Christ Through the Ages, 28: Christ Refracted in the World: The Polytheists

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/christ-through-the-ages-28-christ-refracted-in-the-world-the-polytheists/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>The final three podcasts in <i>Christ Through the Ages</i> explore how Christ has been refracted through human thinking. We begin with the polytheists (think Hindu); next time we will discuss monotheists (think Muslims); in the last lesson we will consider the atheists.</p><p>There are many <i>differing</i> refractions / reflections of Christ in man-made religions.</p><ul><li>Baha’i: Many paths to God</li><li>Buddhist: enlightenment—but to what?</li><li>New Age movement: we are <i>all</i> gods / christs (we just don't realize it).</li><li>Once again, beware differing Christs (2 Cor 11:2-4)!</li><li>Knowing something about how others believe is helpful.<ul><li>Enhances our appreciation of what we have in Christ.</li><li>Enables us better to connect with members of other faiths.</li><li>Increases our conviction about the fundamentals of the faith.</li></ul></li></ul><p>Hinduism</p><ul><li>Welcome to the pantheon! If all faiths are valid, then in a sense <i>none</i> of them is true.</li><li>Yet the Hindu gods and goddesses are not necessarily virtuous.</li><li>Moreover, Hinduism teaches the ultimate dissolution of relationships and individuality.</li><li>By the way, Jesus never visited India.</li><li>Idolatry: we become like what we worship<ul><li>Worship the goddess of wealth (Lakshmi), become materialistic.</li><li>Devote yourself to a violent and vengeful deity (like the blood-drinking Kali), and what behaviors may be rationalized?</li><li>The most "loving" Hindu deity, Krishna, cavorts with the cowherds. Hardly a model to emulate!</li></ul></li><li>The gods and goddesses are not, fundamentally, moral.<ul><li>They are created in man’s image.</li><li>So it is with all the pantheons: Greek, Roman, Nordic, Egyptian, Babylonian, etc.</li></ul></li><li>Therefore we can't just add Christ to a pantheo