This book contains two essays, one by each of the listed authors. They describe the two religions of Hinduism and Islam, their history, and their contrast with Christianity. This book was part of the curriculum for the C.L.S.C. (the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle) in the early 1900s.
By : John Murray Mitchell (1815 - 1904) and William Muir (1819 - 1905)
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The Hindu Religion.
Introduction.
The system of religious belief which is generally called Hinduism is, on many accounts, Hinduism deserving of study.eminently deserving of study. If we desire to trace the history of the ancient religions of the widely extended Aryan or Indo-European race, to which we ourselves belong, we shall find in the earlier writings of the Hindus an exhibition of it decidedly more archaic even than that which is presented in the Homeric poems. Then, the growth—the historical development—of Hinduism is not less worthy of attention than its earlier phases. It has endured for upward of three thousand years, no Its antiquity.doubt undergoing very important changes, yet in many things retaining its original spirit. The progress of the system has not been lawless; and it is exceedingly instructive to note the development, and, if possible, explain it.
We are, then, to endeavor to study Hinduism chronologically. Unless he does so almost every man who tries to comprehend it is, at first, overwhelmed with a feeling of utter confusion and bewilderment. Hinduism spreads out before him as a vast river, or even what seems at first
"a dark
Illimitable ocean, without bound,
Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height,
And time, and place are lost."
But matters begin to clear up when he begins at The discussion chronological.the beginning, and notes how one thing succeeded another. It may not be possible as yet to trace all the windings of the stream or to show at what precise points in its long course it was joined by such and such a tributary; yet much is known regarding the mighty river which every intelligent man will find it profitable to note and understand.
The Christian ought not to rest satisfied with the vague general idea The Christian's duty in relation to the subject.that Hinduism is a form of heathenism with which he has nothing to do, save to help in destroying it. Let him try to realize the ideas of the Hindu regarding God, and the soul, and sin, and salvation, and heaven, and hell, and the many sore trials of this mortal life. He will then certainly have a much more vivid perception of the divine origin and transcendent importance of his own religion. Farther, he will then extend a helping hand to his Eastern brother with far more of sensibility and tenderness; and in proportion to the measure of his loving sympathy will doubtless be the measure of his success. A yearning heart will accomplish more than the most cogent argument.
In this Tract we confine ourselves to the laying down of great leading facts and principles; The purpose of the Tract.but these will be dwelt upon at sufficient length to give the reader, we trust, an accurate conception of the general character and history of Hinduism. We shall also briefly contrast the system with Christianity.
The history of Hinduism may be divided into three great periods, each embracing, in round numbers, about a thousand years.
The Rise And Decline of Islam.
Introduction.
Among the religions of the earth Islam must take the precedence in the rapidity and force Islam pre-eminent in its rapid spread.with which it spread. Within a very short time from its planting in Arabia the new faith had subdued great and populous provinces. In half a dozen years, counting from the death of the founder, the religion prevailed throughout Arabia, Syria, Persia, and Egypt, and before the close of the century it ruled supreme over the greater part of the vast populations from Gibraltar to the Oxus, from the Black Sea to the river Indus.
In comparison with this grand outburst the first efforts of Christianity were, to the outward Propagation far quicker than of Christianity.eye, faint and feeble, and its extension so gradual that what the Mohammedan religion achieved in ten or twenty years it took the faith of Jesus long centuries to accomplish.
The object of these few pages is, first, to inquire briefly into the causes which led to the marvelous Object of the Tract.rapidity of the first movement of Islam: secondly, to consider the reasons which eventually stayed its advance; and, lastly, to ascertain why Mohammedan countries have kept so far in the rear of other lands in respect of intellectual and social progress. In short, the question is how it was that, Pallas-like, the faith sprang ready-armed from the ground, conquering and to conquer, and why, the weapons dropping from its grasp, Islam began to lose its pristine vigor, and finally relapsed into inactivity.
The2 most weaponised religions in the world, brutally destroyed people and their cultures and gained their position as number 1 and 2.
ReplyDeleteWhy does no one talk about their brutality, surely their followers should ask themselves the ugly truth about their faiths. How can they follow these religions blindly. It seems no one is willing to answer this question. What good is it to be number 1 and 2 with so much ugly brutal history.