The “Oneness” of the eastern philosophies is not the same as it is in the west. In eastern thought it brings God down to the level of creation and in some ways makes God dependent on the material world.
Hinduism plays with ideas of God that are contradictory. Such as it numerous demi-gods. There has to be only one God, because if there is more than one God then that other God is that which the first God is not. That involves limitation, which also involves non-being. And if God is all-perfect there can be no lack of anything that is. Hence God tells Moses “I Am He Who Is”.
It also plays with the idea that the all-perfect, divine, “One” at the beginning of time decided to play with imperfection by creating the material world. It boggles the mind to think that that which is perfect would play with imperfection. Why not just remain perfect? It begs more questions than it answers.
It also implies a semi-gnostic view that our souls are “imprisoned” in our bodies and our souls are “good” while our bodies are “evil”.
The Eucharist is a symbol but it also effects what it sybolizes, it is a sacrament. It is the symbol of Christian unity and “oneness”, and it brings about that “oneness” through the grace inherent in the sacrament. The sacrament, though will never negate the individual nature of the members of the Body of Christ(see Rev 2:17).
Hi Grey Pilgrim: Thanks for the response. We are probably a little rough around the edges when it comes to one another’s religions. I can relate to you what I think yours means on a given subject, and you’re probably in a good position to correct me or help me out. Likewise I think I can clarify things on my end as well.
Actually our oneness with God is not exactly the same as Pantheism. We don’t bring God down to our level, because that which He is well outside what we call the causal realm. He is expressed in it, and can be seen in it, but He is not dependent on it. We think He is manifest in every particle, atom, molecule, cell, organelle, organ, organ system, organism, ecosystem, planet, solar system, galaxy and universe. He is the fabric into which the threads of existence are woven. Whatever the pattern we experience in this fabric, it is all Him, within Him and part of Him. We believe that He is nameless , yet has infinite names and that He is beyond the physical world, yet the physical world emanates from Him. He is beyond thought, yet all thought emanates from Him. Mind and matter exists because He cares for them to exist. He, however, exists without them, because He is beyond both. We don’t see the world as being imperfect, so we also see no problem with God having created things that to us may seem imperfect.
I think I understand what you are saying about the Eucharist, which is something I respect by the way.
Regarding Demigods, they too are only aspects of One God, as would be anything you might encounter. They are not separate Gods of this thing or that. They are aspects of God, and may or may not take form in any way He might chose, in the same way that Jesus was said to have manifest in different ways, perhaps as a child to some, or a stranger to the apostles after the resurrection. That is God in action. It’s what He does. Personally, I have never spent much time on Demigods, because for us in modern times, Avatars are the way in which God reaches out to us.
Anyway, just some clarification on the Eastern perspective on these topics.
Thanks for sharing your beliefs as well.
Your friend,
Sufjon