The Gods and Religions of Ancient and Modern Times

959 Pages·1880·56.739 MB·English

by  De Robigne Mortimer Bennett

THE
GODSA ND RELIGIONS
OF
ANCIENATN DN [ODERTNIM ES.
BY D. M. BENNETT,
Editor of “The Tr&h Seeker.” -4uthor of “ The World’s Sages, Thinkers, and
Reformers.” ‘I The Champions of the Church,” “Thirty Discussions, Bi-
ble Stories, Essays, and Lectures,” “Interrogatories to Jehovah,”
“What I Don’t Believe, What I Do Believe, Why and
Vherefore,” “From Behind the Bars,” Joint author
of “Christ&&y and Intidelity-the Rum-
phroy-Bennett Disctssion,:’ “ The
Bennett - gz .DDuas~on,”
I
Written in prison while serving out a sentence of t?deen
months in the Albany Penibentia?y, nbmindly for send-
&g through the L? X s-fuzz% ‘1~ pamphlet by 22 IX
IAeywood on the subject of @arrkge and the
Relations of the JSZ-IXS,b ut really for being
an 1njid.d editor and publisher.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NEW YORK:
D. 111[. DENNETT,
LIBERAL AND SCIENTIFIC PUBLISTIINQ HOUSEj
ldl EIGHTH S’l’BEET,
1880.
TO
Mrs. MARGARET McEWEN and
Mrs. MARTHA VAN ALLEN,
(XOTKER .4iw DAUOIITEIL)
TWO NOl3LE WOZvXEN,
(TIE FOWIER, JVIFE OF TIME SUPERIXTIENDI<ST 0F *rm PRISOS)
WHO HAVE SIIOWX XARLED KINDX33S, NOT ONLY TO TIlE
WRITER, BUT TO TIIE MAN-Y SICK AXD DYIXG IX TIIE
PRISON HOSPITAL (WIKERE THESE F;\GES WERE
WRITTEX), AXD WHO BY THEIR CONTIXG’ED
KINDNESS IIAVE CAUSED YAXT RAYS OF
tiHtiYJ.WUL SUNYIIINE TO FALL UPON
THE SECK AND HAPLESS PHISOSERS,
(TliOIocGlI DIFFERISG IX RELIGIOUS VIEWS FROM TIIE AL.TIIOX)
TIIIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY ASD 3fOST GRATEFULLY
DEDICATED.
CONTENTSO F VOLUME II.
&CfW . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE?
PRIMITIVE RELIGION.
p”: PAM
Fetichism . Metempsychosis . . . . 16
Animism .*‘...‘. * 12 Bcgimlings of Religion . . 20
.
FETICIIISM.
mhat it is . . . . . ,“F Christian Fetichism . . . 31
Its Universality Jewvhh Fetichism . . . 33
Cmdlc! of ‘laeolopy ’ . ’ . ’ . 23
POLYTHEISM AND MYTIIOLOGY.
Tmnaition of Rdieion . 35 Pcrso~dlication of h’aturo . 49
Debatable Qnestlona . . . . 37 Rw md Moon . . . . 51
Monotheism and l’ricstcraft 39 l’lm SW-w 53
Tnfluenca’of Priestcraft . . . 41 Pwsonal Spirits . ’ . . . . . 59
Relig-ious hflucnce . 43 SlJJl Nychs . . . 62
Dualism . . . ’ . ’ . 47 Eclipses. . . . .’ * . CS
PITALIIISM.
Growth of Phallism . . 72 Wit&es’ Sabbath . . 83
lEmblems of Malo Power . . 76 E:mbIoms of JXucldh& . . 87
RmblGms of Female Powor . ‘77 I Cbriutinn Emblems . . . so
Liie 79 Flagellation. . 91
Mixed&&s ’ . . :’ . : 81 I Ecclesiastical Legfmds . . . 93
RELIGIOkS OF TIIE llINDOOS.
The Aryan Race . . . 9F Prof. Draper on the V~das . 103
Marria~c and Governm’ent 97 I The Hymrls of rhe Vedas . 108
hi.ythologic Lore . . . . . 99 SQlections from the Vedas . 111
The V&s . . . . 103 I The Four Vedic Periods . . 117
BRAHMANISM.
