"Religious feeling is either a distinct primary feeling or a peculiar compound feeling."--_Neuman Smyth._ "A sanction for duty."--_Kant._ "A morality tinged by emotion."--_Matthew Arnold._ "By religion I mean that general habit of reverence towards the divine nature whereby we are enabled to worship and serve God."--_Wilkins._ "A propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man, which are supposed to control the course of nature and of human life."--_J. G. Frazer._ "The modes of divine worship proper to different tribes."--_Anon._ "The performance of duty to God and man." It is to be noted that all the above are of Europeans acquainted practically with only Christianity. * * * * * The following are some that have been given me by Orientals: "The worship of Allah."--_Mahommedan._ "A knowledge of the laws of life that lead to happiness."--_Buddhist._ "Doing right." "Other-worldliness." INTRODUCTION. Some time ago I wrote "The Soul of a People." It was an attempt to understand a people, the Burmese; to understand a religion, that of Buddha. It was not an attempt to find abstract truth, to discuss what may be true or not in the tenets of that faith, to discover the secret of all religions. It was only intended to show what Buddhism in Burma is to the people who believe in it, and how it comes into their lives. Yet it was impossible always to confine the view to one point. It is natural--nay, it is inevitable--that when a man studies one faith, comparison with other faiths should intrude themselves. The world, even the East and West, is so bound together that you cannot treat of part and quite ignore the rest. And so thoughts arose and questions came forward that lay outside the scope of that book. I could not write of them there fully. Whatever question arose I was content then to give only the Buddhist answer, I had to leave on one side all the many answers different faiths may have propounded. I could not discuss even where truth was likely to be found. I was bound by my subject. But in this book I have gone further. This is a book, not of one religion nor of several religions, but of religion. Mainly, it is true, it treats of Christianity and Buddhism, because these are the two great representative faiths, but it is not confined to them. Man asks, and has always asked, certain questions. Religions have given many answers. Are these answers true? Which is true? Are any of them true? It is in a way a continuation of "The Soul of a People," but wider. It is of "The Hearts of Men." * * * * * Before beginning this book I have a word to say on the meanings that I attach to the word "Christianity" and a few other words, so that I may be more clearly understood. There was a man who wrote to me once explaining why he was a Christian, and wondering how anyone could fail to be so.