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Showing posts with the label God and Revelation

Brahman 2

27 th June 2020 Nikhilananda Page 12 , Hinduism, It’s meaning for the liberation of the Spirit Nikhilananda says that the etymology of Brahman denotes an entity whose greatness, powers, or expansion no one can measure. My side note; ‘Atman signifies the consciousness in man which experiences gross objects during the waking state, subtle objects during the dream state, and the bliss arising from the absence of the duality of subject and object in dreamless state’.   Nikhilananda   then gives some more definitions of Brahman states. Transcendental or unconditioned Brahman; In this state negative theology is used Brahman is not this or that.   This is a completely acceptable way to do theology within Christianity i.e. analogia entis. Phenomenal or conditioned Brahman; Brahman does this does that etc.   This is how God is spoken of in the Old Testament he acts and does. This is a completely acceptable way to see Brahman and God (Bruggeman on verbs of the OT).

A monotheist is a monotheist so please do not use monist in a disparaging way.

I really don’t understand how people can get mixed up.   Both Islam and Christianity are Monotheist religions.   Mono means one and Theos means God, hence one God…    Some have used ‘monist/monism’ to describe the Islamic God.   I have heard monist and monism mentioned in conversation in relation to Islam but I think it is important to clear out misuses of this meaning.   This is a mistake and also shows lack of understanding about the Trinity.   In Christianity God is One it is only then we can talk about the economy of God and the relations within the trinity.   Revelation of God did not start with John’s Gospel. Exodus 20 verse 2 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of slavery or Genesis 1 verse 3 “Then God said let there be light”.    Muslims, Jews and Christians do not have a problem with these verses.    Monism is more of a philosophical statement playing around with definitions.   So yes, for these reasons Islam is a monotheist religion.   Please remember that Muslim

So, let us learn our ABC’s and get the correct categories.

Definition Monotheism The doctrine or belief that there is only one God. ‘Once the option for religion has been made, the only serious alternatives are pantheism and monotheism.’   From https://www.lexico.com/definition/monotheism   Monism; A theory or doctrine that denies the existence of a distinction or duality in a particular sphere, such as that between matter and mind, or God and the world. ‘If this step from monotheism to monism goes too far, in what ways can Judaism respond to a postmodern desire for Oneness?’ Compare with pluralism ‘Theism might always be about meaning, but what religion would look like if monism were asserted against theism is an open question.’ https://www.lexico.com/definition/monism