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DEVILS- Christians lies
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Hinduism Is Of The Devil

By David J. Stewart -http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Hinduism/hinduism.htm

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." -1st Corinthians 10:20

preacher-invert.gif       In 2010, Hollywood actress Julia Roberts shamefully converted over to Hinduism. This is so sad. Just as golfer Tiger Woods (who is a devout member of Buddhism), Roberts will find out in eternity that there is NO forgiveness of sins in either Hinduism or Buddhism. Neither Buddha not the multiple gods of Hinduism can save anybody. The Bible proclaims that there's NO salvation in any other name than the precious NAME OF JESUS CHRIST...

Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (King James Bible)

Biblically, faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. Hinduism is a lie of the Devil and a certain path to the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Hinduism's gods cannot save you from the judgment of God.

Hindus argue that they are not polytheists, teaching that their thousands of gods are merely expressionsof their one god, Brahma. Someone has likened Hinduism's gods to the rays of the sun, which are not the sun, but are emitted by the sun. Hinduism teaches that Brahma is the creator (who is one of Hinduism's three major deities (a trinity) from which all other deities originate. Clearly, Hinduism is a poor imitation of Biblical Christianity.

If Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, why are Hindus so poor?

Hinduism says that a man can be poor in one life and wealthy in the next. Well, how many reincarnations does it take? Look around! Most East Indians are cane-cutters, living in poor houses.

Look at India, it's the most miserable country in the world! There are more rats than people, and such poverty and disease! People are starving in India, while the rats get fat and the sacred cows die of old age!

That's what Hinduism's gods and reincarnation have done for India.

Some heretics claim that the teaching of the Trinity existed in ancient times, which proves that Christianity didn't come first. Yes, the trinity doctrine does appear in numerous pagan religions; however, such unlearned students make the mistake of assuming the Christianity began with Jesus Christ's earthly life and ministry. Christianity began way back in the Book of Genesis with the first born-again Christian. We know that Abel was saved, who offered up a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4), demonstrative of his faith in the coming Lamb of God Who would one day wash away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Genesis 15:6 records that Abram (later named Abraham by God) believed the Lord and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Abraham lived approximately 2,000 B.C.

In Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Notice that God is spoken of in plural... US and OUR. The Bible teaches that there is a GODHEAD (God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit - Matthew 28:19-20). Albeit, the trinity of Hinduism's Brahma is completely different and foreign from what the Bible teaches. Jesus Christ is part of the Biblical Godhead; whereas Hinduism does NOT recognize Jesus Christ at all. Colossians 2:9 in the King James Bible plainly teaches that the fulness of the GODHEAD dwelt bodily in the flesh of Jesus Christ. Hinduism is a lie of Satan.

Hinduism has no official set of principles nor official headquarters (as verses Roman Catholicism in Rome, or the Jehovah Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York). Hinduism appeals to many unsaved people (non-Christian) because they can get to Heaven (so they falsely think) by being a good, kind and generous person. You can be an immoral Hollywood actress like Julia Roberts, and still be accepted in Hinduism. Hinduism is perfect for rich sinful people, who think they can donate millions-of-dollars to help homeless children and still earn their way into Heaven in spite of their immoral lives. THE TRUTH is that they'll split Hell wide open upon their last dying breath (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9). Ye must be born again (John 3:5). There is no other way to be saved!

Hinduism was admittedly formed by SEERS who dabbled in familiar spirits. Hinduism is a Satanic religion, evidenced when Hindus spread cow manure across their floor, thinking that such bizarre sicko behavior will bring the blessings of the false gods...

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus. It is the oldest of all living religions. Hinduism is not a man-made religion. It was not founded by any single person. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It was not started as a system, like Islam or Christianity. It is the product of the seers of the Vedas. It was developed from age to age by the teachings of Avataras, Rishis, Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and the Itihasas. It will exist as long as the world lasts. There is a peculiar, mysterious spiritual force that is ingrained in the heart of every Hindu.

Hinduism is also known by the names Sanatana Dharma and Vaidika Dharma. Sanatana Dharma means eternal religion, the Ancient Law. Vaidika Dharma means the religion of the Vedas. The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of Hinduism.

A Religion of Freedom

Hinduism allows absolute freedom to the rational mind of man. Hinduism never demands any undue restraint upon the freedom of human reason, the freedom of thought, feeling and will of man.

Hinduism is a religion of freedom. It allows the widest freedom in matters of faith and worship. It allows absolute freedom to the human reason and heart with regard to questions such as the nature of God, soul, creation, form of worship, and goal of life. It does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship. It allows everybody to reflect, investigate, enquire and cogitate. Hence, all sorts of religious faiths, various forms of worship or Sadhana, diverse kinds of rituals and customs, have found their honourable place side by side within Hinduism, and are cultured and developed in harmonious relationship with one another.

Hinduism, unlike other religions, does not dogmatically assert that the final emancipation is possible only through its means and not through any other. It is only a means to an end, and all means which will ultimately lead to the end are equally approved.

SOUND: Hinduism

As you've just read, Hinduism is a New World Order religion, promoting unity between all denominations and faiths. Only Biblical Christianity is INTOLERANT of other faiths. The reason is because religion is not God's plan of salvation. The world's religions are saturated with false prophets who teach self-righteousness instead of the Word of God from the Bible.

