Hinduism do you find the concept that God can cast you away and damn you forever? Where in Hinduism do you find anyone restricting you from following one or more of different paths depending on your mood and needs? Where in Hinduism do you find written permission to kill someone for not being in agreement with you? Where in Hinduism do you find that your faith and your God's health is dependent upon your forcing your narrative and faith on everyone else? Where in Hinduism are you told that all knowledge is written in ONE book, and nothing can exist outside that?
No. certain fundamental pillars of Christianity and Islam are well outside the Hindu scheme of things.
To an extent, we have fooled ourselves into thinking that this is not so. But it is so. There is no meeting ground over many areas.
The only convoluted thought process I could use to make Christianity and Islam a subset of Hinduism is so say that completely ignorant people exist, whose minds are closed. The fact that ignorance and darkness exists is certainly well known to Hindus.
But darkness and ignorance are not a monopoly of Christianity and Islam, and the ability to see light and truth are not restricted to people who call themselves "Hindu".
The acceptance of this is the fundamental difference between Hindusim and those other religions. For a fundamenatlist of Christianity or Islam, you can never ever be right until you follow his god.
They are, ultimately a power and dominance game.
I prefer C, but there is still a lot of white-space left outside the big saffron circle.
My picture is of whole page filled with saffron with small overlapping circles of blue and green.
That is, hinduism/dharma is the universal set, and christianity/Islam (or any other ism) are overlapping subsets within that universal set.
[right][snapback]67228[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This response was after studying the following picture
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/cyb...igions.jpg
When I first created the diagrams a few days ago, I was also in favor of 'C' as a possible description of the relationship between Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
But I had more thoughts after I kept staring at the diagrams.
Diagram B would be, for example, the Christian narrative, with Hinduism as a separate Island that needs to be totally absorbed.
I am wondering if diagram A represents reality, even if the proportions may be wrong. While we like to claim that Hinduism is inded a universal subset, it has shadow areas that it does not cover. Areas of darkness if you laike. Those areas of darkness are occupied by Christianity and Islam.
But look at the following characteristics of Christianity and Islam and tell me where they occur within the universal subset of Hinduism:
Where in Hinduism do you find the compulsion to follow only one God? Where in Hinduism do you find the concept that God can cast you away and damn you forever? Where in Hinduism do you find anyone restricting you from following one or more of different paths depending on your mood and needs? Where in Hinduism do you find written permission to kill someone for not being in agreement with you? Where in Hinduism do you find that your faith and your God's health is dependent upon your forcing your narrative and faith on everyone else? Where in Hinduism are you told that all knowledge is written in ONE book, and nothing can exist outside that?
No. certain fundamental pillars of Christianity and Islam are well outside the Hindu scheme of things.
To an extent, we have fooled ourselves into thinking that this is not so. But it is so. There is no meeting ground over many areas.
The only convoluted thought process I could use to make Christianity and Islam a subset of Hinduism is so say that completely ignorant people exist, whose minds are closed. The fact that ignorance and darkness exists is certainly well known to Hindus.
But darkness and ignorance are not a monopoly of Christianity and Islam, and the ability to see light and truth are not restricted to people who call themselves "Hindu".
The acceptance of this is the fundamental difference between Hindusim and those other religions. For a fundamenatlist of Christianity or Islam, you can never ever be right until you follow his god.
They are, ultimately a power and dominance game.