A study in comparative religion

Date

1900

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Abstract

Introduction: The most universal and fundamental instinct of the human race is the instinct of worship. Every being who possesses that power which distinguishes man from beast, viz. the power to think and reason, as soon as he becomes aware that he possesses this power – as soon as he realizes that he has life – he knows that he is the creation of a being superior to himself and to this being he bows in worship; but the motives which lead man to worship are varied according to his position in the ladder of human progress. It is within the scope of this article to treat in a comparative way not only these various motives, but also the principles and teachings of several of the great religions of the world. The idea is still prevalent among Christians, though to a less extent than formerly, that all the religions of the world, excepting Judaism and Christianity, were invented and thrust upon the people by an imposing priesthood; that these two, alone, were the revealed word of God; these two contained nothing false; all others contained nothing true. With a little unprejudiced study, it is seen that, during the growth of the world, different men in different nations have felt that longing for the good and the true which lifted them so near the divine presence that they have caught and proclaimed a part of His infinite truth. It is true that ignorance, superstition and tricks of priestcraft have, in all the ethnic religions, greatly disfigured their central truth, and in many cases have substituted in the minds of the people false ideals for true ones; but it is equally true that the same elements have worked in the so called revealed religions, tending, in different ages, to produce similar results.

Description

Citation: Correll, Charles McClain. A study in comparative religion. Senior thesis, Kansas State Agricultural College, 1900.
Morse Department of Special Collections

Keywords

Religion, Comparative Religion

Citation