Book Description

The Hindu system of Moral Science is a part and parcel of the general metaphysical system of the Hindus. The first principles of the Hindu metaphysics are the following: From the Absolute, Unconditioned and Perfect Supreme Being proceeded the related, conditioned and imperfect universe. He manifests Himself as related and conditioned, in forming, and for the sake of, the related and conditioned universe and thus becomes the Personal God of love and power." From this metaphysical system, which is a doctrine of the "Unconditioned and Perfect Supreme Being," the thinkers of India have deduced a lofty and attractive system of rules for the conduct of the practical life. But the multitudes of India have always remained, and still remain, held fast by a relatively low and, in many respects, repulsive morality, which is the survival of the superstitious and degrading beliefs of those nature-religions in which Brahmanism found them, and from which it hus never been able to raise them. With these multitudes religion itself, instead of being a comprehensive and effective moral influence, is almost entirely a matter of rites and ceremonies. With these characteristics of Hinduism, as respects its conformity to the ethical ideal, we may contrast Judaism on the one hand and Christianity on the other. The moral austerity and intensity which Judaism gained from its conception of Yahweh as the righteous One is beyond question a fact in the history of religions. But this conception itself was lacking in certain elements which are present in the conception of Hinduism; and the character of the morals encouraged and produced by the conception among the Jews themselves was somewhat one-sided and devoid of breadth and geniality. These relatively suppressed or wanting factors in the ideal of God as perfect ethical Spirit, in the ethical impulses and ideas, and in the supports to conduct which come from such an ideal, were supplied by the conception of the Divine Being which Jesus revealed. And the marked immediate improvement of the moral life of individual believers, the increased satisfaction of the ethical nature, and the leavening moral influence over surrounding social conditions, which early Christianity showed, are matters of its history too well known to need more than a passing mention here. -The Philosophy of Religion, pg. 77-78