Who's going to condemn you since Hindus have no official dogma nor headquarters? Anything goes in Hinduism!!! Hindus deny being merely a religion. They also lean heavily upon culture and tradition. Biblically, Hinduism is a false religion of Satan. 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 plainly teaches us that Satan is a deceiver and also his ministers of unrighteousness, appearing as the good guys. Honestly, Hinduism makes people do crazy things. Hindu's view all life as sacred, especially cows. If a cow is laying in the road, they'll sit in traffic waiting for hours for the animal to move. I'd make ground beef out of the cow.

The Bible warns us about ANOTHER gospel, ANOTHER Jesus and ANOTHER spirit in 2nd Corinthians 11:3. Hinduism is a demonic religion which denies Jesus as the Christ entirely, denies the Bible as God's inspired Words and teaches a false way. In Hinduism you get to make up your own beliefs...

"The doctrine of the chosen deity gives a person the freedom to choose (or invent) a form of Brahman that satisfies his spiritual cravings and to make it the object of his worship."

SOURCE: Too Many Gods: Why do Hindus have so many deities?

Each member of Hinduism is encouraged to choose whichever deity (there are thousands to chose from) they feel comfortable with and then develop (invent) their own form of

kaliThis is Kali (pictured to the left), one of the millions of gods of Hinduism. She is the murderous, blood-thirsty consort to Shiva, another god, who is laying down in this picture. She dances on top of him and sometimes squats down on his poo-poo (called a lingham). Hindus worship Shiva and his poo-poo/lingham as you will read in this article. 

Other names for Kali include: Kali Ma, The Dark Goddess, Dark Mother, Kalika, The Black Goddess, Kali the Destroyer, Consort of Shiva, Dancing Lady of Death. Notice she holds weapons and a severed head and a bowl to catch the blood in. Her jewelry is dismembered bodies, her necklace severed heads, her skirt is made of severed arms. 

You know this is of the devil. According to Hinduism, within the human body Kali is the Kundalini, the "Serpent Power," the key to liberation--if properly controlled. If not, the Kundalini will do great mental and bodily harm. Whether they know it or not, Hinduism ALWAYS does spiritual harm. Hinduism knows nothing of a God of love.

The following overview of Hinduism is based on "Death of a Guru" by Rabi R. Maharaj, the powerful testimony of a former Hindu guru. This book can be ordered at www.christianbook.com, ISBN 0-89081-434-1. The synopsis on the back of the book reads thus,

"A New Updated Edition of a Poignant Autobiography
Death of a Guru"

Rabi R. Maharaj was descended from a long line of Brahmin priests and gurus and trained as a Yogi. He meditated for many hours each day, but gradually disillusionment set in [he saw a bunch of hypocrisy in those ashrams]. He describes vividly and honestly Hindu life and customs, tracing his difficult search for meaning and his struggle to choose between Hinduism and Christ.

At a time when Eastern mysticism, religion and philosophy fascinate many in the West, Maharaj offers fresh and important insights from the perspective of his own experience."

When I read a book, I almost always underline and write in the margins. Death of a Guru was no exception. This article is based on the book and includes some of the tenets of Hinduism, the inconsistencies, the strong intercourse with devils, and some of the questions that arose in a devout Hindu's mind. Death of a Guru was a GOOD book and easy to read. The true story of one man's conversion from a devil worshipper to an on-fire follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.  For those that would contend with me, this book was not my introduction to Hinduism. 

I've known two Hindu women--one of them was a Hindu dancer that I met in college another was a co-worker from some years ago. We had more than cursory relationships and I was able to see their confused philosophy, I learned of their beliefs and I told them both about Jesus--my college friend eventually professed faith in Christ. The co-worker once showed me a tiny little picture (maybe 1" X 2") of little two idol statues and said, "This is my god and his wife" (it must have been Shiva and Kali which I didn't know at the time). 

Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and IslamIt claims about 950 million followers -- about 14% of the world's population. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Estimates of the number of Hindus in the U.S. vary greatly:

  • Our estimate, for mid-2010, is 1.5 million.

  • According to the "Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches," there were about 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S. during 1999.

  • The "American Religious Identification Survey" is believed to under-estimate the numbers of Hindus because of communications problems with non-English speaking households. They estimated: 766,000 Hindus in 2001 and 1.2 million in 2008.

Statistics Canada estimates that there were about 157,015 Hindus in Canada during 2001. Unfortunately, they only update these numbers once each decade.

SOURCE: HINDUISM: The world's third largest religion

I found it hard to believe that she actually believed that. I told her that the true God cannot be seen in a picture. He's too big. He's a Spirit. The Bible says the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. Hindus don't worship the God of heaven, they worship idols...

Who are the gods/spirits/forces that Hindus invite to come into them through nyasa (a ceremonial act to call a "deity" (a devil) into the worshipper's body) and Yoga and meditation?

they are devils...

Many ignorant people go to yoga classes. You cannot separate the devil from yoga! The only kind of meditation Christians are supposed to do is meditating on God's word. Not clearing your mind out so a devil can come in!

