The Way the Truth and the Life!
BY: KSHAMABUDDHI DAS
May 14, HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA (SUN) — As a sequel to the previous article I submitted to Sampradaya Sun, "Is Jesus a Myth?", I would simply like to address one central point in response to the Jesus proponents on the matter of the authenticity of Jesus as an actual historical figure, as opposed to a Jewish myth.
The problem we all face in accepting Jesus Christ as authentic and Srila Prabhupada’s apparent endorsement is that the principle tenet of Christianity is based upon the supposed words of Jesus that he is the only way to God and there is no other way.
Christianity is built upon this principle idea. In Christianity there is no other way to God except through Jesus. Therefore, if we genuinely accept Jesus Christ, as the Jesus proponents would have, then we must also accept the principle that Jesus is the only way to God. That means that Srila Prabhupada himself is a false messenger and savior, Mahaprabhu is a false messenger and savior and that all of Vaishnavism is a false path to God.
It is doubtful that Srila Prabhupada was ever confronted with the question concerning Christ’s claim to being the only way to God. I have never seen anything in all of the tapes or conversations where Srila Prabhupada addressed the matter of the Christian claim that “Jesus is the only way”.
So, this is the real dilemma we all face if, in fact, we give credibility to Jesus Christ as having actually been a factual historical personality. We are then faced with accepting Jesus but having to reject his teachings that he was the only way to God. As well, if we accept Jesus as authentic and the Gospels as representing the truth about Jesus, we also have to deal with the Christian claim that Jesus was THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
So, here again we find another concept that in essence contradicts the Vedic teachings or the Vaishnava teachings that every living entity is a son of God. Just as the claim that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts thousands of years of Vedic tradition and teachings, this claim that Jesus is the ONLY Son of God is in direct opposition to the Vedic scriptures.
If we really take a close look at the Christian philosophy that is based upon the teachings of Christ, and both of the principle concepts of the Christian faith -- that Jesus is the only way and the ONLY son of God -- then we cannot but come to a conclusion that this whole Jesus story cannot be anything more than a myth.
No true devotee of God would ever claim to be the ONLY way to God.
No true devotee of God would ever claim to be the ONLY begotten Son of God.
If Vaishnava devotees of the Lord truly believe in the Vaishnava scriptures and the Vedas, then how can they possibly accept Jesus Christ, who claimed to be the ONLY way to God and the ONLY Son of God?
This is what the Vaishnava culture all over the world must come to terms with; Christianity cannot respect or acknowledge Vaishnavism or any Hindu religion because the basis of the Christian religion is that Jesus is the only way and the only Son of God.
These concepts are directly linked to the supposed teachings of the supposed Jesus Christ.
So, we are faced with a decision. Either we accept Jesus factually and accept him as the ONLY way to God and God’s only begotten Son, or we face the facts that Christianity and the teachings of Christ are in direct opposition to Vaishnavism and Vedic culture and must therefore be a Jewish myth. Or possibly Jesus himself was a real person who was full of himself and very ignorant about the fact that many acaryas, avatars and gurus have been providing a path to God since time immemorial.
Myself, despite anything Srila Prabhupada might have said on the matter of Jesus, I have to look at the facts, the teachings, the scriptures and the ideals of Christianity and admit that they contradict Vaishnavism and Vedic scriptures.
I have no sentiments regarding the Jesus myth inasmuch as for the most part Christianity is a blasphemous anti-Vaishnava cult that shares no mutual respect for Vaishnavism or any religion of India. Unlike Srila Prabhupada, I am not a great acarya come to spread Krishna consciousness all over a predominantly Christian world. Srila Prabhupada has already done that and in so doing, was very kind and gracious towards Christian society and did not say anything against Christ.
Christian society cannot return that kindness and graciousness because their religion is based on the principle that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and anyone else that claims to preach God consciousness is of the Devil.
Srila Prabhupada’s position is quite clear. He did not personally attack the authenticity of Jesus Christ. This is not an attempt to undo the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, but rather an attempt to look at them from a different angle. If Srila Prabhupada’s endorsement of Jesus Christ contradicts his preaching of Vedic knowledge and Vedic culture, then we will have to examine if there were maybe some extraneous factors which might have caused Srila Prabhupada to endorse Jesus Christ and in so doing, contradict his own message of Vaishnava religion. Factually, a preacher of Vaishnavism contradicts himself if he endorses Jesus Christ and the falsity that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and the ONLY son of God. It is not hard to imagine that an acarya of Vaishnavism would make some compromises in his preaching work if he in fact aspires to gain acceptance in a Christian society and the western world. An objective look at the history of Christianity will show it to be a man-made religion with a very flimsy foundation based upon false claims and false religious precepts of Christ being the only way to God.
