(October 15, 2012 at 1:14 pm)Akincana Krishna dasa Wrote: I thought about how to answer this question, and decided I couldn't do it justice with a two sentence answer.
Hate to do this to you, but the best answer I can give is to direct you to this essay/book, which deals with these fundamental questions extensively:
http://www.suhotraswami.net/library/Subs...Shadow.pdf
It may be worth looking at or reading for anyone interested in a serious answer to these types of questions. Generally, the idea of accepting scripture as authority is seen as foolish or anti-intellectual. The book linked above makes a serious, philosophical case for scriptural authority.
(October 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Care to summarize the strongest points in that case (in your estimation)?
There aren't any strong points. Contrary to what Akincana says, the book can actually be summarized in a few sentences.
"Science concerns itself with only material things. It cannot answer philosophical questions. It is, therefore, limited and not a reliable source of knowledge. Therefore, and this is asserted without giving any reason, the Vedas should be considered the source of knowledge. Since your senses and science are not perfect, the better way to gain knowledge is through revelation - or what the book call darshana."
The rest of it goes on to expound Vedic philosophy as a given with all its mystical mumbo-jumbo.
