The influence of Buddhism on primitive Christianity

Lillie Arthur B. 1831

Sujets

• Buddhism
• Influence
• Christianity and other religions

Informations

• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

Extrait

Influence BuddhismThe of
ON PRlMlTiVL iHRlSTlANrOCT 1 7 1914
^
BR 128 .B8 L54 1893
Lillie, Arthur, b. 1831
°^ Buddhism ojnrsi^f^"®"''®primitive Christianity
]THE INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
ON
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY' —
same Author,By the.
CHRISTENDOM,INBUDDHISM
has yetthought-provoking work whichmost learned, thoughtful, and"The
book from cover toquestion. ... I read theappeared on this momentous
much interest."—JVh^/i.cover with
" and is certain to commandpresent work is of the profoundest interest,Tlie
Itthe subject with which it deals. ...attention in all future discussions of
ably -wxiUqu."—Scotsman.is exceedingly
is here dwelt upon with some fresh"The relation of Essenism to Buddhism
Alexandria. IMr.of the probably Indian origin of the Tlierapeuts ofillustration
rendered attractive by a number ofLillie's chapters on ritual and observances are
illustrations.' —.1/Af»" nm.interesting
" Buddhism has had on Christianity. The ad-Discusses the influence which
will vehementlythere is any relationship at all between the two bemission that
can impartially and fairly study Mr.denied by many good people, but no one
withoutexamine his evidence, and give due weight to his arguments,Lillie's book,
an intimate onQ."—Eveningadmitting that the connection not only exists but is
Slautlard.
A/.^o,
THE POPULAR LIFE OF BUDDHA,
'Contends that tlie atheistic and soulless Buddhism was drawn from the
'fJrtat Veliiclc,' which was a spurious system introduced about the time of the
Cliriatian era, whereas 'Little Vehicle,' compiled Asoka, contained thethe by
motto, 'Confess and believe in Cod.' There are a large number of passages
drawn from the sacred books, which tend prove that Mr. Lillie isto right in his
theory of Budflliist theology. Kven Dr. Bhys Davids admits that the Cakkavati
liuddha was to early Huddliists what tlie Messiah Logos was to early Christians.
' If this be so,' as Mr. Lillie is justified in asking, how can an atheist believe in a
' Word of Cod nmde He-sh
'I
"Mr. Lillie thus sums up the origin .lities of the Buddhist movement:
Knforeed vi-getarianism for tlie whole nation; enforced abstinence from wine;
atiolition of slavery: tiie introduction of the principle of forgiveness of injuries
in oiiiKj.sition to the hx talioitis uncompromising
; antagonism to all national
religious rites that were opposed to the yiwsis or spiritual development of the
individual beggary, continence, and
; ascetici^^m for religious teachers."—
"ContainH many (jiiotatlons from the lUiddhist religious writings, which are
beautiful and profound—a most readable hook."—Saturday lieview.
" Out author has uiniueutionably the story-teller's gift."—S^ James Gazette.V
OCT 1 7 1914
THE
INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
ON
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY
ARTHUR LILLIE
AUTHOR OF "buddhism IN CHRISTENDOM," F/I C.
LONDON
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO.
NEW YORK
: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS—
UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME,
The "Philosophy at Home" Series.
1 to 5. SELECTIONS FROM THE WOEKS OF
ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER—Translated from the
German by T. Bailey :Saunders, M.A. (Oxon), viz.
1. THE WISDOM OF LIFE, 4th Edition.
2. COUNSELS AND MAXIMS, 3rd Edition.
3. KELKtION, a DIALOGUE, and Essays,other 3rd Edition,
4. THE ART OF LITERATURE, 2nd Edition.
5. STUDIES IN PESSIMISM, 3rd Edition.
6. OUTLINES OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF
RELIGION, by Hermann Lotze. Edited, with an
Introduction, by F. C. Conybeare, M.A. (Oxon).
THE PROBLEM7. OF REALITY, by E. Belfort
Bax.
8. THE INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM ON
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, by Arthur Lillie.PREFACE.
Testa-the Newmuch ofproves thatthatA VOLUME
manyshockhistory willthanparable ratherment is
Clement ofandof Origenthe daysbut fromreaders,
sametheof Swedenborgthe daystoAlexandria
this para-proof thataffirmed. Thebeenhasthing
previousfrom aderivedhas beenwritingbolic
biographer ofThemore.shock manyreligion will
theto producenamely,sole duty,has oneChrist
thereNew TestamentIn theJesus.historicalactual
Christ,anti-Esseneand anan EsseneChrists,are two
to com-have soughtwhobiographersall modernand
the con-It isnecessarily.failedtwo havebine the
monkEssenewas an ;Christwork thatof thistention
EssenismthatandEssenism ;wasChristianitythat
Buddhistto thecontended,ManselDeandue, aswas
genera-twowithinEgypt"who visitedmissionaries
GnosticGreat." {"theof Alexanderthe timetions of
Heresies," p. 31.)VI PREFACE.
The Reformation, in the view of Macaulay, was the
struggle of layman versus monk. In consequence,
many good Protestants are shocked to hear such a
term applied to the founder of their creed. But here
I must point out one fact. In the Essene monasteries,
in Buddhist,as the there was no life vow. This made
the monastery less a career than a school for spiritual
initiation. In modern monasteries John of theSt.
Cross can dream sweet dreams of God in one cell, and
his neighbour may be Friar Tuck, but to both the
monastery is a prison. This alters the complexion
of the celibacy question, and so does the fact that the
Christians were fighting a mighty battle with the
priesthoods.
The Son of Man envied the security of the crannies
" "of the fox." He called his opponents wolves."
His flock after his death met with closed doors for
"fear of the Jews. The pure gospel," says the
"Clementine Homilies (ch. ii. was17), sent abroad
"secretly after the removal to Bella. The new sect,
not as Christians but as Essenes, were tortured, killed,
" "hunted down. To such, two coats," wives," daily
wine celebrations were scarcely fitted.
Twice has Buddhism invaded the West, once at