How is it that we know the history and founders of four of the five main world religions: (Judaism - Abraham, Buddhism - Buddha, Christianity - Christ Jesus, Islam - Mohammed) but not of Hinduism?
I ask this question, first because I find such things interesting and secondly, because if you know the history of something, you know the identity behind it. If you know the identity behind something, you also know how to argue/discuss the truth or the falsehood from a historical standpoint (discussing it from a spiritual perspective isn't difficult). We know why Judaism is superior to the other three religions, but even it doesn't stake up to the grace and hope found in Christianity. And both Judaism and Christianity can be verified, as they are firmly rooted in human history. There's even evidence for China being a country that worshipped the one true God before paganism took over and in a big way, so that accounts for Buddhism etc. not being the most ancient religion in the East (although you could be forgiven for not knowing that to be true).
For example, how would you witness to Hindus in a manner that they find relevant, if you and they don't know the birthplace of their religion? Of course, the Holy Spirit plays His role by way of revelation in speaking to their spirit to reveal their need for a Saviour.
Still, I would like to know when Hinduism originated and who founded the religion.
Thanks, guys.
I was deep into Americanized Hinduism before I got saved. It's an extremely powerful delusion because the experiences of people who practice emptying their minds in meditative trance-like condition seem very real.
When I witness to Hindu's, I try to focus on the thing I thought I never would have to face by believing in attaining enlightenment by my own efforts following a path of my own choosing; that thing is judgement. Hindu's believe they do not have to face judgement, they believe they will always get another chance to try to become enlightened untill they finally make it to being fully divine. This is nothing but a twist of the devil's desire to be like God, and the Hindu doesn't realize his dodging of judgment is a devilish desire. The deception is strengthened by experiences an individual can find through meditaiton..mindless meditation, emptying their thoughts to "transcend" the natural world.
The common thing in all religions is they teach that Hell is not eternal punishment. Some teach there is no Hell, some teach Hell is a real place of fire for punishment but God will eventually let everybody out of it...so what's the differentce? As long as they get to go without punishment in the end, after Hell is done or gone, they can do whatever they want to now.
You have to try to get a Hindu to see that they are listening to lying doctrines which are promoted by lying spirts. You have
to try to get them to question and doubt their experiences and teachers as being trustworthy. You have to tell them Hell is real and eternal and they need to be skeptical of the things they have been told in Hinduism
Hinduism I believe is the oldest of the Hinduisitic religions, Bhuddism is a twist from a smooth talking fat guy who changed a few things and made himself to be the most enlightened one of Hinduism. Americanized Hinduism has taken many forms, Zeroism is one of the new ones I read about.
It'a all existentialism. An atheist is existential in believing that simply because they exist outside of the fire of Hell now, it proves they have the right to live forever free of Hell.
Hinduism is the same existentialism as atheism. Try to plant seeds, but don't waste too much time with them. If they won't listen, they won't listen and you'll be wasting time. Set some bait of kindness if you can, if they are not hostile, but for the most part trying to reach them will be casting pearls before swine and they will turn on you and attack you and try to tear you down.
I won't tell of my experiences as a Hindu except when I find other born again Christians like myself who came out of it.
I don't want to in any way make the experiences which seemed to support hinduistic teaching into being something good, but I was very deep into it and it's a real miracle the Lord stopped me before I was completely gone. I talk to a lot of kids who like existentialism and hinduism, and a lot of adults. To them, I would have been a hinduistic master when I was in it. They don't know what they are dealing with and they think it's good. They don't realize the danger they face in Hell fire.
They don't realize they have no right to exist outside of the fire of Hell. Keep hammering around on this basic point, and your arguments will improve agaisnt Hinduism and existentialistic religions like Atheism.