For Hindu friends that read this. The true God is a holy, loving and compassion God. He is also a just God that will not fellowship with the darkness and sinfulness of the human heart. All the pujas and holy baths in the world won't clean your heart. Yoga will never cleanse your deceitful heart.  Karma won't do it. There is only ONE remedy ... the blood of Jesus.

God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and now He ever liveth to make intercession for those that believe on Him. Life is not Maya, it is not an illusion. It is real. You will die ONE time and that's it. You will either go to Heaven or Hell. There is no reincarnation. Repent of your unbelief and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

You need to forsake ALL the gods of Hinduism. All paths DO NOT lead to God. Jesus said, "I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME." There is only ONE way to God--Jesus. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). The Lord Jesus will live inside of you and commune with you now and forever more. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:3). You need a new birth. Not a new physical body, a new SPIRITUAL birth that will make you a new person on the INSIDE, NOT THE OUTSIDE. 

It does not matter if you are a Brahmin, or an Untouchable in the Hindu caste system. God is NO respecter of persons.  See How to get eternal life. You don't have to seek mystical experiences as an escape from daily life (which Hindu philosophy calls "Maya," an illusion). King Jesus will give you THE POWER to face life and live for God. He doesn't give superficial peace, He gives REAL peace. Forsake anything that would hold you back from a relationship with the true God.

hinganes.jpgIn India, Hindus worship a pantheon consisting of MILLIONS of gods including the sun, cows, their own self, etc. Because they see some of their gods in meditation and in apparitions, they assume that their gods are the real gods. The Bible says even the Devil will transform himself into an angel of light (2nd Corinthians 11:14). These gods do not love people. 

They superstitiously try to appease the gods to keep away wrath and bad luck and also to get some good luck (e.g. Lakshmi is the goddesses of wealth and prosperity). These gods are not the Hindu's friends, they are not saviours and they do not forgive any sins. Some Hindus consider Santa Claus the fake Christian god. 

Santa Claus has nothing to do with the Bible; but everything to do with the Devil. What deception covers the whole world! Hindus have their favorite gods--no one could give attention to every one of the millions gods--they pick and choose which to worship. 

There is much hypocrisy in Hinduism. Gurus say wealth is bad but they are rich, while their adherents are in poverty. They take vows of celibacy but they fornicate with the girls that visit the temples. They talk of self-realization (realizing that you are god), but in actuality they are SELFish. The transgressions of gurus are oftentimes overlooked because "karma will work it out in the end." Hinduism teaches that taking any life is wrong (your great grandma could be a fly or a gnat or a snake, or a rabbit), yet some of them are found cooking up curried goat.

The Hindu is seeking liberation from the illusion of individual existence. You are to recognize that you are indeed god of the universe. As a Hindu, Rabi looked in a mirror and worshipped himself as god. Krishna promised this realization to the one that practiced Yoga--not that you are becoming a god, but that you are actually a god, you just having to realize it.

What a ridiculous thing. Also, only people in the four Hindu castes were god--why then are so many Westerners accepted in Hinduism (they got that cash money that the gurus like)? Hindus keep pictures of gurus in order to worship them.  Romans 1 says they worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever--amen. Jeremiah Films has some videos on "the godmen of the east," the gurus. Those that take Hinduism to its "logical" conclusion become insane--and they are supposed to be the most holy gurus.

Hinduism is exclusive, though they also claim all paths lead to God. Rabi's mother taught him that Hinduism is the oldest and greatest and only true religion. Of course, that is not true. A Christian can trace worship of the true God back to the very first man ever made, Adam. 
 

Guru: "A Hindu teacher who helps people get off wheel of reincarnation." 

Gurus are worshipped. Rabi's father was a guru that went crazy. Rabi was a guru and loved being worshipped--people bowed down before him and gave him gifts. He donned a fake humility but loved the admiring eyes and hearts.  He loved the fragrant floral garlands hanging around his neck. He liked people looking up to him. He sat looking in the mirror worshipping his own self. He said he was Brahman and this world was created by his own thoughts. 

In Yogic trances, he felt at one with the universe, but in real life things were the opposite. In theory, he called reality an illusion; but real life cannot be dismissed that easily. Bills got to be paid, marriages made, etc. If they lived out their theory, they would be labeled insane. In spite of his Hindu training, Rabi kept seeing God as the Creator, distinct and separate from his creation--this was a conflict that could not be reconciled with Hinduism. His religion was beautiful in theory; but, there was no application with everyday life. If "all is god" then Brahman was evil and good, death and life, hatred and love. 

That made EVERYTHING meaningless and life an absurdity. If good and evil are the same then all karma was the same and nothing mattered, so why be religious?  If this reasoning was Maya, or an illusion--as the Vedas taught--then how could Rabi trust any concept, including that all was Maya and only Brahman was real? To accept Hinduism one has to deny what reason tells them. That seemed to deify confusion as the Ultimate reality. The Lord of Heaven put in Rabi's soul that he was deluded and that God is a loving, kind God who is concerned with His creatures. Rabi didn't feel he could trust any of the Hindu gods and not one of them loved him. 
 

Puja: Means "adoration". It is ceremonial worship to the gods.

