There are many questions that mainstream science can't answer, at least at the moment. Ethical and moral questions, such as: who should get the Covid vaccine first? And how can such a prioritization be made understandable and acceptable to the public? Science provides data upon which such judgments can be made, but ultimately we can't trust science itself to sort them out.
If there are many ways to the truth (salvation), can we preach that Krishna (or any other God) as one of the ways to attain salvation? Or, can we proclaim “In the name of Krishna your sins can be forgiven”?
The answer is YES, at least according to my theology which values an interfaith perspective. I particularly love that you have asked about Krishna since he and Jesus are often seen as similar, complements, or possibly even the same, archetypally. God -- who across cultures, languages, eras, and religions, is called by many names -- always inhabits or points to Truth, even in the ways that surpass our human understanding. When we think about salvation broadly, its Greek root, soter, means “healing.” Religious traditions and spiritual paths, when offered in a healthy and whole way, create practices for enlightenment (truth) and healing.
As practitioners of any of these Traditions, we study and learn and do our best to apply our beliefs in everyday moments – the good ones, the difficult ones and the ones where we really mess up and try to address what we wish we would’ve-could’ve-should’ve done. Isn’t it a relief then, that in these moments we have somewhere to turn so that we are not alone, but rather in community with other believers and, ultimately, a Source of Life, who wraps us in compassion and wisdom so that we might discover deeper understanding, reconciliation or peace? In these ways the religious tradition or deity’s name is far less important than the practice itself. May all beings everywhere feel fully welcomed into practices of healing, reconciliation, forgiveness and love!
~ Rev. Lauren Van Ham
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