From the East: Pantheism and Monism

From the East:From the East:Pantheism and MonismPantheism and Monism

Apologetics Part IIIApologetics Part III

Early History Early History

Aryan Invaders Aryan Invaders (2000-1500(2000-1500 bcbc))

Vedic Scriptures: “I Know”Vedic Scriptures: “I Know” Syncretism: Harmonizing Syncretism: Harmonizing

PolytheismPolytheism Monism: “Oneism”Monism: “Oneism” Pantheism: “God is All”Pantheism: “God is All”

Ceremonial & Caste Ceremonial & Caste SystemSystem Priestly, Nobility, Warrior, Priestly, Nobility, Warrior,

Laborer classesLaborer classes“Untouchables”

Later HistoryLater History Upanishads (“He Upanishads (“He

Sits Near”) 800-Sits Near”) 800-300 bc300 bc Underlies modern Underlies modern

Hindu metaphysics.Hindu metaphysics. ““Thou Art That” - Thou Art That” -

tat tvam asitat tvam asi The universe and The universe and

God are the same.God are the same. More Speculative More Speculative

and Philosophical.and Philosophical.

““During the late Vedic period, the During the late Vedic period, the complexities of ritualcomplexities of ritual were were emphasized to such an extent emphasized to such an extent that only highly trained Brahmans that only highly trained Brahmans and priests could carry them out and priests could carry them out correctly. Vedic thought in its late correctly. Vedic thought in its late period period became more became more speculativespeculative and philosophical in and philosophical in approach... Much speculation was approach... Much speculation was directed toward the directed toward the search for search for harmonyharmony..” (Enclyc.Brittt)..” (Enclyc.Brittt)

BuddhismBuddhism Siddhartha Gautama (560bc).Siddhartha Gautama (560bc). Rebelled against the Caste Rebelled against the Caste

System.System. Spent years in aescetic Spent years in aescetic

isolation.isolation. Experienced “Nirvana” and Experienced “Nirvana” and

discovered:discovered: Theory of the Enlighted Way:Theory of the Enlighted Way:

Salvation available to all Salvation available to all mankind.mankind.

The clarity and universality was The clarity and universality was appealing.appealing.

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths The Buddha

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths Suffering is Universal Suffering is Universal The cause of suffering The cause of suffering

is selfish desire.is selfish desire. The cure for suffering The cure for suffering

is to eliminate selfish is to eliminate selfish desire.desire.

Eliminate selfish Eliminate selfish desire by following desire by following "The Noble Eightfold "The Noble Eightfold Path":Path":1) right viewpoint 2) right aspiration 3) right 1) right viewpoint 2) right aspiration 3) right speechspeech 4) right behavior 5) right occupation, 6) right effort 4) right behavior 5) right occupation, 6) right effort

7) right mindfulness, and 8) right meditation. 7) right mindfulness, and 8) right meditation.

SivaSiva

Ganges River

BrahmaBrahma

VishnuVishnu

IndraIndra

1000 “Eyes”

GodGod Indra: “Supreme” Indra: “Supreme”

among 300 million godsamong 300 million gods Brahman: (Upanishads) Brahman: (Upanishads)

develops as the develops as the impersonalimpersonal, singular , singular force behind the force behind the universe.universe.

Theological Theological agnosticism:agnosticism:"The Divine Darkness is "The Divine Darkness is

that of which nothing can that of which nothing can be said.”be said.”

Buddhism retains the Buddhism retains the same views.same views.

Doctrine: CreationDoctrine: Creation

Early Vedas are inconsistentEarly Vedas are inconsistent Different dieties: PrajDifferent dieties: Prajaapati, or Brahma from the pati, or Brahma from the

golden egg.golden egg. From existing materials.From existing materials.

Later Vedas:Later Vedas: Creation came out of the Creation came out of the naturenature of "the one of "the one

which breathed breathless, of its own power" which breathed breathless, of its own power" Nasadiya Hymn, X.129Nasadiya Hymn, X.129

Concludes by saying "Who Knows?". Concludes by saying "Who Knows?". Later Brahmans:Later Brahmans:

Four classes came from the head, arms, thighs, Four classes came from the head, arms, thighs, and feet of the creator and feet of the creator BrahmaBrahma..

