DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7416#0056
46
Sg. The Hindoos profess exactly the same opiniorr. " They
would readily admit the truth of the Gospel," says a very learned
writer, long resident among them, " but they contend that it is
perfectly consistent with their Sastras. The Deity, they say, has
appeared innumerable times in many parts of this world, and of all
worlds, for the salvation of his creatures: and though we adore him
in one appearance, and they in others; yet we adore, they say, the
same God ; to whom our several worships, though different in
form, are equally acceptable, if they be sincere in substance." '
60. The Chinese sacrifice to the spirits of the air, the mountains,
and the rivers ; while the emperor himself sacrifices to the sove-
reign Lord of Heaven ; to whom these spirits are subordinate, and
from whom they are derived.1 The sectaries of Foe have, indeed,
surcharged this primitive elementary worship with some of the
allegorical fables of their neighbours; but still as their creed, like
that of the Greeks and Romans, remains undefined, it admits of no
dogmatical theology, and, of course, of no persecution for opinion.
Obscene and sanguinary rites have, indeed, been wisely proscribed
on many occasions; but still as actions, and not as opinio?is.3
Atheism is said to have been punished with death at Athens : but,
nevertheless, it may be reasonably doubted, whether the atheism,
against which the citizens of that republic expressed such fury,
consisted in a denial of the existence of the gods : for Diagoras,
who was obliged to fly for this crime, was accused of revealing and
calumniating the doctrines taught in the mysteries ;+ and, from the
opinions ascribed to Socrates, there is reason to believe that his
offence was of the same kind, though he had not been initiated.
61. These two were the only martyrs to religion among the an-
cient Greeks, except such as were punished for actively violating
1 Asiatic Researches, vol. i. p. 274.
1 Du Halde, vol. i. p. 32.
3 See the proceedings against the Bacchanalians atRome.Liv.His.xxxix.9.
4 Atayopas kO-qvaios rjv, aWa rovrov i^opxto'Cfiiyoy to Tap' AOrjyawis /xwrijpia, te-
T^pjKaTt. Tatiiin, ad. Graec.
Sg. The Hindoos profess exactly the same opiniorr. " They
would readily admit the truth of the Gospel," says a very learned
writer, long resident among them, " but they contend that it is
perfectly consistent with their Sastras. The Deity, they say, has
appeared innumerable times in many parts of this world, and of all
worlds, for the salvation of his creatures: and though we adore him
in one appearance, and they in others; yet we adore, they say, the
same God ; to whom our several worships, though different in
form, are equally acceptable, if they be sincere in substance." '
60. The Chinese sacrifice to the spirits of the air, the mountains,
and the rivers ; while the emperor himself sacrifices to the sove-
reign Lord of Heaven ; to whom these spirits are subordinate, and
from whom they are derived.1 The sectaries of Foe have, indeed,
surcharged this primitive elementary worship with some of the
allegorical fables of their neighbours; but still as their creed, like
that of the Greeks and Romans, remains undefined, it admits of no
dogmatical theology, and, of course, of no persecution for opinion.
Obscene and sanguinary rites have, indeed, been wisely proscribed
on many occasions; but still as actions, and not as opinio?is.3
Atheism is said to have been punished with death at Athens : but,
nevertheless, it may be reasonably doubted, whether the atheism,
against which the citizens of that republic expressed such fury,
consisted in a denial of the existence of the gods : for Diagoras,
who was obliged to fly for this crime, was accused of revealing and
calumniating the doctrines taught in the mysteries ;+ and, from the
opinions ascribed to Socrates, there is reason to believe that his
offence was of the same kind, though he had not been initiated.
61. These two were the only martyrs to religion among the an-
cient Greeks, except such as were punished for actively violating
1 Asiatic Researches, vol. i. p. 274.
1 Du Halde, vol. i. p. 32.
3 See the proceedings against the Bacchanalians atRome.Liv.His.xxxix.9.
4 Atayopas kO-qvaios rjv, aWa rovrov i^opxto'Cfiiyoy to Tap' AOrjyawis /xwrijpia, te-
T^pjKaTt. Tatiiin, ad. Graec.