Hindus give flowers, fruit, cloth, water, and money to the gods. They can get so busy doing pujas that they fall behind in their temporal responsibilities. The God of the Bible, on the other hand, says to worship Him BY performing your daily duties--as a man. Take care of your family, and work diligently for your employer. As a woman, keep up your home, love your husband and children. As a child, honour your parents. 
 

Pundits: a Brahmin learned in Hinduism.

He gives advice and performs different rituals and ceremonies. Not all Brahmins are pundits. Some Pundits are among the wealthiest of Hindus. They make their money off the poor who want them to say pujas and blessings on them. They'll say good luck pujas for hundreds of people to win the same lottery. 
 

The Bhagavad-Gita is the Book of books in Hinduism.

Brahman: He is all gods rolled into One.

He is supposedly the ultimate reality: formless, inexpressible, unknowable, and unknowing. Neither personal nor impersonal; both Creator and all that is created. Absurdity. Brahman is all and all is Braham--whether a leaf, a bug, a star, a rat, a leech. Rabi could not fathom this and was told that like other humans he was a "victim" of maya--the illusion that he was not god. In actuality, he had to OVERRIDE what the true God was telling him--that God is outside of His creation and INFINITELY GREATER than all of it. Hindus seek the "true Self" that lies within--that they are INDEED god. They are working themselves up to believe that. That is what Hinduism is. Deceiving yourself into believing you are god. Everything from an ant, to a snake to a man to a tree is the One Being, god. People just don't realize they are god. They must find this out through meditation. 
 

Ramayana: An epic showing Rama representing good and Ravana evil.

But how can one sense good and evil when all was One, all was Brahman?

No peace: In Yogic trances, the Hindu is Lord of the universe, but when he comes back to reality, the same unrest and uncertainty appears. The trick is to retain this transcendent consciousness when not meditating. Of course, this is impossible so therefore those who are serious have only one hope--to withdraw entirely from the world of illusion.  That's what Rabi's father did. For the last eight years of his life, he let somebody change your diaper and feed him while he sat there doing nothing but staying in a trance and remaining silent as he remained on the board that was his bed.  People would come to give him gifts and look at him. 

They considered him highly exalted, a madman. The peace experienced in meditation so easily deserted Rabi; but the occult (devil) forces that Yoga aroused, lingered on outside of the trances. They began to manifest themselves in public.  He knew that without these displays of the supernatural his following would never be very great. He welcomed their help. 

People would sense brightness and experience inner illumination when he touched them on the forehead, in bestowing his blessing. He was only 13 years old and administering the "Shakti pat."  Shakti is one of the names for Kali, Shiva's murderous, blood- drinking consort. This Shakti pat can make people fall out. This is just like the "slaying in the spirit" that many churches are doing today. That "slaying in the spirit" is not in the Bible but that practice is certainly in Hinduism. East meets apostate "Christianity".

It goes without saying that Hindus do not know the God of love. They do not know the God that wants a relationship with us. They are unhappy, they have no help in life. No forgiveness of sin. Hindus may say that we are dogmatic for proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to God but they are just as dogmatic when they claim that reincarnation and karma will eventually bring all people to Krishna--whether religious or not. 
 

Maya: Illusion.

Hinduism teaches that all of man's experiences are an illusion, Maya. Since Brahman is the only Reality, all else is illusion.  In other words everything around us is an illusion. Deal with a problem by denying that it exists. "Oh, it's only Maya." This is one of the tenets of Christian Science though they don't call it Maya. Christian Science says sickness is an illusion.  You just think you are sick. To escape Maya, you've got to meditate yourself into a fairy world to be in reality. But when they come out of meditation fairy world, they find the world (and themselves) just as they were before they went into fairy world. Hinduism says poverty is supposedly more spiritual because riches are part of the illusion of ignorance--but why was Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and prosperity if possessions were "evil" or merely Maya? 
 

Yoga: Lord Krishna taught Arjuna there was nothing more important than the practice of yoga.

There are different types of yoga. It is a spiritual exercise to get the Hindu in union with Brahman. Yoga takes the Hindu to other realms of consciousness totally unrelated to his temporal world. Through yoga, Hindus experience the power of devil spirits who guide them and give them psychic powers. These devils are real and are not imaginary. Yoga is an aid to eastern meditation. It deals with the physical position of the body, breathing, and renouncing all desires. 

Clearing your brains of everything so the devil can take over. It is designed to specifically induce a state of trance to get you yoked up to Brahman. Yoga is a means of withdrawal from the world of illusion (reality) to seek the "only true Reality" (the realm of foul spirits). People may say, "It's only exercise". NO PART OF YOGA CAN BE SEPARATED FROM THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT. Rabi's father became a yogi just days after Rabi was conceived. As a result, Rabi never heard a single word from his father who was continually in a trance-like state induced by yoga. 

This was once considered a form of insanity (it still is insanity, possessed by a dumb spirit). As a result of reading the Bhagavad-Gita, Rabi's dad made vows which included never talking to anyone again. Like the little stone idols, Rabi's father did nothing physically for himself. He was a god to be taken care of, washed, fed and changed. He did nothing for himself or his family. Many of the godmen of India make strange vows--some put cows dung in their hair, cremation ashes on themselves, some walk around naked, etc. 

