Cardinal Ratzinger's view on Hinduism and Reincarnation

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

I came across this on a website (I assume it is authentic) that quotes the

Cardinal's (now pope) views on Hinduism/Buddhism. Not to be drawn into the

controversy of whether he appreciates other religions or not, what made me

curious was his take on reincarnation - see this for example,

 

"In 1997 Ratzinger annoyed Buddhists by calling their religion an ‘autoerotic

spirituality’ that offers ‘transcendence without imposing concrete religious

obligations’. And Hinduism, he said, offers ‘false hope’; it guarantees

‘purification’ based on a ‘morally cruel’ concept of reincarnation resembling ‘a

continuous circle of hell’."

 

I have known people who have been fascinated by the Vedic concept of karma and

reincarnation, as it offers an opportunity to the living entity to play out his

desires in various life forms and ultimately gain the human form for

self-realization - even if a person is extremely sinful his whole life, he is

still given a chance through devolution (to lower species to pay for his sins)

and evolution (to human form after he nullifies the sins), a concept not found

in the western religions. So, I'm not sure, why Cardinal Ratzinger, a highly

respected theologian holds such views. He says 'continuous circle of hell' -

however, anyone who even gives a cursory reading of vedic philosophy will know

better than this, in my opinion. So, my question is, do the Pope's views reflect

the general thinking of christians about reincarnation? can members enlighten me

on what christians think about reincarnation?

 

iys

 

Aravind.

 

 

 

 

Aravind Mohanram

Ph.D. Candidate

Dept. of Mat Sci and Engg.,

Penn State University,

University Park, PA 16801

www.personal.psu.edu/aum105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

achintya, Aravind Mohanram <psuaravind>

wrote:

 

>And Hinduism, he said, offers `false hope'; it

guarantees `purification' based on a `morally cruel' concept of

reincarnation resembling `a continuous circle of hell'."

>

 

I am curious to know what he thinks of the Christian worldview in

which a man is born into this world, naturally takes on the beliefs

of whoever raises him, and after death suffers eternally if he was

not raised or converted to Christianity.

 

By this logic, everyone born into this world before Christ

automatically goes to hell eternally.

 

And those who are born after Christ, but are geographically isolated

from Christians, also go to Hell despite whatever virtues they may

possess.

 

With its "one-lifetime,Jesus only," and "eternal Hell" beliefs,

Christianity strikes me as a very cruel and illogical religion.

Consequently, the only criticisms they can make of other religions

are also confused and mixed up. This remains the case even

when "highly respected" theologians (who are still highly respected

even though they eat beef) make these statements.