Dear Refiner's Fire...

What are your feelings about Hinduism? Doesn't it predate the Bible?

Our Response...

Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions. It is supposedly the "oldest" religion, with no known founder. However, Hinduism does not predate Creation!

Simplified explanation:

The Bible tells us how the Earth and human life began. YHWH (Yahweh) made Himself known to man from the moment He created man. He gave Him instructions about what he should and shouldn't do - i.e., "Don't eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:16-17)....Man disobeyed and was consequently thrown out of the Garden to fend for himself.

YHWH made Himself known to Adam and Eve, and we know that their descendants knew Him as well (Genesis 4:26). Cain and Abel KNEW to bring sin sacrifices. And they KNEW that God required a blood sacrifice to atone for sin because Cain killed Abel over jealousy because God had accepted Abel's blood sacrifice, and reprimanded Cain for bringing vegetables instead (Genesis 4).

This tells us, that man KNEW God and what He wanted us to do because Adam and Eve passed that knowledge down to their children. Each generation after that passed down their knowledge, as well.

As the world became more and more populated, that knowledge became watered down and people began to do their own thing. That's why God sent a flood - to cleanse the Earth of sin. Noah was the ONLY "righteous" man on Earth doing his level best to please God, and so he and his family were spared (Genesis 6 - 9).

Later on, we discover Lot and his family knew YHWH during a time when people had become ungodly again (Genesis 19) and at that point God destroyed Sodom and Gemorrah....

Ultimately, YHWH made Himself known through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - none of whom were "Jews" (they were called "Hebrews" which means "to cross over"). Those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can call themselves "Hebrews" and they are also part of Israel spiritually. The Tribe of Judah (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) was chosen to teach the world about Torah (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2). Those who spread throughout the world and got away from YHWH's teachings were known as "the nations."

In light of the above, where does that leave room for other gods or "religions"?

Many "religions" arose over the millennia - none of them being what God intended. But, He gave man free will and the fruits of that are evident in our ever-growing decadent societies where the Ten Commandments have been hung out to dry. Today, "good" is bad, and vice-versa, and wars and terrorism are happening at alarming rates BECAUSE man thinks he's in charge.

In Hinduism (one of the world's many religions), man becomes God. If that is the case, then we must ask: Why are there wars, famines, hunger, drought, murders, abortions, pain, anguish, etc? Why hasn't "man-god" rid the Earth of these things? Why does Hinduism allow "sacred cows" to roam the streets, passing in front of people who are dying of starvation? And does Hinduism offer eternal life? No, because it's a conglomeration of beliefs that include "reincarnation" and suffering in order to attain the "next level."

YHWH, THE CREATOR, has shown time and time again that He doesn't want man to suffer! That is why He laid down some basic rules in the very beginning - rules called "Torah"! But, did man listen? Of course not. We think we're smarter than God!

The bottom line is, in this day and age, for someone to have NEVER heard of YHWH or our Savior Yeshua, they would have had to been born on and permentaly stranded on a desert island with no newspapers, televisions, computers or outside contact. God gives us all the chance to accept or reject Him. He made it clear that rejection would mean ETERNAL separation from Him (Matthew 10:22; Hebrews 3:14; Revelation 2:10,11).

Therefore, anyone who HAS heard of Him, and has chosen to continue believing in "other religions" and "other gods" will be eternally separated from Him! By ignoring their TRUE Creator, they are following His enemy, satan. Period.

YHWH has continuously attempted to reveal Himself to man, and man has purposely chosen to be ignorant and to do "their own thing"....One thing is clear - and it is a terrifying prospect for those who chose to ignore YHWH and disobey His "forever" commands: Judgment Day is coming, and on that day ALL we will stand before the Almighty to give an account of their lives and their choices....