Hitherto, scholars have looked at Hindu-
ism through the eyes of Christianity and
Islam, but here an attempt has been made
to discuss them from the viewpoint
of Hindu spirituality. The two prophetic
religions have a long history of conflict
but they also share a common spiritual
perspective. Almost from their birth, they
have been systematic persecutors of pa-
gan religions, cultures and nations. In the
heyday of their domination, they acquired
great prestige and their viewpoint pre-
vailed also in judging the victims. In this
book, the author questions the victors’
standard of judgement and looks at their
religious premises afresh. He discusses
monotheism and prophetism — the ideol-
ogy ofa god who has a chosen people (and
also chosen enemies), but whom they
know only indirectly through a favoured
intermediary; he discusses the doctrines
of a single life and a single judgement; he
discusses the dogmas of iconoclasm,
jihad, Missions and conversion. He looks
at all these basic concepts and practices of
prophetic religions from the viewpoint of
the Yoga, and finds that they have little
spiritual merit.
The author also discusses yogic and
non-yogic samadhis, and how the two
project their own respective revelations,
gods and ethical codes. He holds that the
continued on back flap
Rs. 90HINDU VIEW
OF CHRISTIANITY AND
ISLAM
RAM SWARUP
VOICE OF INDIA
New Delhi