ImplicationsImplications No distinction between the creator and No distinction between the creator and

creation.creation. "The "The dreaming selfdreaming self, subject as it is to the , subject as it is to the

accidents of experience, must not be accidents of experience, must not be confused with the confused with the true selftrue self", ", [Encyclopedia Britannica, XII.248]. [Encyclopedia Britannica, XII.248].

The Need to The Need to SyncretizeSyncretize 300 million 300 million dieties & various legends and myths.dieties & various legends and myths. Leads to syncretizing all: good vs bad, Leads to syncretizing all: good vs bad,

light vs dark, god vs man, etc.light vs dark, god vs man, etc. Not a high-minded principle: a practical Not a high-minded principle: a practical

necessity.necessity.

Doctrine: the AfterlifeDoctrine: the Afterlife Earlier VedasEarlier Vedas taught a “heaven” and “hell” taught a “heaven” and “hell”

concept.concept. Descriptions of the afterlife are vague.Descriptions of the afterlife are vague. Destiny is determined by Destiny is determined by rewardreward and and punishmentpunishment

according to deeds good or bad.according to deeds good or bad. UpanishadsUpanishads taught release taught release (“Moksha”) of the “atman” from (“Moksha”) of the “atman” from “Maya” into “Brahman”.“Maya” into “Brahman”. Through the Through the Transmigration of SoulsTransmigration of Souls: :

Reincarnation through the Caste system.Reincarnation through the Caste system. Governed by Karma: impersonal, just, & Governed by Karma: impersonal, just, &

finalfinal.. BuddhismBuddhism: Immediate release through 8-fold path.: Immediate release through 8-fold path.

Nirvana: an Enlightened state, only for monks, and means in Sanskrit “Extinction”, or Nirvana: an Enlightened state, only for monks, and means in Sanskrit “Extinction”, or the “Blowing Out” of a candle.the “Blowing Out” of a candle.

Afterlife: ImplicationsAfterlife: Implications Karmic Fatalism:Karmic Fatalism:

The infant starving to death…is getting his The infant starving to death…is getting his just rewardjust reward..

"In practice, it means that neither Hinduism or Buddhism "In practice, it means that neither Hinduism or Buddhism in its classical formulation pays the slightest attention to in its classical formulation pays the slightest attention to what goes on in the world today.” what goes on in the world today.” 11

““Their dominant teaching has been that the wise man is Their dominant teaching has been that the wise man is he who seeks to be content with the world, to be he who seeks to be content with the world, to be released from attachment to it, but not …change it.” released from attachment to it, but not …change it.” 11

The Goal: release from “sickness of the mind”.The Goal: release from “sickness of the mind”. Not by performing “Good” vs. “Bad” works.Not by performing “Good” vs. “Bad” works. ““If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned

with right and wrong. The conflict between right and with right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is the sickness of the mindwrong is the sickness of the mind..”” Yun-Men, Buddhist Yun-Men, Buddhist

mastermaster (Oz Guiness, "The East: No Exit", p.221).(Oz Guiness, "The East: No Exit", p.221).

11 Zaehner, professor of Eastern Religions at Oxford University, quoted by Oz Zaehner, professor of Eastern Religions at Oxford University, quoted by Oz Guiness, “Dust of Death”.Guiness, “Dust of Death”.

Problems for American Problems for American AdherentsAdherents

You probably don’t know what you’re You probably don’t know what you’re talking about.talking about. ““George Lucas” Pantheism.George Lucas” Pantheism.

Expect to reincarnate as a Sudra or worse.Expect to reincarnate as a Sudra or worse. Not as “Philip of Macedonia”.Not as “Philip of Macedonia”. Not a “charming” doctrine.Not a “charming” doctrine.

Nirvana is Nirvana is not heavennot heaven.. Nirvana is equated with Nirvana is equated with emptiness.emptiness.

Not dissimilar to the Atheist's view of extinction.Not dissimilar to the Atheist's view of extinction. Are you a monk?Are you a monk?

