Faith & reason | Hinduism: Is it monotheistic or polytheistic?

Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad writes the following in his book Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth, in the chapter on Hinduism.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Excerpts
Source & Credit: Al Islam.Org | Islam Int'l Publications
By Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928 - 2003)

"Hinduism is a class in itself in the comity of religions. To find in Hindu literature evidence of revelation as understood in traditional Divine religions is a difficult task. This is so, mainly because on the one hand the concept of revelation is wholly confined to the Vedic teachings, while on the other, God is mentioned to have manifested Himself in human form to instruct mankind.

Though in Christianity too, Jesusas is described in a manner somewhat similar to that of Krishnaas, the similarity however is superficial. In the personification of Jesus Christ, God the father remains in command of the universe, and a manifestation of His sonship somehow displays itself in the human image of Jesus. Again in the case of Christianity, there is a third person entitled the Holy Ghost who is neither Christ, nor God the father, but is an integral part of the Trinity in its own right.

Hinduism however, is not clear concerning the manifestation of Brahmâ in the person of Krishna. Did he rule the heavens and the earth from his heavenly seat even when Krishna remained on earth, or was it Krishna who as God personified governed the universe during his human phase? Or was Krishna merely an apparition or icon while God remained in command in the heavens like He ever was? Questions such as these remain unanswered."

For details go to:

http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_2_section_1.html


Inspiration credit: Google Knols | Zia Shah, MD.