Brahmanism . . . . . 118 Seture and Sex Worship . . 146
The Institutes of Menu . . 119 I Hindoo Uastcs . . . . 148
Xxtracts from tho Code of Nenn 12 1 Ylltllre Jndg1ncnt . . 1 <50
Transmigracion . . 123 Jqs of l’aradise . . . ’ 121
Other Sacred Books. . . . 131 I TbcUavatrec . . . . 153
Vishmi and His I&xrnatious . 133 1 Holy Cities &id Ilivers . . 164
Miseclluneo~~s Items . . 167
Hermits and Anchoritcs . ’ . The llmdoo Priesthood . . 112
Owd and Evil Spirits . ,
BUDDIIISX
Resemblance to Christianity . 176 Buddha’s Influence . . . 183
Reformatory Character 179 Spr&d of Buddhism 186
Growth of Buddhism . - . ’ 180 I Character of Buddhism * . ’ . 186
4 CON!J!ENTS
PAOE PA07
Buddmsm as a Religion . . 189 The Canon 199
Karma and Nirvana . . . I SO Mar&s and Fa& of Bud&an; . 199
-Other Doctrines 193 Buddha and Jesus . . . 203.
Fundamental Doctriks , . . 197
THE RELIGION OF PERSIA.
Zoroaster 207 Moral Teachings . . . 221
The Time of ‘Zorokster’ * . ’ 203 Later Scrivluws . . . . 232
Persia and India Contras&d . 213 More of the Persian Religion . 233
The Zend-Avesta . 214 Pesciv& of Gratitude . . . 235
Hymn to a Star . . ’ . ,. . 216 Dissousions . . . . 237
Hymn to Nithra . . . ‘21G The Parsees . . . . 238
A-Oontossion or Pan%. . . 217 cuu1ut;irts ml the ATfAd . 240
Prayer to Ormusd . . . 213 Rcsomblance between Zdroastri-
kgends of Zoroaster . . . 220 rruxn and Judaism and Chris-
Zoroaster’s Uoctrioo 221 tianity . . . . . 240
Resemblance to Christiaky ’ . 229
RELIGIOK OF TT [E CHALDEANS.
Antiquity.of Chaldca Planetary Gods. . . , 249
Rawlinson on the Cbaldck Re&-- Chaldcan Dcitics . 250
ion . . . . . 248 Uhaldean Cosmogony ’ . ’ . 269
THE RELIGIONS OF CHINA.
Antiquily of China . . 263 Paints of Differonce . . . 234
Government of China . . ’ . 265 Lao-tsc and Taoism _ . 286
Official Boards . 267 Religious Character of The E&s 29 1
Confucius itnd his Teach&s * . 270 ielcctions from Chinese Scrip&s 292
Writinrrs of Confucius . . 2’11 Chinese Character . : , 295
I&o-t&- . z3u Buddhism in Ghlna . . . 233
Confucius add Jesus ’ . ’ . 284
TIIE RELIGION OF THIBET.
Fi%hLsis of Thibet . . 305 Thibatan Schools . , , 313
. . . - 307 Praying Wheels . 315
Lamaserics . . . . . . 308 Thibctan Temples . ’ . . . 317
THE RELIGION OF EGYPT.
Egyptian Religion . . 321 Egyptian TempIes . . . 349
Priests, Processions, and Rites’ . 323 Memphis 353
Animal Worship 327 Sacrod Books . * . ’ , * . ’ 355
Theblogy of the Egyptians . . . 3.31 ~serqlta . 359
Antiquity of Egypt . 332 I&line of Egypt’ . . . ’ . 361
Three Orders of Gods . ’ . ’ . 335 What Judaism Borrowed from
Priestly Castes . . . 341 Egypt . 363
The Egyptian Christmas . 345 What Christianity Borrowed from
ticrod Animals . . . ’ 341 E:KypL . . . . . 363
THE RELIGION OF ASSYRIA.
Chronology of Assyria . 367 Nagic Formulas . . . . 311
Astro-l’heology . . . . 369 I
CONTENTS. 6
RELIGION OF THE PHCENICIANS.
