God In Nyaya and Christianity (A Comparative Study with Special Reference to Udayana and Aquinas)

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About the Book GOD IN NYAYA AND CHRISTIANITY

In Rig Veda, we read, "ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti" this means that which exists is One; sages call it by various names. If this is true that there is only one reality then why do we criticize others saying, I am the best and others are not. In some sense we are subjective and we are trying to project our transcendental self through different ways and means for example, through philosophy, theology and religion. The main reason behind this is nothing but ego and because of that ego we like certain things and deny certain things. There are similar problems in philosophy too, one considers himself as the best and puts down the other. Even when we accept God as an article of faith, the concept varies with different religions and traditions. How God is conceived in one tradition is different from the other and therefore it should be studied comparatively. The present book attempts to probe into such basic questions of God in the light of the historical and philosophical development of this concept and the contemporary reaction to the question of God concerning to two prominent traditions, namely, Nyaya and Christianity, with special reference to Udayana and Thomas Aquinas.

About the Authors RAJEN LAKRA holds a PhD in Philosophy and Religion from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Besides, he holds a degree of BTh from St. Charles Seminary, affiliated to St. Thomas Aquinas University (PUST), Angelicum, Rome. At present he is the dean of philosophy at St. Charles Seminary, Nagpur, and he also teaches philosophy at Gyanadhara; Dominican Institute of Philosophy, Goa. Besides he is a course contributor in the faculty of Philosophy in Domuni Universities (Online Course) and a guest professor at Hislop College, Nagpur.

Foreword No science can give a satisfactory answer, to a great number of questions on religion and God. On the other hand, religion and God are the most interesting questions to every man. Religion claims to have answers to these questions while philosophies are still searching for the answers. The philosophies of both East and West push their basic premises to have final answers. Thus, a question can be asked: whether can I find every answer in a particular way of looking or should I go beyond? Religion must essentially be liberating or reuniting or re-linking. Dialogue and study are the heart of all religion, which needs to be constantly purified and perfected. Because no true religion can afford to be arrogant and dominant.

Dr. Rajen Lakra has made a genuine effort towards the shaping and growth of an authentic understanding of God that enjoys the true freedom of the spirit from within. This book is a comparative study of the concept of God in Nyaya and Christianity. He took up these two traditions because they are the two prominent traditions in East and West. He has dealt with three important aspects in this book. The first is about the proofs for the existence of God in Nyaya and Christian traditions. The second is about the role of God in their moral life. Lastly, he has compared a few primary concepts that are found in both the traditions, such as divine attributes, monotheism, creation, the problem of evil, liberation and he has tried to find an ontological argument whether possible through double negation in Nyaya tradition. The ontological argument is one of such topic that we don't find in Indian Philosophy directly.

Preface In the recent past, there have been a number of comparative studies on the encounter between Western and Eastern religions. However, aim of this work is to examine one aspect of this encounter, between the Nyaya and Christian traditions. Individually, Nyaya and Christianity have flourished a lot in their philosophies, but when it comes to a comparative study it is almost neglected. Hence, one is provided with an opportunity for further studies between Nyaya and Christianity. As a matter of fact, the concept of 'God' is the most important feature in the scientific study of religion. Consequently, I have attempted to work on the concept of 'God' in both these two traditions. I make a comparison and contrast between these two traditions by drawing attention to the tenets of Nyaya and Christianity, particularly of Udayana and Thomas Aquinas, as they are among the most prominent scholars of the respective schools.

This study is intellectually exciting because it provides access to the mysteries of the other tradition. Further, this helps me to develop certain aptitudes like critical thinking, communication competence, interpersonal awareness, and inter-cultural literacy, etc. Above all, it provides me an opportunity to have a better insight into my own religion, which leads me to become a better person. I believe this study can enhance our understanding of the history of ideas relating to Eastern and Western understanding of the concept of God, and to shed light on the implications of their future development. Further, this study may teach us to cultivate the virtue of sympathetic understanding, that is to say, you are tolerant; you do not think mine is the best, but others also have something to contribute.

Introduction Throughout history, religion has been playing a vital role within society and even at the threshold of the twenty-first century, the relevance of religion is well acknowledged. Basically, religion is a unifying experience and a principle of harmonization. Though there are numerous definitions of religion, the etymological meaning of the word religion is 'to tie or to bind'. However, unfortunately, the religion which is supposed to bind us all together in a wholesome way is misunderstood and misinterpreted by some. This has led to religious fundamentalism, fanaticism, and extremism. To avoid such unpleasantness in human society people should be encouraged to develop a proper understanding of other religions. Each religious community has developed its own pattern of living, culture, creed, socio-political interests and so on. Unfortunately, these at times result in conflicts and rivalry also. Conflicts between different religious communities are becoming serious problems within nations and between nations. India also has suffered many such problems, but this should not be allowed to continue. Therefore, the best and wisest thing to do is to accept and respect diversity while trying to understand the uniqueness of each religion and religious community. Though we belong to different religious communities, we all belong to the one humanity. As human beings, we belong to one family.

There is a verse in the Rig Veda which says, "ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti"3 - this means that which exists is One; sages call it by various names. If this is true that there is one reality then why do we criticize others saying, I am the best and others are not. In some sense we are subjective and we are trying to project our transcendental self through different ways and means for example, through philosophy, theology and religion. The main reason behind this is nothing but ego and because of that ego we like certain things and deny certain things. There are similar problems in philosophy too, one considers himself as best and puts down the other. Even when we accept God as an article of faith, the concept varies with different religions and traditions. How God is conceived in one tradition is different from the other and therefore it should be studied comparatively.

Thus I make an effort to compare the aspect of God in two prominent traditions of East and West. Because God is a major source of inspiration for all, who gives meanings to our religion, culture, history, arts, literature, etc. One of the important reasons for comparative studies is to respect the other's belief system because it can bring different cultures closer. Respecting and accepting each other's religions means one less reason to discriminate others and fewer conflicts and fights. This kind of study yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental theological and philosophical concerns of religion.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages