Radhakrishnan`s concept of oneness of God in his `Religion of the Spirit` and the concept of oneness of god in Islam : a comparative study

Abstract

This research focuses on studying Radhakrishnan’s concept of oneness of God in his ‘Religion of the Spirit’ in order to compare and to distinguish it from the concept of oneness of God in Islam. This research is undertaken due to Radhakrishnan’s claim that the concept of oneness of God in his ‘Religion of the Spirit’ is similar to the concept of oneness of God in all religions, including Islam. Radhakrishnan has been acknowledged as a distinguished and influential Indian philosopher. He has great concern toward conflicts among religions and also the danger of spiritual crisis of man in modern times to man himself and to the world. He offers his religion as a solution. ‘Religion of the Spirit’ is a religion which focuses on attaining a direct spiritual experience of God which is mystical in nature. The practice of direct spiritual experience of God, Radhakrishnan says, is found in all scriptures, in all times and in all places and all their experiences are identical. God who is experienced in this direct spiritual experience cannot be described. It cannot be fully expressed in terms of logic and language. It denies all descriptions. However, the religious seers in the past communicated their experience to their people by using words and symbols current in their world. Thus, it has resulted in the different views of God. Therefore, all Gods in all religions are just symbolical representation of the one true God that cannot be described who Radhakrishnan calls the ‘Absolute.’ God who is experienced in this spiritual experience that cannot be described is immanent in man and one with his soul. The oneness of man’s soul and God is realized in the direct spiritual experience of God. It is a mystical union in which the soul of man completely becomes one with God. This direct spiritual experience of God or mysticism according to Radhakrishnan is the essence of all religions. Radhakrishnan has done a wide range of study on various religious scriptures and the records of the mystics from all lands and times to support his claim. However, from the comparative analysis of Radhakrishnan’s concept of oneness of God in his ‘Religion of the Spirit’ with the concept of oneness of God in Islam, it is found that Radhakrishnan does not have any foundation for his claim that the concept of oneness of God in Islam is similar to his concept of oneness of God in his ‘Religion of the Spirit.’ Radhakrishnan’s concept of oneness of God in his ‘Religion of the Spirit’ is completely different from the concept of oneness of God in Islam.