The Religions Of India Brahmanism And Buddhism

THE study of religions outside of Christianity has now overcome many of the prejudices which hindered its earlier growth. It has no longer to contend with the suspicion that the effort to understand other religions will make us attach less value to our own. On the contrary, the tendency of the study of religions is seen more and more to strengthen the hold of Christianity upon us. The student of this science is led to see very clearly how all men need religion and have provided themselves in one way or another with access to the powers above them. But it happens very rarely that even the most sympathetic study of a foreign religion leads anyone to prefer it to his own. In contemplating other faiths, we do, it is true, become aware that some features of Christianity are stronger than others and do more to qualify it to spread over the world. We have to distinguish between the essence of Christianity, in which lies the secret of its power, and its accidental features. That surely must confirm and not weaken the tie that binds us to Christ.