02-26-2005, 01:36 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Sunder+Feb 25 2005, 06:29 AM-->QUOTE(Sunder @ Feb 25 2005, 06:29 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hell fire and heavenly-mist are very real for Christians.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We have had this discussion on interpretation of 'real'. Your definition of reality seems to be tied with assertion or deep belief. According to this, even delusion can be considered reality, which in the vedantic sense - or any other sense - is simply wrong.
In no uncertain terms, Bible is not Shruthi. Thus it is not a pramaana. Hence hell cannot be "REAL". <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sundar ji,
There is a misunderstanding here. When I said that hell and heavenly-mist are real for Christians I was not expressing my opinion. I was merely pointing out Christian beliefs. I agree with you that Christians will go nowhere unless they have by some means purified their heart. Mere belief is a road to nowhere.
When I say something is real I do not mean deep belief. I mean that a 'real' thing is not merely a mental construct but exists independent of our mind. Christian position is very different. Their position is since neither heaven nor hell nor God can be seen by any means the only choice is to blindly believe in such things.
You have also said that Christian God is not universal. I would like to say that the Christian IDEA of God is very narrow. They say that only their God is real and all other Gods are false. My position is that of Radhakrishnan who comments (Gita 4.11) that 'The spiritually immature are unwilling to recogize other Gods than their own. Their attachment to their creed makes them blind to the larger unity of the Godhead. This is the result of egotism in the domain of religious ideas.' The Christian God also has to be Brahman if Brahman is ALL.
We have had this discussion on interpretation of 'real'. Your definition of reality seems to be tied with assertion or deep belief. According to this, even delusion can be considered reality, which in the vedantic sense - or any other sense - is simply wrong.
In no uncertain terms, Bible is not Shruthi. Thus it is not a pramaana. Hence hell cannot be "REAL". <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sundar ji,
There is a misunderstanding here. When I said that hell and heavenly-mist are real for Christians I was not expressing my opinion. I was merely pointing out Christian beliefs. I agree with you that Christians will go nowhere unless they have by some means purified their heart. Mere belief is a road to nowhere.
When I say something is real I do not mean deep belief. I mean that a 'real' thing is not merely a mental construct but exists independent of our mind. Christian position is very different. Their position is since neither heaven nor hell nor God can be seen by any means the only choice is to blindly believe in such things.
You have also said that Christian God is not universal. I would like to say that the Christian IDEA of God is very narrow. They say that only their God is real and all other Gods are false. My position is that of Radhakrishnan who comments (Gita 4.11) that 'The spiritually immature are unwilling to recogize other Gods than their own. Their attachment to their creed makes them blind to the larger unity of the Godhead. This is the result of egotism in the domain of religious ideas.' The Christian God also has to be Brahman if Brahman is ALL.