The religions of the world

Front matter

Qass i

Book

Copyright 1^^.

Preface

In attempting a study of the religions of the world, one is confronted with the problem of the order in which they should be taken up. The order in which they are presented in the following pages is that which the writer has found most advantageous in his own classroom: (i) an outline of primitive religions; (2) the religions of Babylonia and Egypt, which approach most closely to the primitive type; (3) the other religions which have sprung from the Hamito-Semitic stock, the reHgion of the Hebrews, Judaism, and Mohammedanism; (4) passing eastward to Persia, the study of Zoroastrianism; (5) the religions of India, China, and Japan; (6) the religions of Greece and Rome; and (7) the study of Christianity.

To some it may seem unnecessary to treat the religion of the Hebrews, Judaism, and Christianity in a textbook which forms a part of an educational series in which whole volumes are devoted to these subjects, but no book on the religions of the world would be complete from which a treatment of these great reHgions was absent, and it often gives the student a new sense of the value of these religions to study them briefly in comparison with the other religions of the world. If the time devoted to the course is too brief to permit the study of so many religions, and if the rehgions of Israel and Christianity are studied in other parts of the curriculum, chapters iv, v, and xv may be omitted from the course.

It is believed that teachers will find it useful to have their pupils master the outline of each religion given

X THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

here, and then make it the basis of wider reading. As the Hbrary facilities of colleges differ greatly, two lists of reading are given at the end of each chapter. If considerable time can be given to the course, and the library contains the necessary material, the student should be required to look up the references cited imder "Class A." If the Hbrary facilities are meager, or the time allotted to the course is brief, then those cited under "Class B" should be used. If the teacher deems it wiser to direct the student who has mastered the text of this book to investigate special topics, such topics are suggested in Appendix I, where a list of books that will be of use in such investigation will also be found.

A student who works by himself should make himself familiar with the text of this volume as already suggested, and, after doing such other reading as the works available may permit, should write a brief book on the subject for himself. For his guidance an outline of such a book will be found in Appendix II. Those who take the course under a teacher will find this exercise of writing their own books most helpful.

The writer's thanks are due to Professor A. V. Williams Jackson of Columbia for reading and criticizing the chapter on Zoroastrianism, to Professor Franklin Edgerton of the University of Pennsylvania for like help in the chapters on the religions of India, and to his colleagues Professors Tenney Frank and James F. Ferguson for rendering a similar service for the chapters

on Rome and Greece.

George A. Barton Bryn Mawr, Pa.

May, 1917

Preface To The Second Edition

By the insertion in the present edition of a chapter devoted to the religion of the Celts and Teutons, a defect of the first edition of this little book has been corrected. A chapter has also been added on the unfolding of the idea of God in the reHgions of the world. This chapter will, in part, serve as a review of the student's previous work and, it is hoped, direct his mind to a kind of comparative study of rehgion that is profitable and inspiring. Minor errors have been corrected here and there throughout the book. It is hoped that in its new form the volume may continue to meet the needs of the body of students whose use of the first edition made a second possible.

George A. Barton

Table Of Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Religions op Primitive Peoples ... i

II. The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria . . i6