Decline of Sacred Authority: Erosion of Abrahamic Seats and the Distortion of Indic Philosophical Traditions in Modern Religious Institutions

 

Decline of Sacred Authority: Erosion of Abrahamic Seats and the Distortion of Indic Philosophical Traditions in Modern Religious Institutions

Abstract

This interdisciplinary paper investigates the decline of traditional seats of spiritual authority across major world religions—Christianity, Islam, Judaism—and their counterparts in the Indic tradition. It evaluates how the original teachings of Vedanta, Buddhism, and Jainism have been co-opted, diluted, or appropriated by institutional Hinduism (via Mathas and Peethas), similar to the way the Church, Zionist political movements, and the Saudi monarchy have undermined the ethical and philosophical core of Abrahamic religions. This comparative analysis draws from theological sources, sociological case studies, and historical records to understand the de-sacralization and politicization of dharma across civilizations.

Introduction: From Revelation to Regime

Religious institutions have traditionally served as custodians of wisdom and moral order. But across both Abrahamic and Dharmic traditions, there is a noticeable decline in spiritual authenticity, replaced by sectarianism, ritualism, and political opportunism. The term “seat” (Church, Zion, Ummah, Peeth, Math) once stood for transcendence and collective liberation, but now often serves ethno-national, casteist, or oligarchic functions.

Part I: The Abrahamic Collapse of Spiritual Legitimacy

1.1 Christianity: From Apostolic Church to Christian Zionism

• The institutional Church became a vehicle of empire (e.g. Roman Papacy, Crusades).
• The rise of Christian Zionism redefined Christ’s message of meekness and spiritual salvation into support for militaristic Israeli nationalism.

Reference: Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism (2006)

1.2 Judaism: From Prophetic Tradition to Zionist Realpolitik

• Classical Jewish ethics (Tikkun Olam, social justice) have been overshadowed by Zionist nationalism.
• Avraham Burg (ex-Knesset Speaker) called Israel “a scaffolding of oppression and injustice.”

Reference: Burg, Avraham. The end of Zionism. The Guardian, 2003

1.3 Islam: The Saud Family and the Capture of the Ummah

• The House of Saud, allied with Wahhabi clerics, established a theocratic monarchy with a strict and selective reading of Islam.

References:

• Wahhabi sack of Karbala (1802)
• Demolition of al-Baqi (1925)
• Foreign Policy on MBS’s “fake” reforms (2019)

Part II: Indic Traditions and the Rise of Sectarian Institutional Hinduism

2.1 Vedanta: From Non-Dual Unity to Sectarian Superiority

• Advaita Vedanta emphasized non-duality (Brahman = Self), transcending caste and form.
• Modern Mathas (Sringeri, Dwarka, etc.) now compete for legitimacy, often aligning with caste and regional pride.
• Philosophical sects like Dvāita, Vishishtadvaita now cast aspersions at each other rather than engage in dialogue.

2.2 Buddhism and Jainism: Forgotten Roots, Distorted Absorption

• Buddhism and Jainism were anti-ritual, anti-caste movements with a focus on renunciation, ethics, and inner liberation.
• Today, they are often subsumed into Hinduism, misrepresented as “just another Hindu path.”
• Example: Buddha declared as a Vishnu avatar, distorting his anti-Brahminical critique.

2.3 Math and Peethas: Institutional Power vs Spiritual Integrity

• Originally intended as seats of dharma, most Peethas now engage in politics, land disputes, and sectarian rivalry.
• Public condemnations, debates on rituals, and identity-based polemics replace genuine spiritual engagement.

Part III: Common Threads of Decay

Axis of Collapse	Abrahamic Faiths	Indic Traditions
Spiritual Universalism	Jesus, Moses, Muhammad	Buddha, Mahavira, Vedanta Brahman
Institutional Capture	Vatican, Zionist State, Saud Rule	Caste-bound Mathas, Saffron politics
Original Ethic	Liberation, Justice, Compassion	Moksha, Ahimsa, Self-inquiry
Modern Replacement	Nationalism, Oligarchy, Wahhabism	Casteism, Ritualism, Sectarianism

Conclusion: Toward a Restoration of Dharmic and Ethical Traditions

Across both Abrahamic and Indic traditions, the collapse of authentic spiritual seats has led to a crisis of legitimacy. Reform and restoration will require:

• Decentralizing religious authority
• Returning to core ethical teachings
• Rejecting identity-based superiority
• Fostering inter-traditional dialogue

Spiritual traditions must shed their institutional ego to recover their original purpose: liberation of the soul and justice for society.

References

1. Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism (2006)
2. Burg, A. (2003). The End of Zionism. The Guardian
3. Wahhabi sack of Karbala
4. Demolition of al-Baqi
5. Mohammed bin Salman’s Fake Reforms - Foreign Policy (2019)
6. Hacker, Paul. Philology and Confrontation: Paul Hacker on Traditional and Modern Vedanta
7. King, Richard. Orientalism and Religion: Postcolonial Theory, India and 'the Mystic East'
8. Basham, A.L. The Wonder That Was India