Non-Dharmics (i.e. non-Hindus, especially those of Abrahamic faiths) often describe Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) as a polytheistic religion. This is a narrow understanding of Sanatan Dharma.
Let us first understand the different theisms. Theism is a belief in the existence of a God or gods. This belief, however, exists in various flavors, some of which are:
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Monotheism – Only one God exists.
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Polytheism – More than one and distinct gods exist.
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Pantheism – Physical universe is considered to be equivalent to a god and there is no distinction between the creator and the creation.
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Autotheism – Divinity is inherent within oneself and that one has the ability to achieve godhood.
- Atheism – Belief that god does not exist at all.
The above definitions can be read in detail on Wikipedia.
Early Sankhya and Mimamsa schools of Dharmic (Hindu) philosophy rejected the existence of God. They have maintained that existence of God cannot be proven. They maintain that the existence of God is not a relevant concept. To the Sankhya and Mimansa followers, Dharma is a construct that purely encompasses the concepts that, in English, can be described as morality, virtue, and duty. Jainism and Buddhism are other dharmic traditions that reject the existence of God.
Cosmic energy has many forms of expressions – religion, music, arts, science, or even day-to-day principled living.
Is Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) atheistic, polytheistic, or monotheistic? A Dharmic (Hindu) believes in the divinity of the cosmos and recognizes it in everything that (s)he sees around. As mental models and aides, (s)he is willing to accept that which reminds her of the cosmic energy that Dharmics call Param-Aatma. What does that make a Dharmic – a polytheist or a monotheist or an atheist? A Dharmic believes in the truth of cosmic energy (God) and recognizes it as the foundation of everything living and non-living in this universe. To come closer to understanding this creation, a Dharmic may choose to focus on one form or the other, or none at all. Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), therefore, can be said to be monotheistic. That, however, is still not an accurate representation. A Hindu’s pursuit of higher consciousness (Brahman) makes Sanatan Dharma a Monist philosophy. But because of its openness to accept any path to the higher Truth (Brahman), Sanatan Dharma is also Henotheistic.
In Sanatan Dharma, there are six classical schools of Vedic philosophy (darshanas), which are the asktikas – Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. These are the astika darshanas. Then there are the nastikas, who utilize Vedas only occasionally – Charvaka (materialistic atheism), Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
The theism in Sanatan Dharma is bound to confuse the followers of Abrahamic faiths, who are deeply immersed in doctrine and dogma. To make it a little more interesting, “Does God exists?”, is a question to which a Hindu may also say, “I don’t know”. Sanatan Dharma also has a well-established tradition of atheism and agnosticism in it.
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