INTRODUCTORY: NECESSITY FOR A PROPER COMPARISON OF BUDDHISM AND
CHRISTIANITY.
Schopenhauer’s prediction as to the influence of Oriental studies upon
European religion and philosophy—New science of Comparative Theology—Its
value to the expounders of Christianity—Study of all religions binding
upon Christians—Special claims of Buddhism—Its duration and wide-spread
diffusion—The quality of its doctrinal and ethical system—The
correspondences between it and Christianity—Instructive parallels of
historical development—Resemblances, if granted or assumed, not to be
accounted for by theory of derivation—Renan—E. Burnouf—Ernest de
Bunsen—Both religions independent in origin, though analogous in
development—What the significance of this—True answer to be found, not
by examining alleged resemblances between the religions, but their
points of contradiction and contrast—Unity of humanity involves organic
unity of language and of religion—What is meant by organic unity and
development of religion—Declarations of Scripture—Christianity as the
universal religion has much in common with all—has something peculiar to
itself which it possesses in contrast—In this will be found not only its
superiority to all the rest, but the answer to all their cravings and
aspirations, _Pages 1-58_