[Goanet]Re. Hinduism - polytheistic?

[Sachin Phadte]

Tim de Mello raises an interesting question about the debate whether 
Hinduism is polytheistic.  Apart from Harpur, a lot of others have said the 
same thing that the belief in Brahman being the ultimate makes Hinduism 
montheistic.  Others have argued that the very thing that Harpur says next, 
namely "Nevertheless, there is a infinite number of ways of approaching 
him", makes Hinduism polytheistic.

Just by two-bit.

Sachin

Message: 11
From: "Tim de Mello" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 11:07:11 -0400
Subject: [Goanet]Hinduism - polytheistic?
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [Goanet]NEWS: Pope to make key appointments
"Frederick Noronha (FN)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
"Hindiusm, being polytheistic, has space for literally millions of gods, and 
this probably explains some of the reverence displayed by non-Christians at 
the Mapusa church or at Old Goa."

=====

I am no expert on this but allow me to quote from a recent article 
"Hinduism's true nature misunderstood", that appeared in the Toronto Star on 
August 24 by Theologian and author Tom Harpur.

". . . . It is true that in its popular forms, Hinduism can appear 
polytheistic, a religion of many gods. But, in fact, more accurately 
understood, it is as monotheistic as Christianity. The multiplicity of 
foreign-seeming divinities are in reality simply a way of denoting the 
manifold energies and aspects of nature itself.

Brahman, alone is the Ultimate. The Hindu scriptures assert this again and 
again. For example, "Brahman is one, changeless . . . . what home have we 
but him?" one text says. All else is but a manifestation of that supreme 
glory. Nevertheless, there is a infinite number of ways of approaching him. 
What this means is that Hinduism is not just one of, if not the, oldest of 
all religious philosophies, it is also one of the most tolerant. . . . . . "

Tim de Mello

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