America is not a Christian nation. We are, it is true, a nation founded by Christians, and according to a 2008 survey, 76 percent of us continue to identify as Christian (still, that’s the lowest percentage in American history). Of course, we are not a Hindu-or Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan-nation, either. A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on Earth. But recent poll data show that conceptually, at least, we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity.
A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur’an is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal. The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this. They learn in Sunday school that their religion is true, and others are false. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
Americans are no longer buying it. According to a 2008 Pew Forum survey, 65 percent of us believe that “many religions can lead to eternal life”-including 37 percent of white evangelicals, the group most likely to believe that salvation is theirs alone. Also, the number of people who seek spiritual truth outside church is growing. Thirty percent of Americans call themselves “spiritual, not religious,” according to a 2009 NEWSWEEK Poll, up from 24 percent in 2005. Stephen Prothero, religion professor at Boston University, has long framed the American propensity for “the divine-deli-cafeteria religion” as “very much in the spirit of Hinduism. You’re not picking and choosing from different religions, because they’re all the same,” he says. “It isn’t about orthodoxy. It’s about whatever works. If going to yoga works, great-and if going to Catholic mass works, great. And if going to Catholic mass plus the yoga plus the Buddhist retreat works, that’s great, too.”
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I think God would say to our nation “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” -Isaiah 55:2 We are sometimes far to easily comfortable with empty religion that we don’t seek out the truth.
Well I agree that all religions and avenues lead somewhere. Either live eternally in heaven or hell. That’s the problem. We have softened the repercussions of a life void of God. Too many “christians” don’t believe in the existence of hell, why should the nonchristians? The more comfortable and nice we continue to make God the less “need” there is for a life following Christ. Those of us with knowledge of the Truth need to realize that it really is about saving lives. Stand up for the true and living God and remember its about more than just comfort; its about keeping the lost from perishing in hell.
Breaks my heart, man.
Derek Webb sang:
“I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild.”
Seth,
The modern paradigm unfortunatly fits well with Hinduism. For to be a good Christian is to be a better Hindu (or Budhist). It is Maslow on steroids. Self actualization is the god of the age, the same god in the garden who deceived Adam and Eve.
Chris
If you dont love Gods presence then you will not be enjoying it for eternity.
Hi,
Had any hindu came to you and asked you to convert into hinduism. It is because he knows how you trust the god in which you believe to be. And even he believes it.
if you read only bible/quran. Definately you will not be able to understand anythng except them. Read other holy books and know what they speak about.
well vishal… Christianity is not about converting into it. If You believe in christ then you are a christian(follower of christ). If not you are not. Its about believing that there is only one true god one way rather than a million.
A christian wont ask you to convert but will ask you only to believe in christ so that you can be saved from eternal damnation from disbelief.
Hi
Its our narrow thinking. Christinity or Hinduism is a religion not spirituality. Being a Christian if some one doesn’t understand the deep meaning of Jesus “No man comes to the Father except by him”. In the path of spirituality, there are many ways but it goes to only one i.e. one God. Ang reaching to Father (God) who is the Creater, we have to go through a Great Teacher who has realized him.
“What is Religion”.. I think its a way to live Life and let other live their lives…with Peace,brotherhood and Humanity. and by doing that.,try to achieve the true blessings of Almighty God.
(This is what our Hinduism is all about.)
God has gifted all of us with power of thinking and also make us free to adopt what once inner concise asked him to follow.
so one should not be a Hardliner in the regard of religion and respect them all, as one does his own.
I want to thank American people for their open mindedness, flexible and rational approach to the issue.
GOD IS GREAT.
!!! JAI SHRI RAM!!!
There is no such place like heaven or hell.Its shear igmorence of people.The way to god goes throuh Jesus.Then why borned so late.Why.he didn’t think a?bout people borned earlier
There is no such place like heaven or hell.Its shear igmorence of people.The way to god goes throuh Jesus.Then why he borned so late.Why he didn’t think about people borned earlier
Every real Christians are saying believing Jesus will save . you are just believing Jesus will save .. What if your belief fails
My dear brother you have to know the reality of this universe without knowing real self how can you believe a thing blindly .. Knowing god is the identity of Hinduism. Hinduism is not single belief my brother. Any way sanathana dharmam is not a belief. It was is knowing gods nature
I saw some Christians they are friendly in nature they believe only one way to survive.
As a hindhu i believe this universe has got infinite ways for us we don’t have to survive .. We have our choice to know god in infinite ways
After several years of research, I have written a book “JESUS MYSTERY RESOLVED”. I have shown that Jesus had preached cent per cent Hinduism. He had preached the Hindu Three-person Trinity comprising Lords Brahma(Father Abraham), Vishnu, the living god & Siva,the Holy Ghost or Spirit along with the Compassionate mother-Goddess Durga and the word-God AUM. He had also preached the Hindu Doctrine of re-births combined with the Hindu Law of Karma and also the Hindu Doctrine of Salvation.
Will you get my book published in the US ?
You said you reserched years
Then who is the Father Abraham in the trinity
I am a Christian and we know the trinity as Father,Jesus,and the holy spirit. you don’t even know who Abraham is
Most Respected Seth Barnes,
Thank you very very much for your query.
All Christian Texts were destroyed by Emperor Diocletian in @ 303 AD and when a fresh Bible was being compiled under the patronage of Emperor Constantine, one Bishop Alexander has “distorted beyond recognition”, the Hindu Trinity that was preached by Jesus to your present Trinity, The Father, Jesus & The holy Spirit.
In fact, one Father Arius had objected resulting in “The Arian Controversy” that shook the Christian world to its foundations. But Father Arius and his supporters were excommunicated and a wrong Trinity was thrust upon the Christian masses with horrendous cruelty by Emperor Constantine-Bishop Alexander duo. .
I am attaching to “Chap 3 -Jesus & Hinduism” of my book “JESUS MYSTERY RESOLVED” for your perusal.[Alternative Title for my book could have been “JESUS HAD PREACHED HINDUISM”].
Can you urgently help me get a suitable Publisher for my book ?
Highest regards,
MOHAN HOSKOTE
Respected Mr. Seth Barnes,
Your Question : You said you researched years
Then who is the Father Abraham in the trinity
I am a Christian and we know the trinity as Father,Jesus,and the holy spirit. you don’t even know who Abraham is
Ans : The Hindu Trinity comprises :
(1) Lord Brahma(Abraham), the Father of all creation, (2) Lord Vishnu, the god of the living or the living god & (3) Lord Siva, the Holy Ghost or Spirit in Biblical vocabulary.