Though Rabi was taught his father was holy and he respected him, but he still had an intense, gnawing hunger for a relationship with his father. His father never acknowledged any human presence. His father was totally possessed, he was past the use of mantras. He was totally reprobate crazy. See www.jeremiahfilms.com for the video "Invasion of the godmen". 
 

hinshiv3.jpgTranscendental meditation: The heart of Yoga.

It can be a frightening experience for the adherent. Frightening psychic experiences awaited the unwary meditator, similar to a bad trip on drugs. Devils described in the Vedas were known to take possession of some Yogis. Kundalini power, said to be coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine, could produce ecstatic experiences when released in deep meditation or, if not properly controlled, do great mental and even bodily harm. 

In his trances, Rabi would hear "heavenly" music, see psychedelic colors, do astral travel, and have spirit visitations. He often saw Shiva sitting there with that malevolent snake around his neck. It is a fine line between horror and ecstasy.  Rabi met the horrible devils depicted by images in Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, and other religious temples. Rabi was EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS and a family devil took over him driving him to beat others. 
 

Cows: One of the many gods of Hinduism.

People in India are starving to death, meanwhile cows are walking around the street eating good and being worshipped by man. Romans chapter 1 says the served the creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever, amen. One day Rabi was worshipping a cow when that heifer CHARGED HIM. It shook him up. His god attacked him although he'd always treated her with kindness. The Lord will use incidents like that as He strives with the spirit of man. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 
 

hinshiv2.jpgFear: Rabi was scared of many gods including Shiva and Kali. 

He was so scared of Shiva that he worshipped him extra in order to appease him. But he still couldn't find peace with this god known as the Destroyer. In meditation he'd find himself in another world with Shiva and the thing was always threatening. As Rabi went about his daily routine those devils he worshipped would be slapping him around and causing him accidents.  They hated his guts and wanted him dead. 
 

Mantras: Used in meditation.

The meaning of the words is not so important, rather it is the vibrations that they create that are the chief way of attracting "the deities" (devils). The Bible calls this vain repetition. They repeat the same words over and over in Sanskrit, the language of the gods. More important than understanding the meaning was to correctly articulate the Sanskrit sounds. The gods come through the vibrations, not through your understanding of what you are saying. That's why Buddhism teaches people Japanese mantras but doesn't tell them what the words mean. People just go on like an ox to the slaughter not exercising any discernment. 
 

Meditation: technique for detaching oneself from the world of things and ideas (from Maya) through freeing one's mind from all voluntary or rational thought.

This projects one into "higher" states of consciousness. In these "higher states" one can visit the secret universe of strange planets and "ascended masters." This is actually only a trick from the Satan to keep you in a fairy land while he gains more and more possession of your soul. Adherents enter meditation while fixing their gaze on one spot until they loose contact with the world around them. 
 

Guru: A teacher of Hinduism, he is supposedly a manifestation of Brahman.

Every Hindu must follow a guru to reach Self-realization. 
 

Reincarnation: The process of being physically born again.

Birth, death, re-birth. In the east, a curse, in the west a blessing to come back and sin some more. 
 

Karma: There is no forgiveness in Hinduism--only karma.

If you do wrong you will pay for it in the next life--this is working out your karma your punishment for sin. Each person MUST suffer for his sins. If someone is suffering in this life, it is assumed they are paying for some evil they've done in their past life--even though they don't remember what they did wrong. That's why they can walk by some low caste member who is dying on the street and feel nothing. Karma is the law of cause and effect which determines destiny/fate. For every thought, word or deed karma produces an inevitable effect. 

Karma necessitates reincarnation so you can pay for the sins you've done in your past life. Rabi once knocked over a Krishna idol (god) on the floor and wanted to say "Sorry" but he knew no apology would be accepted. The unchangeable law of karma forbade it. He would have to continue on the wheel of reincarnation. One transgression will keep you in the system. 

Reincarnation is a CURSE to the real Hindu. In the west, it makes people happy to think they can come back and sin some more. If that brass figure was god, why did it fall so easy? Why do Hindus have to carefully wrap their gods and put them up for safekeeping? Because they are no gods. 
 

Caste: A cruel system supported by Krishna in the Gita--probably devised by the Aryan invaders of India in order to keep the darker skinned Dravidians they conquered in quiet subjection.

The four castes are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra. The doctrines of karma and reincarnation followed naturally, teaching that lower castes by accepting their lot in life could improve in the next life. The Untouchables were below caste and thus outside the religious system of Hinduism. The God of the Bible, the true God, is no respecter of persons.  Anyone who will repent and love the Lord will be saved. 
 

Prejudice: All of Rabi's life he nursed a deep hatred for black people, because they ate his god the cow.

He counted them lower than the lowest caste. Eventually he went to high school with them. His interaction with blacks, whites, and Orientals made him question his beliefs. According to the Vedas there are only four castes created from the body of Brahma--so there was no basis for even the EXISTENCE of anyone else in the world.

