Comparative ReligionCarpenter, J. Estlin (Joseph Estlin)
Religion
Comparative Religion
Carpenter, J. Estlin (Joseph Estlin)
Religions
The expression of religion in action produces the offering and the
prayer: by sacrifice and devotion, with thanksgiving and requests, do
men approach their gods. But there is another way of entering into
fruitful obedience to them. Certain kinds of conduct may be acceptable
to them, and others not. Are these concerned only with ceremonial
acts, or do they include the behaviour of men to each other? How far
does religion promote or regulate what we call morality? What are
their relations, and how do they affect one another? This question has
been discussed in innumerable treatises; attention can only be invited
to it here from the point of view of the historical comparison of
religions, without reference to philosophical definitions. Every one
admits a connection of some sort, for good or for evil, at some period
in their respective development. They may not have started hand in
hand. Their alliance may be disbanded, and morality may claim total
independence. But at some time on the journey they have marched
together.
{196}
The difficulty of the inquiry arises in part from the variety of views
as to the scope and essence of both morality and religion. Where do
they begin, and in what do they consist? The philosopher may demand a
complete recognition of the freedom of the will, and the independent
activity of the conscience, and savages who have no such words are set
down as destitute of morality, just as those who have no Heavenly
Father and no devil, no heaven and no hell, are described as without
religion. It is obviously impossible to expect to find everywhere our
categories of right and wrong; yet even Lord Avebury lent his high
authority to the statement that there are many savages almost entirely
without moral feeling largely on the ground of the absence of ideas of
sin, remorse, and repentance. Mr. Huxley in the same way declared it
obvious that the lower religions are entirely unethical.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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