The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-20
CHRISTIANITY AND BUDDHISM.

ravel is that OF giving to scholars and
theologians a satisfactory explanation Of
the similarity between the legend of
Buddha with his history and teachings
and the story of Christ with the doc
trines of Christianity. That the similar
ity exists and that it is wonderfully
strong, all admit, whether leaning toward
the Buddhistic or the Christian faith.
Edwin Arnold. in his beautiful and
ingenious poem, brought into prominent
relief the points Of resemblance between
the two stories and treated the similarity
from the standp point of Buddhism. While
he no doubt made the parallel as strong
as the facts and his wonderful learning
and great ingenuity would naturally
enable him to do, he was nevertheless
unable to silence the theologians, who
ever since the publication of his book,
have been swarming about his ears. His
facts they do not deny. but they charge
him with exaggeration and conclusions
which are unwarranted. They explain
in various ways the similarities and ar
rive at the conclusion that it would be
but natural that in two codes of ethics
and moral law. both designed for the ad-
vancement of mankind and the elevation
of the race. there should be many points
of resemblance, changes being necessary
to conform to the habits, condition and
characteristics of people so widely differ
ing as did the Hindoos of the East and
the Jews of the West
But Arnold gained many disciples and
the effect of his Light of Asia has been
to spread Buddhism throughout the
countries of Europe and America. 1t has
been translated into fifty languages and
editions are even now appearing every
year. Written in the attractive style of
Orientalism, with flowing meter and
beautiful word painting. telling the story
Of the Buddah in vivid language, dealing
with miracles that dazzle the eye Of the
reader with their splendor, and last, but
not least, antagonizing Christianity the
book appealed directly to the admiration
and sympathies of thousands, each one
of whom has been the nucleus for the
propagation of the new faith. The book
appealed to skeptics in all lands and
they rallied around it as giving them
what they had been searching for so
Tonga religion opposed to that of Christ
And it was welcomed
Hundreds of volumes have been written
and published in reply to Arnold's book.
All accuse him of eXaggeratiOn, sbillfully
covered up by poetic license. but none
deny that he had foundation upon which
to base his statements. There was a
startling similarity found between the
two stories and the two religions when
they were searched into and theolOgianN
have been since engaged in excusing
those parallel points.
The result has been that the discussion
has made many learned Christians ad-
here more closely to their faith, while
it has made many Buddhists of those
who before were weak in the faith of
Christ and were but waiting for an OPP
portunity to separate themselves from
it. Where they before knew Of but one
religion they were introduced to another
which also had a saviour who came up
maculate conception, was a prodigy OF
knowledge while still almost an infant,
lived a moral. exemplary life. devoted
his life to the teaching and elevation of
he faIIo-vp,an asceudad into baa,-a,, op5
descended into hell, was tempted by
satan and spurned his offerings, died in
agony and assembled into heaven to be-
come part of the great Creator, leaving
behind him a code of laws that served
to elevate and make better millions OF
his fellowmen. They were told that this
savior. Buddah, came upon earth SOC
years before Christ and that therefore
the points of similarity between the two
stories and the two systems of ethical
teachings could be caused only by the
copying of the Christ story from that OF
the Buddha.
The avidity with which the new reli-
gion was grasped startled the theolo-
gians of the world, and they have since
| labored, almost without ceasing, in re-
moving the impression that the Chris
tan story is but a copy of the older
faith.
Three causes are assigned for the SINH.
larity by Christian writer's: Those that
are the result of accident, those that are
but imaginary and those which are the
natural result Of similar causes in each
case. A point greatly relied upon by
Christian writer's is that there is no rec
ord Of the Buddhist story having been
committed TO writing before the frs
century after Christ, a period of nearly
| six hundred years. Before that the
teachings as well as the legend had been
handed down from generation to genera
/ ton by word of mouth alone. Hence
1 Christian writer's argue that If there ha:
been any copying of one from the other
1t is but natural to suppose that the
were written as early as from IA to 12C
A. D., part OF them during the lifetime
of those who had been the personal com
panions Of Christ. But the fact that
both religions were put in writing al
about the same time has always beer
| puzzling to writers who support the