The very first time I had the usage of “our god” and “their god” was from Christians in the US. My Mormon informant told me she grew up thinking God was Mormon.
I found this idea absurd because in India we grew up thinking that God is one i.e. thee is only one God. 1/n
I found this idea absurd because in India we grew up thinking that God is one i.e. thee is only one God. 1/n
This issue is actually the biggest divide between the Gods of monotheism and the Gods of pagans.
Gods of monotheism are untranslatable. Jehovah cannot be transformed to Shiva, Allah can only be Allah.
Whereas Gods of native cultures could be mapped to one another. 2/n
Gods of monotheism are untranslatable. Jehovah cannot be transformed to Shiva, Allah can only be Allah.
Whereas Gods of native cultures could be mapped to one another. 2/n
You will see in different parts of India there are local deities and they will be called as a form of Vishnu or a form of Shiva and so on. Tribal deities could also be mapped. This allowed for pluralistic mapping and respect for the local without erasure of native traditions.
3/n
3/n
In this system there are no “false gods.” Hence pluralism is inherent to it.
Abrahamic monotheism does not allow for translatable gods. “You shall have no gods before me” and “Allah has no partners” makes it necessary to destroy the deities of the “other” as false gods.
4/n
Abrahamic monotheism does not allow for translatable gods. “You shall have no gods before me” and “Allah has no partners” makes it necessary to destroy the deities of the “other” as false gods.
4/n
Abrahamic monotheism in that sense is “primitive” tribalism. (Though not really since since tribal deities are translatable.)
It is a form of ego projection into an exclusive jealous deity. Intolerance is thus inherent to it.
What is the Indic response to this?
5/n
It is a form of ego projection into an exclusive jealous deity. Intolerance is thus inherent to it.
What is the Indic response to this?
5/n
The Indic vision had moved beyond conflicting local deities to mapping with mutual respect.
So “religious conflict” of the Abrahamic kind was rare.
What then to do with those who invaded, brought conflict? This is what Guru Nanak is trying to answer.
So “religious conflict” of the Abrahamic kind was rare.
What then to do with those who invaded, brought conflict? This is what Guru Nanak is trying to answer.
How did the Indic traditions try to answer and respond? This will be picked up in the second part of the thread. If you want to know, ask, or try to guess below and I will respond in a few hours.
7/n
7/n
There is no good word. Since the split of the world is itself caused by the Mosaic distinction. There is not native vocabulary for it. Dharmic & adharmic? Doesn’t really map.
