The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-06
AMONG THE BELIEVERS.

| anu Oh animated udIuTes IHCOAACo al Z
as multiplied as are the races of the
earth, and a study of them leaves our
conceptions of the origin of matter
and being as vague and uncertain as
chaos was indefinite. Among prim-
tive doctrines there is much uni
formity of belief, that all things were
held in solution, out of which segre-
cations formed in the ages the lnnu-
merable orbs and eccentric things of
the universe. The Old Testament
teaches three cosmogonies- perfect,
a fragmentarY and poetical. In
Genesis the pre-eXistence OF matter
is taught, where it is said: "The
earth was chaos, and darkness was
| upon the flood, and Elohim was hover
ing upon the face of the waters" 1t
was Elohim, as it appears from this
cosmogony, who preceded God him.
self, the Eolus of mythology, prob
ably, breathing upon chaos and giving
life alike to Creator" and creation,
While Genesis seems thus to place the
chaotic state under the care of a demi-
urge, out OF which matter was put
into shape from pre-eXisting shapeless
matter, the AVeSta teaches that the
universe was called into existence
from nothing; and mans conception
of the beginning and the end. and the
C copied power of the Creator, makes
Aryan cosmogony as sound as that of
the Jews. Vedic coSmOgony teaches
the original existence of a prodigious
body, from which sprang the multi
piled parts of creation. The Hindoos
assert that there was a self existent
Lord whose thought created liquid
existence, in which seed was depos-
tied, out of which grew Brahma, the
creator Of all things. The. ancient
Egyptians taught that God willed,
and thai all things were as they
now are. Scandinavian cosmogony
teaches that cold and heat, uniting.
created giant, from whom sprung
Odin. and then Ymir, whose flesh,
blood and bones became the earth, sea
and mountains. CosmOgonies are so
olQll ulNClOC, OOiOhSO oO
full of explosive forces for them, that
the most reasonable are abandoned by
the learned. They form the incipi-
encies, however, for all religious be-
liefs, and are the bases of the worlds di-
versified doctrines. Mythology has been
co-existent with even the Christian
religion. and belongs in at least sub
dued relation to all beliefs. Myths
cluster about all faiths. Mythology
teaches of things imaginative, not
real representations of that which it
seems to mean. Many contend that
it is history changed into fable, others
that it is fable changed into history.
However this may be, it has formed
and does form a part of nearly, if not
every, religious belief. Mythology
has been part of all cosmogonies,.. land
is the basis of more religion than our
PHILOSOPHERS admit of. 1t is certainly
symbolical, as to-day the forms of
church worship are symbolical. The
idea of Buddhist blowing to the i'm
age of his god is scorned, when every
true Catholic kneels before the image
of the Blessed Virgin, when every
true Christian eats the body of Christ
and drinks His blood. Symbolism ex-
lists in all the forms of religion, and
the generous and enlightened will
concede to all alike the right to wor
ship as belief dictates. Mythology
is but poetical reflection of the
forms and forces of nature-cosmog-
onies and beliefs made attractive.
The more of poetry that attaches to
them the greater become the harmo-
MES, the more universal become race
doctrines. The Old Testament is
delightful poem from beginning to
end. Poetry is thrown into its his
tory, and its poetical illusions and
records and inspirations make its
pages. fascinating beyond measure.
The Hebrews knew the value of
making their belief fascinating, and
Israel was united, and is united, and
will remain unitedto the end of race
existence. The Hebrews have one
doctrine, one church, one mode of
worship, one religious existence, and
to the poetry of their faith, in great
measure, attaches this undying unity.
The Talmud, containing the oral laws
and traditions of the Jews,
remains, like the laws of the
Modes and Persians, unchanged.
Nearly nineteen centuries ago
the Messiah came to rehabilitate
the earth in doctrines necessary for
it's perfect redemption, to wipe out of
existence the realistic lines of false
religions. Recent statistics show how
the religions of the world now stand.
OF monotheists there are 627,000,O 900.
OF pagans 15,000,OO0, the former be-
ing divided, according to the nations
embracing different beliefs, into 212.-
100000 Catholics, 208,OOO,O0O Protes-
tants and 2OO,O00,OOO Mohammedans.
OF pagans there are 423,-
100000 Buddhists, 163,000,OO0 of
the Brahmanistic faith, while of
heathens there are 230,O0OOOO. More
interesting, says compiler, than the
| figures themselves is the conclusion,
that faiths are bounded by geograph-
ical lines; that in three hundred years
no nation has changed its religion,
that no country has gone from one
faith to another. Mohammedanism
has spread into Africa and Buddhism
in China, while none of the old
| changes have been renewed.
Christianity had its birth in western
Asia, and Christ himself planted it in
southern Europe. Its geographical
lines, nearly nineteen hundred years
afterwards, are confined almost wholly,
in the old world, to Europe, while
where its plant was made in Asia
the Prophet of God" began. in the
early part of the seventh Christian
century, to preach new doctrine,
which to-day numbers, in what are
said to be true believers,
more human beings than are
embraced in all the Protestant COM
munities OF the world. including
church members and those who pay
to Professionalism the outward defer
ences accorded it in Christian COM