Harmony or Absolute truth? My perspective on Hinduism.

Hinduism being a polytheistic religion has various Hindu gods. Origins deriving from the oldest and most sacred texts, the Vedas, are essentially concerned with mythologies and rituals related to a number of deities, most of which are identified with aspects of the natural world. The gods of modern Hinduism are many, some of which include the chief gods Shiva, Vishnu and the Mother Goddess Shakti as well as a numerous local community gods.

It seems that devotion to these various deities is based primarily on one's region and needs, and even when devotion is given to only one; the existence of others is acknowledged. Hindu worship virtually always involves sculptures and images, to which offerings are made and rituals are performed.

The issue I find to be problematic is regards to ethics. How is one to know what is is right or wrong when there are many deities to appeal to? It is only common logic to assume that what is loved by one god may be also hated by another. Not all the Hindu gods love or hold dear the same things.

This is why it is very hard to contemplate a universal code of ethics in polytheism, a dilemma that also plagued the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who also believed in many gods. Western religions such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism are not faced with this problem for each of these religions believe in monotheism and more so believe in the same deity. Hence, there is no problem or conflicting morals, one God equals one truth.

While I do acknowledge there are also problems with these religions concerning the issue of interpretation of scripture, the basic moral arguments are standard. Something I find hard to understand in Hinduism. How did Hindus overcome this problem? That is if they even engaged in this issue at all. It seems that the religion itself has been quite tolerant in acquiring changes and adoptions particular to ones region.

An anthropological perspective would argue that religion is simply a system of beliefs to keep social order. In this case, one can argue the reason there are so many regional gods in local communities is because each part of India required different needs as well as cultural discrepancies that can be assumed played a major role in their polytheistic practices.

This can also account as to why Hinduism has been so widely accepted in territory of the once vast Indian empire, as each regional territory of India knotted their customs and traditions with the grand ideas of Hinduism. This harmonious merger is different approach then western religions where assimilation and conversion were practiced instead. Jews, Christians and Islam did not propose a merger of ideas, instead opted for oppressive measures of acceptance.

From a modern point of view, it seems that the western form of persuasion has won but with what price? Islamic, Christian and to some extent Jewish sects still shed blood against their own brethren and people of their own religion for absurd technicalities of interpretation of scripture, something fortunately unseen in Hindusim and to be appreciated in their religion.

If any faithful Hindus believe I have misunderstood certain aspects of Hinduism, I welcome you to post any discrepancies in the comment section.