The Christian Alternative The Christian Alternative ViewView

God is personal and God is personal and knowable!knowable! And because you are sons, God has sent And because you are sons, God has sent

forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4:6 (NASB)Galatians 4:6 (NASB)

Compare to the Eastern offering:Compare to the Eastern offering: "For it is an unbroken torture to me that I am "For it is an unbroken torture to me that I am

still so far from Him, who, as I fully know, still so far from Him, who, as I fully know, governs every breath of my life, and whose governs every breath of my life, and whose offspring I am." offspring I am." Ghandi, quoted by Rodenour, p.80Ghandi, quoted by Rodenour, p.80

The Christian Alternative The Christian Alternative ViewView

God is personal and God is personal and knowable!knowable! He paid for your sins Himself!He paid for your sins Himself!

You You don’t have to paydon’t have to pay for your own sins! for your own sins! ““having canceled out the certificate of having canceled out the certificate of

debt consisting of decrees against us, debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” cross.” Col. 2:14 (NASB-U)Col. 2:14 (NASB-U)

These Views are in These Views are in Opposition!Opposition!

Eastern thought has no authoritative Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!revelation! Brahman Brahman cannotcannot communicate. communicate. Relies Relies entirelyentirely on speculation: on speculation:

““For these good reasons the Buddha For these good reasons the Buddha maintained about Reality a ‘Noble Silence’” maintained about Reality a ‘Noble Silence’” 11

Is Siddhartha Gautama wrong?Is Siddhartha Gautama wrong? After a 40-day fast, could he be imagining?After a 40-day fast, could he be imagining? Could it be a 9-Fold Path? 10-Fold? 1-Fold?Could it be a 9-Fold Path? 10-Fold? 1-Fold?

1 Chapman, p.148 "The Case For Christianity", by Colin Chapman. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1981.


1.1. Eastern thought has no authoritative Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!revelation!

Only the BibleOnly the Bible claims to be inspired by claims to be inspired by God:God:““All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable

for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” 2 Tim. 3:16 training in righteousness…” 2 Tim. 3:16 (NASB-U)(NASB-U)



2.2. Eastern thought is Eastern thought is dogmatic dogmatic that “god” is an that “god” is an impersonal forceimpersonal force..

Can you know enough about “god” to be dogmatic Can you know enough about “god” to be dogmatic about this?about this?

The Bible says God is a The Bible says God is a personal beingpersonal being:: God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, “Thus God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, “Thus

you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' This is My name forever…to all generations.” you.' This is My name forever…to all generations.” Exodus 3:14-15 (NASB-U)Exodus 3:14-15 (NASB-U)




3.3. Eastern thought says you have to work your Eastern thought says you have to work your way to heaven.way to heaven.

The Bible says ‘no way’:The Bible says ‘no way’: ““Because by the works of the Law no flesh will Because by the works of the Law no flesh will

be justified in His sight;” be justified in His sight;” Romans 3:20 (NASB-U) Romans 3:20 (NASB-U)


1.1. Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!


3.3. Eastern thought says you have to work your way Eastern thought says you have to work your way to heaven.to heaven.

4.4. Eastern though views all religions as equal paths Eastern though views all religions as equal paths to God.to God.

But Jesus says:But Jesus says:Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no

one comes to the Father but through Me.one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 (NASB-U) John 14:6 (NASB-U)


1.1. Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!Eastern thought has no authoritative revelation!


3.3. Eastern thought says you have to work your way Eastern thought says you have to work your way to heaven.to heaven.

4.4. Eastern though views all religions as equal paths Eastern though views all religions as equal paths to God.to God.

But Jesus says:But Jesus says:Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no

one comes to the Father but through Me.one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 (NASB-U) John 14:6 (NASB-U)

“To maintain that all religions are paths leading to the same goal, as is so frequently done today, is to maintain something that is not true...they are simply not starting from the same premises. The great religions are at cross-purposes” Zaehner, Professor of Eastern Religions at Oxford University, quoted in Roddenhaur, “So What’s the Difference?”

From the East: Pantheism and Monism

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