Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-13
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning July II.
Comment by Rev. $. ii. Doyle.


Comment by Rev. 5. IL. Doyle.
MISUNDERSTANDING compared with other
ireligions.-Acts xvii, 22-3l- IA missionary
fopic)
Christians need never fear a compari-
son of their religion with the other re-
ligions of the world. Many good people
feared the world S congress of religions,
but such fears proved to be groundless.
Elijah was not afraid of a test between
the God of Israel and Baal, the god of
Israel's enemies. Paul was not afraid to
stand upon Mars hill, in Athens and
compare his God with the innumerable
gods of the heather Greeks Our religion
today will stand the test of comparison
with all other religions In the grandeur
of its beliefs the effects produced upon
the lives of its adherents and the sub
Unity of its hopes for the future Chris
tianity far surpasses all the other re-
igions of the world.
l. Christianity surpasses all other re-
ligions in the grandeur of its beliefs
Its doctrines of God, of man and of the
relation existing between God and man
are infinitely superior to all modern re-
ligions Brahmanism, the caste religion
of India, is both pantheistic and poly
theistc. Buddhism. which holds be-
meath its sway so many millions in In
dia, China, Japan and other places, is
essentially atheistic. 1t has no concep-
ton of God at all Confucianism, the
state religion of China, is also practical
ly atheistic, having no real concept\l
of God, and i'll all of these idols made
by mans hands are worshiped in place
of God Mohammedanism has distort-
ed Christian idea of God. None of these
religions has higher idea Of man
than its ideas of God, and none has
any way by which it can explain the
relation existing between God and man.
How inferior to our beliefs in an in
finite, eternal, personal God who has
created man in His own image and who,
though separated from God by sin, may
be united to Him through Jesus Christ,
His Son.
2. Christianity surpasses all religions
in the effect it produces upon the lives
of men. Christianity presents to man
the highest ideals of life and gives him
lofty motives for striving to reach these
ideals. II teaches that pure and holy
life should be the aim of all, and every
where the world over it produces the
highest standard of moral life that the
world has ever seen. The ethical teach
ings of Jesus are the best the world has
ever had. Other religions debase and
debauch men as a necessary result of
their false doctrine and beliefs.
8. Christianity surpasses all other re-
ligions in its conceptions of the future.
Buddhism is religion of darkness and
despair both for this life and the life to
come 1t is hopeless The Mohammed-
ans idea of the future is life of the
grossest sensuality and sin. The hope
of the Brahman is at last to be lost in
Brahm the universal soul. Death to the
Brahman is the loss of consciousness.
There is no hope of a resurrection, of
Father home, of recognition of friends,
only rapid passing from one form of
life to another until lost altogether in
the one great soul. How hopeless
What despair as to the future. And how
much more infinitely SO when placed be-
side the Christian hope of eternal glo-
~ and happiness in heaven!
As we compare Christianity, our be
iefs and our hopes with those Of others,
how our hearts should burn within US
to send them the gospel to give them
true knowledge about God, themselves
and the future!
Shall we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high
Shall we to men benighted
NH