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Philosophical Interpretations of Religion : 193
In this technological age, when our planet has squeezed to a great extent, any author on this subject ignorant or negligent of other important religious traditions cannot be excused. A proper study of the subject requires fair groundings in the history of all the major religions. Today this much is the minimum that is required of a religionist. Besides, studies in philosophy of religion could be pursued better if one has the workable knowledge of some of the languages of the major religions. Thus a scholar, with multilingual background and cross-disciplinary approach, can take up comparative study of religions in the beginning which will lead him gradually to interpret religion philosophically. Then only one will be well-equipped and qualified to pass value-judgements on various concepts belonging to different religions. In addition to these, for better and fuller comprehension of this religion, we require sympathetic and appreciative treading. Without this we shall not be able to grasp even the outer layers thereof, what to talk of the essentials.
In the present context Indian scholars (and authors) owe special obligations. Ours is the most religious region on the earth. This land has given birth to several major and minor living religions. We should, at the initial stage, supplement the existing studies (and texts) on the subject by introducing the important concepts of Indian religions. We may mention some of them - karma, rebirth, avidyā, mokşa, nirvāṇa, jivanamukti, lokasangraha, avatāra, Bodhisattva, etc.). Their inclusion may present complete picture of the situation. We must discuss whether Karma is a convenient fiction of Indian philosophy (as per Eliot Deutch of Hawaii) or is its bed-rock, whether avidyā is grounded in the individual or in the absolute, whether mokṣa is an end for mankind, whether nirvāṇa has positive contents and so on. If we introduce these concepts in the courses on religion offered by our universities the task could be expedited.
Further, conceptual comparisons will generate new insights
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