Yet he saw with his eyes many other types of people. How did they come into existence? Why weren't they mentioned in the Hindu scriptures? Why couldn't they get salvation through Yoga and reincarnation? They were lower than the Untouchables and without hope according to his religion. Yet he found that they were in no way inferior to him. One day he received a flurry of questions at school that began to rock him...

"Is it true that Hindus believe everything is god?"
"Yes." 
"You mean a fly is god, or an ant, or a stinkbug?" 
"You laughin' because you don't understand. You see only the illusion but don't see the One Reality-- Brahman." 
"Are you god?" 
"Yes, and so are all Hindus. They just need to realize it." 
"How're you going to 'realize' what isn't true? You didn't create the world!" 
"I hear you're a vegetarian--don't believe in taking any life..." 
"I believe in no-violence. Like Gandhi. Everybody respects him. He was a great Hindu! It's wrong to take life." 
"Any life?" 
"All life is sacred. The Vedas say so." 
"Don't you know that even vegetables have the seven characteristics of life? Vegetarians take life too." "How about when he boils water for his tea? Think of all the millions of bacteria he kills then! Poor, helpless little animals--that's what they are. You know, they evolve and reincarnate upwards--eventually into cows and humans!" "Gosh, he's a regular murderer!" 
Rabi went home and grazed the cow and asked her, "You are a god, aren't you?" She just said "Moo." 
On another school day, the question arose, 
"If Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, why are Hindus so poor?" 
"A man can be poor in one life and wealthy in the next." 
"How many reincarnations does it take? Look around! Most East Indians are cane-cutters, living in poor houses...." "Look at India--it's the most miserable country in the world! ...There are more rats than people, and such poverty and disease!" "People are starving in India, while the rats get fat and the sacred cows die of old age! That's what her gods and reincarnation have done for India." 
 

Ahimsa: The doctrine of nonviolence toward all life.

Hindus believe that insects and animals, through good karma, evolve upward to become humans--and that humans through bad karma, can become animals or insects again. Therefore it would be cannibalism to eat meat. Ahimsa is not consistent with the Hindu scriptures or practice. Many Hindus will still make animal sacrifices and kill during war. Some even sacrifice their firstborn though this is not often mentioned. Hindus have, however, consistently refrained from killing cows.

hinlinga.gifLingam: phallic emblem of the god Shiva.

In other words they worship his poo-poo. Adherents will lay down prostrate before a large poo-poo.


Superstition: "My world was filled with spirits and gods and occult powers, and my obligation from childhood was to give each its due."


Supernatural manifestations: Objects may fly without any seen cause.

Physical attacks by unseen hands. Apparitions. I knew a woman studying Buddhism and I asked her about manifestations and she said "just an ashtray flew across the room."


Other notes in the book: wife-beating quite common, p. 21, child sacrifice is known p. 22, powerful sorcerers are revered and feared p. 23. Rabi's grandfather seemed possessed of a devil. He had supernatural strength, anger and cunning p. 47. They had familiar spirits in objects such as a a stone p. 23. Some witches even have familiars in animals or plants. All these groups are tied together by one factor--the devil.

SOURCE



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Rick Rood gives us an understanding of this major world religion which is becoming more a part of the American scene with the growth of a Hindu immigrant population.  Taking a biblical worldview perspective, he highlights the major differences between Hinduism and Christianity.

Though Hinduism may seem far removed from our everyday experience, it’s becoming increasingly important that we as Christians understand this mysterious religion from India. This is so, if for no other reason than that Hinduism claims 1/6 of the world’s population, with over 750 million followers worldwide. But it’s also important because its influence is being felt more and more in our own country.

Most of us have had at least some exposure to what has become known as the New Age movement. If so, we have probably realized that Hinduism is the wellspring of a good deal of New Age thinking. Most of us are probably also aware than an increasing number of Asian Indians are residing in the U.S. We may be surprised, in fact, to learn that there are approximately 200 Hindu temples or Hindu centers in the U.S. Many believe that due to its eclectic nature, Hinduism has the potential to serve as a major vehicle for uniting much of the non-Christian religious world.

The appeal of Hinduism to Western culture is not difficult to comprehend. For one, Hinduism is comfortable with evolutionary thinking. As modern science emphasizes our physical evolution, so Hinduism emphasizes our spiritual evolution. As much of modern psychology emphasizes the basic goodness and unlimited potential of human nature, so Hinduism emphasizes man’s essential divinity. As modern philosophy emphasizes the relativity of all truth claims, so Hinduism tolerates many seemingly contradictory religious beliefs. As a religion that also emphasizes the primacy of the spiritual over material reality, Hinduism appeals to many who are disillusioned with strictly material pursuits.

Though there are some core beliefs common to virtually all Hindus, there really is no “Hindu orthodoxy”–no hard and fast dogma that all Hindus must believe. It’s actually a family of gradually developing beliefs and practices.

Hinduism has its roots in the interrelationship of two basic religious systems: that of the ancient civilization residing in the Indus River Valley from the third millennium B.C., and the religious beliefs brought to India by the Aryan people (possibly from the Baltic region) who began infiltrating the Indus Valley sometime after 2000 B.C.