P.mE PIOn
Size of Phoenicia . . 373 Sacrifice of Children . 311
Phmnician Enterprise ’ . . 375 Logic of Sacrifice . . ’ . . 379
THE RELIGION OF GREECE.
A Cheerful Rolipion . 391 The Wian Mm nf C,rc?r?cw 399
Hesiod and ITomer _ . . 385 Pythagoras . . . - , 401
0fferin:zs nf Primitive Men . . 389 Socrates. 403
Relipions Festivals . 393 Plato * . * . * . * . * . 405
The Pantheon . . * . - . 397 Epicurus * . . . . 407
THE RELIGION OF THE ROMANS.
Gods of Rome . . . . 411 Cicero.-Seneca . . . 418
Public Festivals 413 Epictetus.-Marcus Aurelius . 420
kJriest.s . . * . * . - . 415
THE RELIGION OF THE TEUTONS
The Forsemen . . . . 423 Sacred Writings 429
Odinism , . 425 Destiny of the World , . . . . 431
Religious Festi&s . . . . . 427
THE RELIGION OF THE DRUIDS.
Origin of the Druids . . . 435 Gods of the Druids . . 446
Irish Drui%. A 439 Summsrv of Druidism . . * 449
Druidic Temple\ . * . . . . . 44.0 A Druid\c. Legend . 453
Druidic Bards , . . 444 Mrs. Child on Druidism , ’ . 466
JUDAISM.
Claims of Judaism . . . 461 SacriRces . . . . . 505
Abraham 462 .Judaism and Paganism . . 607
Jacob’s Sons ’ ’ ’ . - 466 Prophecy 609
Destruction of Jermraiem . ’ 470 The Prophets . ’ ’ _ * . ’ 611
What Judaism Was . 474 Contradictory Prophecies
Stages of Judaism . . * . ’ 477 Prophecies Do Sot Rcfcr to>esus i:t
Review and Criticism . 480 Prophecy Limited tn no Kation . 519
Is -4braham a Myth? - . ’ . 481 The Empress Joscphino . . 521
Historical Omissions . . 483 Mother Shipton’s Proihcey . 623
Silence of History . - 485 Grcp on the Proplmcies . . 525
Abraham and the Gods * . ’ 487 Chadwick ou the Prophecies . 527
Judriwn rind other Religions . * 490 Monotheia in Judaism _
Characteristics of Jahveh . 492 Jehovah Not the Only God . - . s”.;;
An Improbable Story * 495 The Scriptures Contrasted 536
God’s Covenant with Abraham’ . 497 Features of Judaism . . ’ , 637
Duplicity of .Jahveh . . 501
MOHAMMEDANISM.
Early Life of Mohammed . . 541 Mohammed and the Jews . 649
Prayer of Mohammed 645 Prof. Clodd’s Opinion . , 661
Mohammed’s Pn3fcrment * . ’ . 647 Oharacter of &hammed. . ’ 653
6 CONTENTS.
PAffE PAa&
Social Reforms . . 557 Points in No&m Faith . 664
The Koran . . ’ 559 Islamand Christianity, . * . 6~5
Extracts from the Koran’ * . 560 Babism 669
Prophecies about Mohamme’d . 562 Doctrines’of Bibis; . ’ . * , 573
Mohammed a Real Charactor . 563 I
CIIRISTIAKIT Y.
Origin of Christianity . 575 Conversions from Paganism . 691
Conclusions of ” Autichrist ” . - 578 Christinnity a Borrowed System 695
Gnosticism . 579 Sr~<ors and Rcdecmers . . . 697
Writings of the iarly &at.h&s . 581 Maxims of the Ancicnrs . . 701
Ironaxm’a Description of Christ . 585 Did Jesus E&t P . 702
Eook of the Geneiation of Jesus 681 Jesus and other Saviors . . . 709
Joshu’s Disciples. . . . 593 Is the Story Credible . . i 713
Testimony of Celsua . . 695 Probability of the Story , . 717
Origen’s Answer to Cslsus . . 597 Genealogy of .Jesns . . . 719
Josoplrus and other Writers . 600 Dinngreement of the Gospels . 723
The Interpolation in Josephus 601 Paul the Author of Christianity . 72s
Admissions by Christian Writers 607 Paul’s Conversion . . . 735
Relitrbility of the Gospels . 611 Paul as ti Politician . . . 741
Christian Apologists _ . Rsseuism and Christianity . 744
St. Clement . . . Egypt the Source of Wssenism . 750
Constantine Lactantins . . Egyptiau Origin of Christianity
Au Egyptian Creed. Essenism . . . .
