New Q&A!
Added 2021-07-27 17:00:55 +0000 UTCHello!
I plan on recording a new Q&A sometime this week.
Hit me with questions!
Comments
After hearing Filip's answer I'd like to direct your attention to what makes the names: Ab, Ra(h), Ham, Ram, Ha, [Brahm], Sa, Ah, Swa, [s]ti; The syllables used each bear a meaning and symbology that has been spread through different cultures and carried through ages from prehistoric times due to how sacred they've been held. Some of the first ones being strongly associated with concepts of male nature and the latter - of the female, we could see how, back in the day, they would be used to form given names amoung the priest class in Ur Chaldean. Conclusively, considering the personages to be authentic does not invalidate their connection with Brahmi names.
Darjeeling Trailblazer
2021-08-08 20:59:35 +0000 UTCHi! I would also like to hear Filip answer your question; still, I recommend this video https://youtu.be/VulYxTf6Q34 and perhaps the more recent https://youtu.be/qYsHLUAlH_8 by the same guy. His advice helps me bigtime as I'm currently venturing into some more foreign language territory.
Darjeeling Trailblazer
2021-08-05 14:07:13 +0000 UTCBased on your knowledge, would you regard the Five Books of Moses as a (divinely inspired) revision of previously existing Mesopotamian mythos?
Darjeeling Trailblazer
2021-08-04 16:26:42 +0000 UTCThat is a very interesting question and while most people all seem to be focusing more on the divisiveness and the differences in our religions, the similarities and the way religions sometimes influence each other and also enrich each other is often ignored as that may seem to be a view that somehow reduces the "power" of the religion. I believe all religions have the innate ability to beautifully co-exist and enrich each other.
Saptagirish Noshikunte (GIRISH)
2021-08-01 12:02:24 +0000 UTCHi, I am curious to know how sufi culture evolved in islamic culture?. Islam being a strong belief system and how can someone from a intense conservative organised religion culture think differently and become broad minded and a free thinker. Sufism is based on love and compassion and is liberal in the sense that they are not interested in bullying any one.
Noor Awareness
2021-08-01 08:54:29 +0000 UTCI messaged it to you here on patreon. I’ve copy/pasted it below to make it simpler :) A question for your next Q&A: I've noticed that virtually all of the foundational texts of all major world religions are dated to roughly 500 BC. The Tao Te Ching, the Bhagahvad Gita, the Compilation of the Torah, the majority of the Tanakh, the Upanishads, the life of the Buddha, etc. I'm wondering if you think there are any reasonable explanations for how or why a majority of major living religious traditions seem to trace their foundational corpus to roughly the exact same point in history. Are there any cultural, philosophical, or technological reasons that something like this would happen? Alternatively, is it plausible that scholars dating such a massive percentage of influential ancient scriptures to roughly the same exact spot in history may be more indicative of some sort of confound in the way we date things? Obviously the development of religion is a perennial and never ceasing process in history, so having such a massive clump of data all in one spot is definitely eyebrow raising to me.
Rob Domos
2021-08-01 05:12:13 +0000 UTCWhat is your take and opinion on the connection between Abraham/Sarah and Brahma/Saraswati as figures of Abrahamic and Hindu religions?
Farah
2021-07-31 18:41:50 +0000 UTCDid you send the original message on Discord, WhatsApp or here on Patreon?
Filip Holm
2021-07-30 19:13:25 +0000 UTCHi Hrishikesh. I have only recently started the process of trying to understand the enormity of this term "Hinduism". Many a times I think disenchantment stems from either the complexity of the subject in front of oneself, the lack of clarity or the thrusting down of ideas without a reasonable explanation. In my journey so far into understanding the religion I was born into, I am now deciphering that Hinduism seems to be more of cultural construct than a religious one. Sure, there are tons of religious practices and even more are being created on a daily basis. But the most important aspect that I have discovered about being a Hindu is the fact that you need to have the patience to peel the onion layers of this complex religion beyond the day to day rituals that we grow up with. I actually believe Hinduism is also at its root a monotheistic philosophy albeit with a pluralistic manifestation in order to make it more accessible and humanising. I find this channel totally fascinating because it allows my curious mind to obtain information and insights across all the aspects of religions without a prejudice to my religion being inferior or superior. I am now firmly of the opinion that you can be a true adherent of your religion (whichever it is) even when you are curious and knowledgable of all the other religions. I believe it actually betters the world immensely as it fosters a mindset open to ideas, interpretations and perceptions other than our own.
