Shri.KRS, apologize for the delayed response..In this post I will exclusively talk about ' Many paths to God (MPTG)', and the rest, I will address in my subsequent post.
My logical stand here is, 'All Paths cannot lead to God' (rather), all paths cannot be true, and there can be only one 'Absolute Truth'. And I would attempt to present my view with 2 topics, ie, Life after death/Conversion..Im sure, I was quite crispy to my point in my earlier post, ie 'loose the right to condemn Lenin'... I think, it was not addressed specifically. Let me sum it up again..
When one claims that 'All Paths lead to God', lets also set the linear premises, based on MPTG philosophy.
1) All Paths lead to God
2) All other religions also lead to God, and with the basic theme of 'Live and Let Live', and no-one is not going to point finger at other religions.
3) Accordingly, Islam,Judaism, Taosim,Atheism are also an accepted one, which MPTG strictly advocates, ie, every one should accept and accomodate other religious philosophies.
4)MPTG doesnt encourage its followers to criticise other religons, including atheism/charvaka. ie, One should not apply hinduism's law on a Moslem, rather, a hindu should accept and accomodate Islamic view, cos, Islam is also supposed to be true in its quest for God.
If we agree to the above premise and corollaries, I have a few queries....You may find myself repeating the same, but then, I cant help in asking the same , until im clarified with.
Hitler analogy:-
Hitler believed that there is no life after death, ie, 'Eat, Drink & be Merry, for tomorrow we may die and thats the end'..As a follower of 'Many Paths to God' one is forced to accept hitler too.. Hitler end his life without paying any price for his crime, and according to his belief, he is not going to pay any price even after death, which, MPTG has to accept it without any question.Hitler as an atheist has to be accomodated inside MPTG, inspite of him 'not' believing in his Karmaphala. As a believer of accomodating atheism, I mean, you loose your right to condemn/decide on Hitler, cos, you are caught in the dilemma, to accept and accomodate Nietsche's religion too!!
Now the basic question here is, about deliverance of Justice for Hitlers action.. If Hitler believed in Karma, he would get punishment in next life vide Karmaphala. But, in the last but one line of your response in first parah you responded saying 'But for folks like Lenin/Hitler who died before such punishments can be meted out, karmaphala will take care of that.."" But the problem here is, you have guaged Hitler based upon your religious views (Karmic scale), which you are not supposed to do so, cos you as a believer in 'All Paths" should have also accepted Hitlers/Nietsche's view of 'not' believing in ' Life after death'.. Unfortunately, you tried to guage Hitler based upon your Karmic View, because,by nature and human instinct, you and I are tempted to deliver 'Justice' to Hitler... Now my basic question remains the same... How are we going to deliver 'JUSTICE' to Hitler for all his crimes, in line with ' All Paths are True' philosophy..
My second point is... Keeping the premise ' all paths lead to God', MPTG accepts all religious views/doctrines/philosophy, without any question or debate.. It will end up in a logical fallacy,when we talk about conversions.. Hinduism says, All religions are one, and each religious views are Highly Respected and accomodated,without questions...
Now, Hinduism says, Dont covert to other religions, cos , all religions are same... Where as Islam says, all infidels need to be converted to Islam or to be decaptivated or pay an extra tax for being a non-moslem... Now, the fallacy here is, if hinduism truly accepts and accomodates Islamic point of view, then it should also accomodate Islamic view on conversion, ie, edicted to convert all hindus to Islam? I know already, you are not OK with this logic, which you expressed already.So, again in my view, 'All Path Leads to God' do have severe logical fallacy.
But still I can tread a safe tight rope walk here.. ie, May be this philosphy would have come up during Lord Krishna's times, where other non-karmic religions were not heard about in Sindh area, and hence it might have been addressed specifically to all the subsects of Hinduism, to claim them all religions (subsects) as one. ie, 'All Karma- Soul's oneness -God within' religions..ie, all religions like Hinduism/Sikhism/paganism/idolism/Jainism/Atheism etc are same..I think, this point of view goes well with that philosophy of 'All path lead to God'....May be, thats one reason, why, my point of view goes well with ISKON......Let me know your take on this.
Btw, I was once chafing with my collegemate arguing Economy Vs Oil Price and I said" Your statement exactly tells what you are not grasping".. And he shot back, 'Boy!! may be you are not good in articulating your points"..
PS:- Will address these missed out points in my next post, ie, Absolute Truth Vs Reconcillation- Manifestation of God based on human capablities - Free will-Role of animals in God's creation - God is not Knowable- Religious freedom