Prededents for the Gospel St&v . 620 The Apostolic Fathers . ’ . ifi3
Divine Paternity of Jesus . 621 Fathors of the Second Century 771
Spurious Gospels . 622 Fnthors of the Third Century . ‘18:~
Qospel of the &brew; . . . 627 Parbcrs of the Fourth Ccuturp 789
Clemcntine’s Gospel . . . 630 Other Early Chtiutian Fathers 807
Gospel of the Egyptians . . 630 Church Quarrels and Contentions 810
Gaspel of the Lord . . . 693 Ten Persecutions of the Church . 815
Cospcl of Trdth. . . . 636 Saints md Saint-M.&kg . . 822
Gospel of Evo . . . . 631 Heretics and Heresies. 828
Gospel of Perfection . . 639 Heresiedabout Christ . * . * 831
Gospel of Philip . . . 640 Councils of the Church . 841
A Curious Poem . . . . 641 Arrogance of Rishops . . . 8.19
Gospel of Judas . 643 Hermits ‘:hnd Monks . 851
Gpspcl of the Birth of *Ma; . : M; Churches, Images, etc.’ _ ’ . 855
The Protevaugelion DiviGons in tl:c Church . 861
Gospel of the Infancy bf Jesus c53 The Popes ol Itome * 863
Thomas’s Gospel. . 663 C!hristian Kings and Len&rs . . ST.5
Epistles of Jesus Christ . ’ . 665 Christian Pprsecurions . . 881
Gospel of Nicodemus . . . 666 The Inquisition . . 883
Acts of Paul and Thocla . . 670 Autadak’6 . . -, *. 889
.Canons of Criticism . . . 675 Persecutions of the Wnldenses . 892
D8t8 of Criticism . . . 676 Perkecutions of ~hc Albigenses 890
Facts Wlcwth ‘IC~memhering _ 67R Letter of.Wm Cubhclt _ 801
Errors of the Gospels . 681 Persecutions of Infidels . - . 918
Reliability of Gospel Da&s . . 682 Recapitulation . . .9?7
Falsehood of Gosuel Statistics . 683 Conclusion . . ’ . ‘. 931
Gospel Phrascoloky . . 684 Axioms and Pontulrkcs . . 933
Rwz+t.nlrrt,ion * 684 S P Pntnnm’a ClnPing Rsmnrks 9:I!l
Christianity Kevarn&d P&an&m 687 Index . . . . . . 947
Royal Pi-iesta . . . . 689
What was said of Vol. I. of this work is equally true of
t,his; it is Jargely a compilation, being, drawn to a. consider-
able ex~eu~ from other writers who have given clttcntion to
t,he subject of ancient, gods and religions. On&, who writes of
the distant past is under the necessity of depending upon what
has heen handed down to US hy the writers who wrote long
ago, as well as those who hrrve li.ved much lat.er. I l!avo not
hesitated to draw freely from those who haveSwritten a’bly
upon the subjects treated here. The object has been to give
to the public the best information to be had upon the sub-
ject of the gods and religions which men have believed in in
a11a ges of the world; and it is confidently hqed that this
work -imparts more of that kind of information-and adaptetl
to the goneral reader- than has ever been embodied in any
one work before.
It ~111 be observed that in tile treatment of the ~I-L-~LI- dig-
ions of the world still in existence, as Brahmnnism, Buddhism,
Judaism, Christianity, and b~ohammedanism, hut little is said
of the numerous sects into which they all have been divided.
It was not a part of the original design to enter into a descrip-
tion of all the subdivisions which have arisen from these
great or general religions ; that would have neccssitnted
another volume, and would have made the work too unwieldly
to answer the original purpose. Sects, bitter in animosity and
hate, have’grown out of Very small differences in matters of
belief; and i: would undoubtedly hccome too tedious to the
average render to wade through a detailed description of these
multitudinous little differences and slight var.iations.
