The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-04
THE A 3 C'S OF EASTERN s
RELIGIONS MADE VERY PLAIN
Something Russian Orthodoxy and the Doctrine shn
Buddhism Confucanisrn Of Japan-Buddhas Noble
Eight Fold PATH
What is the religion Of Russia?

What is the religion of Russia?
About II per cent of the population
belong to the Greek Catholic branch
of the Christian church, 8 per cent are
Roman Catholics, per cent are Mo-
hammedans, per cent are Protes-
naming per cent belong to the va
rious cults. The Greek church is
known officially as the Orthodox
Catholic or Pravoslav (straight Slav).
How does the Greek Catholic differ
from the Roman Catholic faith?
The chief external points Of differ
ence lie in the Greek denial of the SUI
premacy Of the pope, in the substitu-
ton of pictures for images in all forms
of worship and in the marriage of the
clergy. A candidate for the Greek
priesthood must be married, but a
priest who becomes WidoWer can
not remarry.
What are the doctrinal differences
between the two churches?
The Greek church recognizes the
authority Of only the earlier church
councils and it's theology is conse-
quently less highly developed than
that of Rome. The systems of doc
trine of the two churches, however,
are in substantial accord. The
Greeks regard the doctrine that the
Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son
as we'll as from the Father as the
great Roman heresy. The orthodox
system asserts that the Spirit comes
from the Father alone. The Greek
church maintains the confessional.
Its services in Russia are in the
ancient Slavic, which is not under
stood by the people.
How is the Russian church gov
erned?
It's head is the car, who appoints
to every ecclesiastical office. But he
has never claimed the right to de-
eide theological questions. The act
! ual government is vested in the holy
synod. In practice the procurator of
| the holy synod-at present M.
Probyedonostseff- lis the virtual
head of the church in Russia.
Is Christianity an effective force In
| Russia?
In spite Of occasional outbursts Of
barbarism 1t is generally agreed by
competent observers that the church
exercises powerful influence over the
| Russian mind. The holy picture Is
placed everywhere as an aid to devo-
| ton. It may be found over gateways
| in taverns, railroad stations, and Of
| fees, as we'll as in houses and
churches In time Of drought the
Russian peasants march in procession
praying for rain. The religious feel
insanely fanatical sects. There are
millions of primitive Christians of the
| Tolstoi type within the empire. There
| is und oubtedly strong feeling thai
Russia is the divinely ordained mis-
| sionary nation to carry the cross to the
far as to call Russia the most deeply
| RELIGIOUS nation In the world.
! Is Russia, then, properly classec
among the great Christian nations?
Certainly. It SO considers itself ant
while both Professionals and member
of the Roman church would dispute IT.
doctrine, there Is no valid reason fol
refusing to regard it as Christian.
1 What Is the religion Of the Japan,
ese?
| The constitution grants freedom O.
religious belief and practice, and there
is no state church. But most Of tn
people are adhsrents to sh,nto o
Of Confucius, too, has been widel
taught in Japan and has had a pro
found influence.
Are there any Christians in Japan
Yes, about 10000 Professionals an
Greek and Roman Catholics. Fran
i els Xavier, the great Jesuit mission
) airy, introduced Christianity into ia
| L
: there were a million converts. Blu
persecution practically had stampe
! out the church when missionarie
again entered Japan forty-fve year
r ago.
What is shinto?
8 Shinto is a system of worship !
which ancestors, heroes, emperors an
forces Of nature are revered. 1T ha
no dogmas, no sacred books, no mora
code.'' It's theory Of duty is summe
up in the injunction: Follow you
impulses and obey the laws Of tn
! state 1t requires of its adheren1
nothing save worship at certai
consists of washing face or hands wit
holy water, of ringing a bell or claI
: ping to call the gods attention, (
e offering a coin, of making a sho1
= prayer, and Of a farewell bow.
). Is shinto, strictly speaking, a re
r ligion?
h Europe and America, for it teache
!, nothing of sin or salvation or tn
, future life. But 1t is regarded wit
/ awe and reverence by the mass Of tn
:, people. Educated Japanese hold thu
! Shinto is merely cult embodyin
i the principle Of veneration for al
/ cestors, and having for its chief fun'
ton the performance of rites in men
ory of the divine ancestors of the en-
pire's sovereigns." It has been losir
influence in Japan. In 1858 the coul
i, Gil in charge Of Shinto was Of equ
: authority with the great council of TT
government. Gradually this religion
IS body was deprived of it's powers, ar
10 four years ago Shinto affairs were pl
y in charge Of simple bureau
- shrines.
Is What is Buddhism?
le Buddhism is the accepted faith
y the great mass Of the Japanese peopl
u It was introduced into the empi
from Korea in the sixth century.
g teaches that suffering exists wherev
A. there is sentiment being; that Il
s, cause of suffering is desire, a crawl
j. for pleasure; that deliverance can
is had only thru the extinguisheing
desire or nirvana; and that nirval
can be attained only by walking in t
path of Buddha, the noble eigk
fold path"
+ What is the noble eightfold path
1t comprises right views, rig
thoughts, right words, right actor
=, right means Of livelihood right stu
= | of the law right memory of the IL