Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-08

ligiOus and social system which grew
out Of the polytheistiC nature wor-
ship q the ancient AryaR conquer
Crs OF Northern India. Today Il Is
spread over entire India and though
greatly changed since its inception.
influences all classes OF people in that
densely populated country. BTahman-
ism is propagated through its sacred
books known as the Nedas. which
were originally oral compositions be-
longing TO the period l500-4U0 B. {.
These are for the most part hymns
TO the many gods; they also contain
prayers and services for sacrifice
In Brahmanism nigrations through
various forms Of animal and plant
life were taught with the direct result
that it became a sacrilege TO destroy
the life Of any living being. Carpentry.
basket making and the working in
leather came into disrepute for they
involved the destruction of life.
Some ZealOts went so far as to con.
dem the tilling of the sol. out Of re.
gard for the welfare Of worms, gruhs,
ard pupae which might be the transit
ton stage OF noble being. From the
standpoint Of social welfare carrying
these customs into the absurd has the
tendency of decitaliZing the popula-
ton and the placing too much import
ance on those phases of life which are
Gepre< sing and deadening. The people
are overburdened with restraint of
customs that darken and Lollute the
whole social system.
The most striking social institution
Of Brahtmanism is caste. There are
four castles. with Understandable modi-
fl ations and subdivisions. The four
castles are the priestly class the war
riOr class, the farmer and artisan
class and the serfs who are the con-
QCered natives of the SOL. The mass es
OF the people suffer great poverty and
ignorance and absurd practices and
beliefs hold them to the ground >Only
the three upper castles have the right
TO know the vedas, and to take part
m the sacrifices. and only the priestly
class has the right to teach.
Mshammedanism.
Mohammedanism is the most militant
of all religious, and the larger infiu-
ences Of the faith are manifested by
the conQuering army and the sword.
The religion is tempermental, that is
IL draws to its membership mainly
those who have the keenest tastes for
the battle, and those who hold death
in light esteem. 1t is admirable in
theory, but in practice there is lax
ity in righteoulnes justice, and NOR
atty that makes the whole faith re-
pulsive and prevents it from accomp-
fishing the good that it might. The
five Pillars of the ritualistic side of
Islam are the recital of the Greed,
Prayer, Fasting. Almsgiving, and the
pilgrimage to Mecca. All the cardinal
slrs and misdemeanors of men are
prohibited by Islam, but there are
many exceptional circumstances and
exegencies of life. Women have few
rights and little respect; slavery Is
rot only tolerated by the Koran. but
is looked upon as a practical neces-
sity.
In political matters Islam is a sys-
tenn of despotism in its own domains,
and of INSCRIPTIONS agsres sion
abroad The rights of non Moslem
subjects are very vague and limited.
Religious war, either IN individual
combat or by national aggression is
sacred duty wherever there Is
chance against the intidel.
One fact that stands out very clear
ly in the study of these religions, is,
that is all countries where any one of
them or all of them are practiced the
social, political and spiritual condi-
tons are stagnant or in some in
stances declining.
Brahmanism is eminently spiritual
tut intensely inhuman.
Buddhism recognizes the brother
hood of man, but in its practical as
poets ignores the duties of helrfulness
and service that one man owes an
other.
Mohammedansm taught the SOW
ereingty of God. but permitted the
grossest outrages by man against
man.
Confusianism ennobled the intellect
but invoculated the mind and heart
against the service of knowledge for
TIE alienation of the sufferings of
mankind.