It may not be amiss to again call attention to the disadvan-
tages under which this work was written. To be shut up in
8 single room, with twenty sick and dying men al1 around,
Vii
VI1“..1 PREFACE
with a limited number of text-books within reach, with the
consequent heaviness of heart induced by the sense of tbc
wrongs inflicted by I>igoted and deadly enemies in the impris-
onment suffered, is not a situation the best calcul$ed, of all
others, to produce that serenity and peace of mind best suite;!
to book-making. It is hoped, however, that what was written
under those circumstances mny serve to a certnin cxtcnt t.o
interest and instruct those who take the trouble to read the
hastily-written pages composing these two volumes.
The term of imprisonment whirh my Christian enemies
succeeded in placing upon me is now over. I served out the
aIlotted term, and have now been several weeks attending to
the duties and oares of my editorial and publishing business.
Three thousand kind and sympathetic friends met at Cbic.k-
ering Hall, in this city, and gave me such a reception, such
an ovation, as any monarch or conquering hero, returning
from a victorious campaign, might be proud of. The freedom
enjoyed in the ‘outside world, surrounded by friends and
sympathizers, contrasts most favorably with the inconveni-
ence, unp!eaeantncss, tedium, and mental agony illduct’d by
being closely kept under lock and key with abandoned felons,
with all the rigor, harshness, and severity which prisoners in
our penitentinries rind state prisons are mndn to feel. Pree-
dom, like health, is most fully appreciated by those who have
been long deprived of it.
It is to be doubted whether the bigoted Christian foes who
upon false pretense and great injustice brought about this
imprisonment have succeeded in injuring myself and the
cause nearest to my heart to the extent hoped for. It was
undoubtedly wished to prevent my writing for a year, at all
events, with the hope that the severity of prison life, upon a
man over sixty years of age, might crush him and send him to
his grave. Dut Dhanks to a naturally good constitution, an
untroubled conscience, and the kindness of the family of the
Superintendent of the prison, I lived my time out. I have
written what thcc3C twG volumes contain-by whi&, iL is
hoped, the world may be somewhat benefited-I am home
again, and in good, vigorous heaith. D. M. B.
i%u: Yorle, June 25, 1880.
PR'IBITI-VE RELIGION.
The reli_gious element m man is hnrdly.perceptible in the
savage state ; or if so, in so crude a form as to hardly merit the
name of religious sentiment, . what is lower than this is ako
common in the animal world. In the presence of wild winds,
tornadoes, dark and lowering clouds, terrific thucders, and
vivid lightnings, and when t.he sun is eclipsed, the brutes of
the field oiten become greatly alarmed! fleeing piteously in
various directions, uttcriug plamtlve moans, and ruslung m’to
the presence of man, trembling with terror. That is all the
result of fear of the disturbed ,elcments of nature, the same
that man feels under similar conditions when in a state of
ignornncc. If it is a religious frenzy in man, it is the same
with the brutes. But from this fear, man, with more intelli-
gcnec nut1 his meqpr rcrrsoning power2, might evolve c crude
religious sentiment; for in the windsand the storms he easily
fancied tlic presence of angry personal beings.
Fctichism, the worship of stocks, stones, the bones of
animals, shells, pieces of wood, plants, etc., in the belief that
t1Je.ya rc &dowcd with lift and a sort of divinity, has been
legardeti as the lowest phase of religious worship which man
1~x3e xhibited.
It has heen c,laimed, on the other hand, that there is a relig-
ous element, still below fetichism, and that fetichism does not
toucll tllc bottom of the abyss The fact, however, is pretty
well cstat)lished that there are tribes of savages living at the
present lime whicll seem to have no idea of religion, of the
esiztenc-e of ir deity, of juuticc, morality, or anything of the,
kind.
01x-third part of the ir1habitant.s of the gIobe are stil1
savngcs. Ti~cy dwell in t,hc? vnst, regions forming the con&
nent of Africa, in Australia, in the almost countless islands
of the P:~ific ocean, and the vast expanse of territory in the