By: William Fabyan

There a few facets of Hinduism mentioned, by Aparna Chawla and Ramdas, Lamb that I would like to argue against based on the truth about Christianity:

Hinduism

“The unique understanding in Hinduism is that God is not far away, living in a remote heaven, but is inside each and every soul, in the heart and consciousness, waiting to be discovered. And the goal of Hinduism is knowing God in this intimate and experiential way. Hinduism is both monotheistic and henotheistic. Hinduism is not polytheistic. Henotheism (literally “one God”) better defines the Hindu view. It means the worship of one God without denying the existence of other Gods. Hindus believe in the one all-pervasive God who energizes the entire universe. It is believed that God is both in the world and beyond it. That is the highest Hindu view. Hinduism gives the freedom to approach God in one’s own way, encouraging a multiplicity of paths, not asking for conformity to just one. It allows people to believe in and pray to their own conceptualizations of the Divine in whatever form they choose, while at the same time elevating all of them to their ultimate reality, which is the singular omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient Divinity, who demands no allegiance, punishes no one for lack of belief, yet provides wisdom, comfort, compassion and freedom to those who seek it. All they need to do is look within” – Aparna Chawla & Ramdas Lamb

Christianity

“Hindus believe in the one all-pervasive God who energizes the entire universe. It is believed that God is both in the world and beyond it. That is the highest Hindu view. Hinduism gives the freedom to approach God in one’s own way, encouraging a multiplicity of paths, not asking for conformity to just one”– As a Christian, I would have to admit that the Hindu view of God as beyond the world and in this world is parallel to what Jesus teaches. God’s presence via His Spirit is everywhere and at the same time God is beyond the confines of this world. He’s out of time and space. However to say that you can approach God in one’s own way is not true. God can be approached through prayer, worship, fasting, praising and reading the word. Worship can be singing and dancing around or painting. Prayer could be in the form of journaling. God has given us specific ways to approach Him because He has His Spirit in the believers and is the only one that knows how we can be in full intimacy with Him that’s why He tells us to pray, read His Word(The Bible), fasting and worship. These are the ways in which He responds to us. It’s about God responding not what way you think is best to approach to Him. There’s no multiplicity of paths.

Note: This is my belief and I understand, of course, that some will beg to differ.

Link:

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/life/faith/2014/08/20/hinduism-many-gods/14247795/