The word God is surrounded by a lot of connotation in the west, specifically Abrahamic in nature. Furthermore, many westerners are taught to have a sense of reverence for the Abrahamic deity, through which they acquire a certain deep-rooted feeling they associate simply with the term God. This makes me wonder if it is ever possible for a westerner to comprehend eastern gods, or if they will always interpret them through the feeling and connotations mentioned earlier, and if they will never be able to experience the same feeling and connotations the easterners have for the eastern gods.

When I read the posts of Obbe, Rizzo and Beany, I get the sense that their idea of God, apparently influenced greatly by the east, is closer to the neoplatonic One of the west than to Brahman. But this seems absurd to me, for how can I say that unless I have a sense of what eastern gods are? It is possible that I do have a sense of what eastern gods are, but this sense would have been constructed in the west, accompanied by all the western stereotypes and preconceptions of the west, and this simply leads back to the exact same problem.

My question, then, is this: is it possible to experience the eastern gods as they are experienced by easterners, or will westerners always be encaged by their own systems of theism?

I think it is possible for a person indoctrinated by the western ideology to come out of their shell and experience much of the eastern ideology but it wouldn't be to the same extent as those who were born into it. A profound impact can be had but it will never be as natural to them as it would to an easterner.

Considering the Abrahamic religions emerged from polytheism, then I think it is indeed capable for Westerners to at least appreciate the notion, if not understand it, as they had been able to in the past.

Considering the Abrahamic religions emerged from polytheism, then I think it is indeed capable for Westerners to at least appreciate the notion, if not understand it, as they had been able to in the past.

Agreed. I don't think many people will be able to experience that appreciation in quite the same way.

Even this 'appreciation,' as we're terming it, seems a stretch for me when many evangelical Christians persist in the ancient notion that the religions and gods preceding Christianity are demonic in origin designed to lead people away from the truth.

The word God is surrounded by a lot of connotation in the west, specifically Abrahamic in nature. Furthermore, many westerners are taught to have a sense of reverence for the Abrahamic deity, through which they acquire a certain deep-rooted feeling they associate simply with the term God. This makes me wonder if it is ever possible for a westerner to comprehend eastern gods, or if they will always interpret them through the feeling and connotations mentioned earlier, and if they will never be able to experience the same feeling and connotations the easterners have for the eastern gods.

When I read the posts of Obbe, Rizzo and Beany, I get the sense that their idea of God, apparently influenced greatly by the east, is closer to the neoplatonic One of the west than to Brahman. But this seems absurd to me, for how can I say that unless I have a sense of what eastern gods are? It is possible that I do have a sense of what eastern gods are, but this sense would have been constructed in the west, accompanied by all the western stereotypes and preconceptions of the west, and this simply leads back to the exact same problem.

My question, then, is this: is it possible to experience the eastern gods as they are experienced by easterners, or will westerners always be encaged by their own systems of theism?

I think that eventually a westerner could come to grasp eastern gods as they are supposed to be understood and I have to agree that the western concept, of a Jehovah/Allah type, of God kind of muddies the waters when it comes to discussing and thinking of God/Gods. But most religions have similar themes at their core, despite having differant practices and differant dogma. Maybe from here a westerner could come to grasp eastern religion and then with an understanding of the religion move onto understanding the gods.

Still, it seems like that might be pretty hard, and require a lot of effort.

Of course, I don't really have much of an understanding of eastern religions seeing as I haven't read that much relating to them, so reeally I'm just typing for the sake of it :D

I think the most important point (and problem) is the 'feeling' that we get from God in the west. I mean you can barely mention God in this forum without someone quoting some damned Bible contradictions like it disproves God :mad:

My quick answer is yes.

Granted, Hindu polytheism seems nuts until you realize that in the Highest Reality, it isn't polytheism at all. e--and they--are All One. When you attain the seventh level of consciousness this becomes clear.

I think all the organized religions recognize that God is infinite--thus any conception of God has to have some validity.

We might like the Ganesh model better , but the Kali model is just as valid, and as necessary.

I have known for a long time that the polytheists were in fact monists, and I knew this without the requirement of some radical state of consciousness. But I question whether their notion of monism is equivalent to the western conception. We have had a long tradition of essentialism and substance theory, whereas the east has essentially been "anti-essentialist". We comprehend Brahman through contrast with the Abrahamic deity, just as we equate the French word nous with we. The native speaker does not think "nous means we", though, he just thinks "nous!", if you know what I mean.

We comprehend Brahman through contrast with the Abrahamic deity, just as we equate the French word nous with we. The native speaker does not think "nous means we", though, he just thinks "nous!", if you know what I mean.
Have you learned another language? Eventually, you're able to think in the other language as well. I think communication is possible either way; it just takes time, effort, and perhaps immersion.