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What is the Hindu View of Theology?
Theology should set forth, both rationally and with proper consideration as to the role of
faith, an understanding of God, the principles of cosmic creation
and the way for the soul to return to its unity with God. Theology
should link us up with the Divine Father/Mother of the universe in
all its glory and through all of its forms and functions on the
various levels of this manifold universe both inwardly and
outwardly. Theology should not be a system of dogmas to follow
outwardly, or ideas to limit our thoughts to, but should direct us
inwardly to realization of God, and to Self-realization.
Most Western theology
whether Christian or Islamic is of a dualistic nature. It stops
short with an intellectual explanation of God or with the setting up
of principles of faith, which are not to be questioned however
arbitrary they might appear. It often appears more as an
intellectual apologetic for religion rather than a deep inquiry into
universal Truth. It mainly follows Aristotle, who was more of an
intellectual than a spiritual person. Western theology does not
understand the ultimate reality of the Self, which it does not
mention, and is ignorant of the most important cosmic laws like that
of karma. It has much to learn from Hindu theology. Hindus should
seek to dialogue with Western theology to help raise the level of
theological thinking in the world. In this way theology can be used
to direct us to the spiritual path, not merely to uphold the dogma
of one religion or another.
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