In the Bible, Paul says “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” (New International Version, Gen. 3. She lives in Melbourne and owns her own studio. Hinduism incorporates diverse views on the concept of God. Hinduism is a religion that defies definite classification, and in practice, it has both monotheistic and polytheistic components. Hence, Hinduism is monotheistic, At the most henotheistic but not polytheistic as there is only one God and the others are Brahman's manifestations. With the revelation of the Upanishads, Hinduism began to evolve into a monistic tradition. Vishnu and Shiva eventually become the most prominent gods in the Hindu tradition. (2017, Mar 26). Later in the Rig Veda, questions arise concerning creation and death. Is Hinduism Monotheistic or Polytheistic. In this sense we are not separate from the gods, but the same. custom paper from our expert writers, Hinduism: Monotheistic or Polytheistic. She is interested in ceramics and works. Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/hinduism-monotheistic-or-polytheistic/. Often in a stack of current newspapers, the front page topics that will catch your attention are ethical issues behind upper management compensations; in this case, on March 30th 2009,. This paradox can be traced to the history of Hinduism. Therefore you are worthy of praise and sacrifice” (Course Reader 1, p. 26). But Hinduism is unique, at least in the scope of my own knowledge about religion, in the way it presents its "monotheistic" and "polytheistic" facets. You can get your Brahman is the force that permeates all creation, including our Atman. Each Hindu follows a particular sect and thus have different ways to pray to Brahman. Hinduism. Hindus, they argue, commenced to personify the various forces of nature (e. g. , the stars, moon, sun, water, fire, etc. ) Hinduism will be used as a primary example, since it offers a good example of polytheism and how it can be blended with the Hindu understanding of monotheism into a useful and practical theology. "Being part of a team is more important than leading it. " Exactly, monotheism simply means the acknowledgment of one god. With over a billion adherents, many claim that the religion is monotheistic and helmed by the supreme being, Brahma. It is now obvious to me that Hinduism will never me a monotheistic religion, there is far too much variation between its followers, and too many gods that are worshipped. It is the totality of everything, and is completely abstract and without qualities (Course Reader 1, p. 64). So they worship the personal forms of Brahman in different ways. Can Everyone Benefits from Higher Education? By. Hindu texts and practices suggest the simultaneous existence of polytheism and what seems to be monotheism, but some Hindus find it insulting to be called polytheists. There are no definitive answers supplied, and no one god is credited with creation (Course Reader 1, p. 33). We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Therefore, we are Brahman and the gods are Brahman. They are both widely recognized as the Supreme Beings, but there are disagreements as to which is the most supreme (Course Reader 1, p. 3). Different traditions of Hinduism have different theistic views, and these views have been described by scholars as polytheism, monotheism, henotheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism, agnostic, humanism, atheism or Nontheism. It seems more reasonable to state and argue that Hinduism is polytheistic. Sri Swami Chidananda. Let Professional Writer Help You, 6000 Fairview Road, SouthPark Towers, Suite 1200, Charlotte, NC 28210, USA. This paradox can be traced to the history of Hinduism. This is just a sample. The actual numbers are almost unknowable, as there are those, like Ganesh, whose following is more widespread, to local deities whose names may only be known to a small few who live in that particular area. There is no difference between the contents of the Universe, and the cause of the Universe. Jews and Muslims would surely say that Hinduism is polytheistic—for them, worship of … The origin of Hinduism is shrouded in antiquity of the distant past far beyond the times of known history. They believe that All is One, and therefore worship of anything is ultimately worship of God. Since the force Brahman is considered to be anyone, whether it be Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma or even Jesus, Hinduism is monistic. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy, Your Deadline is Too Short? He is not identified as the Supreme Being however—he still requires sacrifice, and is therefore not omnipotent. However, by the definition of polytheism, Hindu appears polytheistic because there are legions of Gods and Goddesses that describe aspects of Brahma's nature. The term “Hinduism” embraces a wide array of philosophies and practices, and while certain Hindus may think and worship in an essentially monotheistic way, the practices of others may be more readily labeled polytheistic or pantheistic. 15), clearly condemning the worship of his creation. Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?! Dear Ahmed, the question of Hinduism being originally monotheistic is an attempt to confirm a fundamental doctrine of Islam - Fitrah. Hinduism and Islam: Compare and Contrast It is universally known that religious faiths creates diversity in culture and give new identity and outlook to matters signifying a new way life.. Higher education refers to the level of learning that takes place at universities, colleges or degree-awarding institutions, which a person can attend after he or she completes high school or. We are not separate from Brahman; our Atman is Brahman. Click to see full answer. Scholars What makes Hindusim different from other religions is that it allows for both to be true, with neither choice being in conflict with the other. Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors? The One Source becomes an infinite number of things taking on numerous forms, but ultimately there is and always shall be only One (Course Reader 1, p. 59). Penny Byrne is an Australian born artist. Hinduism incorporates diverse views on the concept of God. This soon changes, with the introduction of Vishnu and Shiva. According to Hinduism, Brahman is the eternal and unchanging force that transcends time and space. Hinduism is a religion that defies definite classification, and in practice, it has both monotheistic and polytheistic components. In the end, the question of "monotheistic or polytheistic" is somewhat unimportant. Hinduism is the most ancient religion among all the great living religions in the world today. It is revealed that all things come from The One Source, known as Brahman. In the Rig Veda, it states that “Not one of you, gods, is small, not one a little child; all of you are truly great. It was revealed that there is one force in the universe, called Brahman, and that our Atman (spiritual self) is a part of this force (Course Reader 1, p. 52). The Vedic gods are still worshipped, but are nowhere near as powerful. No human has demonstrable or irrefutable proof for or … Don’t miss a chance to chat with experts. The warrior god Indra is eventually elevated to King of the Gods in the Vedic tradition. In the Rig Veda, every force of nature was personified and worshipped as separate entities—clearly indicative of polytheism (Course Reader 1, p. 25). Brahman is still the ultimate force of the universe, and Vishnu is a manifestation of Brahman, as are all of the gods. Brahma is the creator aspect of the supreme being, Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu is the preserver.