Tattva-viveka
The Founder of the Hare Krishnas
Atmananda Dasa - February 5, 2010 12:16 am
Karnamrita Das - February 7, 2010 2:53 am
I say this link on Dandavats. This book is not for the faint of heart or those short on time. A dry scholarly work, which is beyond my interest level. I couldn't read enough of it to really make any other critic. The intro was enough for me.
Bhrigu - February 7, 2010 7:17 pm
I know the scholar who wrote this well (I think I got a mention in the preface). Kimmo Ketola is a genuine well-wisher of the devotees here in Finland. I have read the book in manuscript form. But yes, it is quite dry and also theoretically controversial, from the academic point of view.
Guru-nistha Das - February 8, 2010 4:32 am
Yes, he seems like a good man. It seems like he's naturally drawn to the devotees.
I got interested Bhrigu, how is it theoretically controversial?
Gaura-Vijaya Das - February 9, 2010 1:44 am
Yes, he seems like a good man. It seems like he's naturally drawn to the devotees.
I got interested Bhrigu, how is it theoretically controversial?
I think guru as a counter-intuitive personality section is good and addresses the issue of omniscience of prabhupada and how devotees potray SP as omniscient.
Bhrigu - February 9, 2010 9:45 am
I got interested Bhrigu, how is it theoretically controversial?
The theories that he uses, from the cognitive science of religion, are hotly contested. Some see them as offering hope of making the science of religion a "real science", while others see them as representing a positivist, reductionist way of thinking. I would probably agree with the second viewpoint.
Babhru Das - February 9, 2010 1:22 pm
I heard a talk he gave at an ISKCON Studies conference, I think about the guru. Although Ketola seemed nice, his approach struck me as rather dry, and, although it sounded as though it might eventually be interesting, I honestly haven't gotten very far into his talk yet. I need to set aside time when I'm naturally alert and don't have other demands nagging.
Babhru Das - February 9, 2010 1:23 pm
From what I've seen and heard, I tend to agree with Bhrigu that Ketola's approach seems rather positivistic and, consequently, reductionist. However, it might nevertheless open some useful discussion.