The Importance for Christian Theology of Religious Experience among Hindu with a Special Reference to the Work of the Spirit in General Revelation

Abstract

The revelatory presence of the invisible God is made known in a variety of ways newlineeverywhere in the world without discrimination based on human culture, tradition, or newlinereligion. Human spiritual experiences rooted in distinct religious backgrounds seem to newlinelead people to understand what is true and good in human life. If this is so, our newlineChristian theology needs to understand how different religions (including many newlineIndian religions), together with their cultural practices, can function as a channel newlinethrough which the one, real God can reveal himself to humankind. newlineChristian who hold a binary understanding of life which dismisses all other religions newlineas godless need to be challenged by the positive results apparent in other religions, for newlinewe have long claimed that all truth, beauty and goodness come from God through the newlineSpirit. Here, an explanation of the positive effects of religious experience in Hindu newlinereligious traditions from a Christian theological perspective will prove significant. newlineBeginning with a more general description of the significance of religious experience newlinein human life, this investigation explores a selection of Biblical passages which newlineconfirm the presence and work of the Spirit outside the church. newline