The religion of the Aryans is described in the writings of “holy men” contained in the Vedas (meaning “knowledge” or “wisdom”). The Vedas are four collections of writings composed between about 1500 and 500 B.C., which form the basis for Hindu beliefs, and which reveal a gradual development of religious ideas. The later sections of the Vedas are known as the Upanishads. These Vedic writings are considered inspired. Later Hindu writings, including the renowned Bhagavad Gita, are of lesser authority, but widely popular.

Hinduism: A Christian Perspective 

Hindu Beliefs About God And the World

An understanding of the Hindu beliefs about God is important even if we don’t know any Hindus or people from India because we are all in contact with the New Age movement, and it draws its ideas about God from Hinduism. What then do Hindus believe about God?

The early portions of the Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas describe a number of deities who for the most part are personifications of natural phenomena, such as storms and fire. Prayers and sacrifices were offered to these gods. An extensive system of priestly rituals and sacrifices was eventually developed which served as means of obtaining the blessing of these gods.

The later portions of the Vedas, called the Upanishads, reflect a significant development in Hinduism’s concept of the divine. Many of the Upanishads, instead of speaking of a multitude of gods, refer to an ultimate reality beyond our comprehension called Brahman. Though Brahman is impersonal in nature, it is sometimes referred to in personal terms by the name Isvara.

Along with this idea of a single divine reality, the Upanishads also teach that at the core of our being (referred to as “Atman”) we are identical with this ultimate reality.

A popular saying in Hinduism is “Atman is Brahman!” In fact, all living things are Brahman at their innermost core! In addition, instead of ritual sacrifice, intuitive knowledge of the oneness of all things came to be endorsed as the way of contact with divine reality. Also found in the Upanishads is the teaching that the material world (including our conscious personalities) is less than fully real. The word “maya” is used to designate the power by which God, or ultimate reality, brought this less than real world into existence.

Though this monistic or pantheistic philosophy provided a comprehensive intellectual understanding of the divine reality for Hindus, it lacked a strong appeal to the heart. As a result, just before the dawn of the Christian era, a great transformation occurred in Hinduism, spurred particularly by the writing of the Bhagavad Gita, the “New Testament” of Hinduism. The Gita records a conversation between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna (who is unveiled as an incarnation of the god Vishnu), in which personal devotion to deity is endorsed as a way of salvation for all classes of people.

From this time forward, these two major streams of Hindu thought and practice grew and developed–the more intellectual and philosophical stream that emphasized the oneness of all things, and the stream that emphasized personal devotion to a god. The latter stream has predominated among the common people of India to this present day. Chief among the gods so venerated are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). In India there are many temples devoted to Shiva (or to one of his “wives,” such as Kali), or to Vishnu (or to one of his ten incarnations known as avatars). All in all, it is often stated that Hinduism claims 330 million gods and goddesses!

One might wonder how such a multitude of beliefs about the divine could possibly co-exist in one religion. But they do. There is, however, a widespread recognition that none of the personal gods of Hinduism is in any way exclusive or unique. They are all simply different ways of conceiving of the one reality behind all things– Brahman.

Foundational Hindu Beliefs

Next we must turn our attention to two core beliefs of Hindus: (a) what they believe about the source of evil and suffering and (b) what they believe about life after death.

The first of these core beliefs is the doctrine of karma. The word karma means “action.” But the religious concept has more to do with the results or consequences of actions. The doctrine of karma states that every thought and action results in certain consequences born by the actor or thinker. If a person lies or steals, he will be wronged in some way in the future. Hindus believe that all suffering is due to one’s own past actions, in this or in a previous life. Some believe that karma implies strict determinism or fatalism (that one must simply resign himself to living out his karma). Most, however, believe that though our present is determined by our past, nonetheless we can influence our future by conducting ourselves in a proper manner in the present.

Some have equated the doctrine of karma with the statement in Galatians 6:7 that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” It is certainly a biblical teaching that our actions have consequences–for good or ill. But this is not the same as believing that every experience in life is a consequence of one’s own past actions. This is definitely not a biblical idea.

The second core belief of Hinduism is the doctrine of reincarnation, or transmigration of souls, calledsamsara. Since it is impossible that all of one’s karma be experienced in one lifetime, the Hindu scriptures state that after death individual souls are “reborn” in this world, in another body–human or otherwise. The nature of one’s rebirth is determined by the karma resulting from past actions.

Closely associated with the doctrine of reincarnation is that of ahimsa or non-injury to living things. This is the core moral value of Hinduism, the protection of all life (which is ultimately divine), and is the main reason why some Hindus are vegetarian.

Also associated with reincarnation is the caste system. According to Hindu teaching, there are four basic castes or social classes (and thousands of sub-groups within the castes). Each has its own rules and obligations pertaining to nearly every facet of life. At the top are the Brahmins or priests. Second in rank are the Kshatriyas or warriors and rulers. Third are the Vaisyas or merchants and farmers. Below these are the Shudras or laboring class. Salvation is possible only for the top three castes, who are called the “twice born.” Outside the caste system are the untouchables or outcastes. Though outlawed in India in the late 1940s, many in the countryside are still considered outcastes.

One’s caste is determined at birth by his or her own personal karma. Attempts, therefore, to bring about social change or to improve one’s social position would appear to run contrary to the law of karma and the caste system.