Saptagirish Noshikunte (GIRISH)
2021-07-30 10:50:42 +0000 UTCHow do you separate the philosophy of religion from the practice of the religion. Every religion that exists philosophises of a set of universal truths and beliefs in humanity and co-existence. However the practice of that religion which is the only layer that a majority of the adherants live in (and which according to me is just the skin of the religion) somehow dictates everything about that religion. This in my opinion is a true tragedy and intellectual debates on the underlying spiritual and philosophical tenets for each religion needs to go beyond the superficial layer of how it is practiced. I believe practices are extremely important but they need to tie in to a deeper philosophical understanding.
Saptagirish Noshikunte (GIRISH)
2021-07-30 10:42:10 +0000 UTCWhat do you think is the role of culture in religion? The same religion practiced in different geographical places take on the culture of the place in the day to day rituals and practices so adherants belong to to one religion but different cultures sometimes create diverse versions of the same religion. I think this is quite fascinating but many purists shun this cultural assimilation as a dilution whereas it should be celebrated as an enrichment. What is your view on this?
Saptagirish Noshikunte (GIRISH)
2021-07-30 10:36:52 +0000 UTCHi Filip! Do you know if there are any well functioning human communities existing today, or through history, that have survived for longer periods (as centuries) without having an active organized religion within its community? If not, what can we learn? Is some kind of religion (or organized spirituality or belief) for man necessary, or at least very important, for long term human survival? What will happen in a secular world? Can religion be replaced by something else or comparable such as science, philosophy or spirituality without religion?
Ralph Nisell
2021-07-29 04:19:17 +0000 UTCHow did Bulleh Shah come to be such common subject matter in Sufi rock music?
Wrik Chatterjee
2021-07-28 22:15:17 +0000 UTCYou touched on this in one of your videos on Hinduism but do you think it qualifies as an "ism"? I was born into a Hindu family and grew up a skeptic, eventually an atheist. The more I learned about "Hinduism" the more I realized it was an exonym given to a way of life by the colonialist hive-mind and you can't really compare it to say, Islam/ Christianity because there is no central creed, catechism, or practices that actually make it as "ism". I take your point about it being a "religion" in that it is a set of correlated practices that about a billion people follow, but isn't it too broad to be an ism?
Hrishikesh Diwan
2021-07-28 08:53:07 +0000 UTCWere there any Muslim converts to Christianity or Judaism, or any other religion? Was it common, how did the authorities deal with it, how did the local clerics respond to it, and what was the treatment of the converts by the authorities?
Doubly Triple
2021-07-28 05:56:29 +0000 UTCI have the recent period started to use the expression “Spirit of the Universe” instead of “God”. Do you also think it can be useful when discussing and comparing religions and spirituality?
Ralph Nisell
2021-07-27 21:20:03 +0000 UTCDo you think the religions give better answers (than others as philosophers, scientists etc)) regarding the “why question” in meaning of life discussions, that is why is there any meaning at all for us humans to live on and what is the higher purpose of our lifes?
Ralph Nisell
2021-07-27 21:11:59 +0000 UTCAll religions in some way discuss “meaning of life” and what is, would you say, the lowest common denominator (minsta gemensamma nämnaren) between the religions?
Ralph Nisell
2021-07-27 21:05:05 +0000 UTCI may have just missed it, but did you ever end up answering the question I had a few months back about why roughly half of all major faiths have their central text dated to around the 5th century BCE? I believe I direct messaged you the question in more detail and can do so again if need be. Also I’m sorry if you already answered it and I somehow missed it
Rob Domos
2021-07-27 20:15:21 +0000 UTCAre you familiar with Integral Theory/Spiral Dynamics? If yes, what do you think of the stages of development as they relate to religion (especially stage Blue corresponding with religion in its traditional rule based form)?
Farah
2021-07-27 20:07:16 +0000 UTCHi! What is your earliest memory of a religious thought (e.g. reflecting on some religious teaching an adult shared with you, or wondering about existence and a creator as a child)? Do you believe in such a thing as an innate sense of religiosity (Hay Ibin Yaqzan style)?
Farah
2021-07-27 20:04:21 +0000 UTCHow much do you think Islam and Christianity, and Judaism for that matter counter-influence each other? We see Aquinas citing Muslim theologians citing Islamic scholars in his writings and people like Maimonides, how much do you think that plays in the evolution of dogma in each religion?
Alex M.
2021-07-27 19:56:26 +0000 UTCHow did you achieve you facility in Arabic, a notoriously difficult language?
Stephen Phillips
2021-07-27 17:14:47 +0000 UTCThere are scholars who raise serious questions about the traditional narrative about Mohammed's life in Mecca, the Hijrah and the revelation of the Quran. Some suggest that the Quran was compiled by a group of authors in Syria. What do you know of this scholarship and do you think it is well founded?
Stephen Phillips
2021-07-27 17:13:15 +0000 UTC
