The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-30
THE ORIENTAL RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIAN.
ITY.
(Rerort for Class D by W. By

(Report for Class d by W. b.
The subject of my paper is brief comparison
of the Oriental religions and Christianity. and as
it is very short one trust the circle will pardon
me for selecting this subject. 1 think the study
of HindoOisn to be one of intense interest 1t
should, however. be studied in connection with
its geographical surroundings, and in its political.
social and other phases. So taken. it opens up q
vast field Of most entertaining information and
useful knowledge. The 1.-Two Old Faiths" which
book forms the basis Of this paper, is. take it.
merely an introduction to the subject and is in.
tended as guide on what lines should pursue
and follow it up. The further advance the
wider will appear the field of inquiries and
there is no danger of our exhausting the subject.
The first thing which arrested my attention in
connection with Hindooism was the singular fact
of religion growing from comparative grandeur
and sublimity of thought to the lowest depths of
degrading and disgusting ideas. The earlier
writings in the Holy Books. called the Veda. con.
tain description of the god Varuna. meaning
Encompasser, which compares favorably with any
description Of the great Jehovah contained in the
Hebrew Scriptures. But Max Muller asserts that
in their later religious books. sentiments and pas
sions are ascribed to their gods unworthy of
deity. would like to remark here, that Col. In.
gersOll in his lectures and essays attacking Chris.
tianity makes the same charge against the writ.
ings OF the Old Testament. The point wish to
make is that which the Oriental religions in their
conception Of God have deteriorated. the Chris.
tian religion keeps on improving with the ad.
vance of time. According to Lord Macaulay all is
now hideous and grotesque in connection with
Hindooism, and De Tocqueville AYERS that Hin.
dooism is perhaps the only religion which is
worse than having religion at all. That is a
sweeping and severe expression of opinion but is
not. think, unjustifed. There is nothing of
hopeful nature in the religion, this life simply
penal and they look for nothing better after this
is ended. but the soul is supposed to pass from
one body to another through countless ages to
come. until at last it is lost or annihilated alto.
gether. Nothing however is more repulsive in
their religious system than their treatment and
views of women, which have gradually become
most tyranical. The burning of widows, which
was Of common occurrence. has been prohibited BY
enactment, but the awful rite would in many
cases be restored were it not for the strong hand
OF the British government. The practice of mar.
rying women in childhood is still prevalent
Multitudes of the so.called widows were of course
never really wives their so.called husbands hav.
ing died in childhood. The latest term employed
IN connection with one branch of HindOoiSm is
theOsophism. and small coterie of highly edu.
Gated Americans and Europeans have recently
joined that body. styling themselves theosophsts
Were it not for the social and intellectual prom
inence of the converts the movement would prob.
ably have escaped notice. small is the actual
number. AS it is, it has served a useful purpose
in directing attention and enquiry to the Oriental
religions. which will doubtless rebound to the
credit of the Christian faith.
Whilst Mohammedanism is. think, far ahead
of Hindoosm it is still much inferior in its teach.
ings and precepts to Christianity, especially in
the ideas held concerning women. The trouble
with the Koran the bible of the Mohamm ed ans)
is that it admits of change or deviation in its
social tenets explicitly laid down therein con-
sequently the book which should contain the ideal
towards which they should be striving to ap.
proach, acts instead insurmountable barrier
against all PROCESS improvement and the growing
up of those systems which even if useful at the
time of their adoption are wholly out of place at
this age Of the world.
In conclusion would like to add that there are
two vices (which are prolific of most all others)