BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY 140

New Interest in Old Controversies Concerning Buddhism—­Max Mueller’s Reply to the Alleged Influence of the System on Christianity—­The Distinction to be made between the Credible History of Gautama and Later Legends—­The Legends of the Pre-existent States and the Wonders Attending the Earthly Life—­The Northern and the Southern Buddhism—­The Sources of the Principal Legends—­The Four Principal Doctrines of Buddhism, Skandas, Trishna, Kharma, and Nirvana—­Difficulties in the Doctrines of Kharma and Nirvana—­Various Opinions of Scholars in Regard to the Nature of Nirvana—­Buddha’s Final Reticence on the Subject—­The Real Goal at which the Average Buddhist Aims—­The Need of a Careful Estimate of the Merits and Demerits of Buddhism, and of the Hold which it is likely to have on Western Minds—­Its Points of Contact with Western Errors—­The Fact that Modern Buddhism, like many other False Systems, Claims Christ as a Believer in its Principles—­The Theory that the Life of Christ is Modelled after that of the Buddha—­The Superior Authenticity of the Life of Christ—­The Unreliable Character of Buddhist Legends—­The Intrinsic Improbability that a Religion claiming a Distinct Derivation from Jewish Sources would Borrow from a far-off Heathen System—­The Contrast of Christ’s Loving Recognition of the Father in Heaven with the Avowed Atheism of Buddhism—­The General Spirit of the System Forbids all Thought of Borrowing from it—­Points of Contrast.

LECTURE VI.

MOHAMMEDANISM PAST AND PRESENT 178

Posthumous Legends of Mohammed; how they were Produced—­Ancient Arabia and its Religious Systems—­The Vale of Mecca and its Former Uses—­The Birth of Mohammed, and his Religious Associations—­His Temperament and Character—­The Beginnings of his Prophetic Mission—­Jews and Christians in Arabia and their Influence on Mohammedanism—­Their Errors and Shortcomings a Help to the Reformer—­Strange Doctrines of the Christian Church in Arabia—­The Lost Opportunity of the Early Christian Sects and the Fatal Neglect of the Surrounding Nations—­The Nomads of Arabia specially Prepared for Conquest by their Manner of Life and their Enlistment as Mercenary Soldiers—­The Question of Mohammed’s Real Character—­The Growth of his Ambition and his Increasing Sensuality and Cruelty—­Blasphemous Revelations in Behalf of the Prophet’s Own Lust—­Discriminating Judgment Required on his Career as a Whole—­Mohammedan Schools—­Noble Characters the Exception—­General Corrupting Influence of the System—­Its Conquests in Northern Africa and in the Soudan—­The Early Races of Northern Africa, and the General Deterioration of the Country—­The Piracies of the Barbary States—­Civilization in Modern Egypt Due to Foreigners—­The Bloody Ravages of El Mahdi in the East and the Fanatic Samadu in the West—­The Testimony of a Secular Newspaper Correspondent—­Professor