It’s little wonder that the chief aim of the Hindu is to experience release or liberation from this cycle of death and rebirth caused by karma. Hindus call this liberation moksha.

Hindu Ways Of Salvation

Why do New Agers practice yoga? Why are they so devoted to meditation? It may come as some surprise that these practices are central to the Hindu search for salvation!

We noted earlier that the chief aim in Hinduism is to gain release from the cycle of reincarnation caused by karma–the consequences of past actions, in this or in previous lives! Now we want to look at the primary ways in which followers of Hinduism seek to achieve this salvation–liberation from earthly existence.

Before discussing the three primary ways of salvation in Hinduism, we must mention the four goals of life permissible to Hindus. Hinduism recognizes that in the course of many lifetimes people may legitimately give themselves to any of these goals. The first is the goal of pleasure or enjoyment, particularly through love and sexual desire. This is called kama. The second legitimate aim in life is for wealth and success. This is called artha. The third aim in life is moral duty or dharma. One who gives himself to dharma renounces personal pleasure and power, to seek the common good. The final aim in life, however, is moksha— liberation from the cycle of lives in this material world, and entrance into Nirvana.

Hindus recognize three possible paths to moksha, or salvation. The first is the way of works or karma yoga. This is a very popular way of salvation and lays emphasis on the idea that liberation may be obtained by fulfilling one’s familial and social duties thereby overcoming the weight of bad karma one has accrued. The Code of Manu lists many of these rules. Most important among them are certain rituals conducted at various stages of life.

The second way of salvation is the way of knowledge or jnana yoga. The basic premise of the way of knowledge is that the cause of our bondage to the cycle of rebirths in this world is ignorance or avidya. According to the predominant view among those committed to this way, our ignorance consists of the mistaken belief that we are individual selves and not one with the ultimate divine reality called Brahman. It is this ignorance that gives rise to our bad actions which result in bad karma. Salvation is achieved through attaining a state of consciousness in which we realize our identity with Brahman. This is achieved through deep meditation, often as a part of the discipline of yoga.

The third and final way of salvation is the way of devotion or bhakti yoga. This is the way most favored by the common people of India; it satisfies the longing for a more emotional and personal approach to religion. It is self-surrender to one of the many personal gods and goddesses of Hinduism. Such devotion is expressed through acts of worship, puja, at the temple, in the home, through participation in the many festivals in honor of such gods, and through pilgrimages to one of the numerous holy sites in India. In the way of devotion, the focus is one obtaining the mercy and help of a god in finding release from the cycle of reincarnation. Some Hindus conceive of ultimate salvation as absorption into the one divine reality, with all loss of individual existence. Others conceive of it as heavenly existence in adoration of the personal God.

A Christian Response to Hinduism

The editor of the periodical Hinduism Today said not long ago that a “small army of yoga missionaries” has been trained to “set upon the Western world.” And in his own words, “They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.”

What should be the appropriate Christian perspective on this religion of the East that is making such an impact in the West? At the outset we must say that as Christians we concur with Hindus on a couple of points. Hindus are correct in their recognition that all is not right with the world and with human existence in it. They are correct as well in suggesting that the ultimate remedy to the human dilemma is spiritual in nature. Beyond these two points, however, there’s little common ground between Hinduism and Christianity. Let’s note just a few of the more important areas of divergence.

First, Hinduism lacks any understanding that God created this world for a good purpose. It is common for Hindus to speak of God bringing the universe into existence simply as a “playful” exercise of His power. Also lacking is a conception of God as infinitely holy and righteous and as the One to whom we as His creatures are accountable for the way we conduct our lives.

The second major area of contrast between Hinduism and Christianity is the conception of human nature and of the source of our estrangement from God. According to Hindu teaching, man is divine at the core of his being. He is one with God! The problem is that man is ignorant of this fact. He is deceived by his focus on this temporal and material world, and this ignorance gives rise to acts that result in bad karma and traps us in the cycle of reincarnation.

According to the biblical teaching, however, the source of our alienation from God (and ultimately of all that is imperfect in this world), is not ignorance of our divinity, but our sinful rebellion against God and His purpose for our lives.

This leads to the third and final point of contrast–the way of salvation. According to most Hindu teaching, salvation from the cycle of reincarnation is achieved by our own efforts–whether through good works, meditation, or devotion to a deity. According to the Bible, however, our spiritual need is for deliverance from God’s judgment on our sin and for restoration to a life under His direction and care. This salvation can be provided only by God’s gracious and undeserved action in our behalf.

It is true that in certain Hindu groups there is a similar emphasis on God’s grace (probably as a result of past Christian influence). But even here, there is a major distinction. The Hindu teaching about grace sees no need for an atonement for sin, but simply offers forgiveness without any satisfaction of the judgment on sin required by a holy God.

In contrast, the Christian gospel is this: God the Son became a man, died a sacrificial death on the cross, making real forgiveness of real sins against the real God possible to those who place complete trust in Christ. All who do so can experience true forgiveness, know God and His purpose for their lives, and have the certainty of eternal life with Him!

For a list of resources on Hinduism, and on sharing the gospel with our Hindu friends, contact us here at Probe!

 

©1994 Probe Ministries.



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