Religion

APPEARING before the Public as a translator of the Oracles of God, it would ill become me to deprecate the severity of criticism, when I most cordially desire the intelligent and learned of my brethren to point out my mistakes for correction, and, in love and in the spirit of meekness, to smite me friendly. Should, however, the shafts of malignity, and the weapons not of our warfare, be employed against this humble, yet well-meant, attempt to make the Scriptures better understood, I shall endeavour to pluck the honey-comb from the lion's carcase, and be thankful for real information, in whatever mode it may be communicated.

The object of a translator should ever be to hold the mirror up to his author. That being so, his chief duty is to represent so far as practicable the manner in which his author's ideas have been expressed, retaining if possible at the sacrifice of idiom and taste all the peculiarities of his author's imagery and of language as well. In regard to translations from the Sanskrit, nothing is easier than to dish up Hindu ideas, so as to make them agreeable to English taste. But the endeavour of the present translator has been to give in the following pages as literal a rendering as possible of the great work of Vyasa.

Excellent source for history and origins of Christian art and symbols.

With introductory analyses, and commentaries, giving an interpretation according to ancient philosophy and psychology and a new literal translation of the synoptic gospels, with commentaries and illustrations. "In the work here presented the portions of the New Testament which the author holds to be genuine are construed in verse, and are interpreted along the lines of ancient philosophy and psychology. The work is, therefore, not concerned with theological views or any of the creeds, dogmas and doctrines of the many Christian sects. For the author, while cherishing the greatest respect for all that is pure and noble in the Christian religion and all other religions, is not, and never has been a Christian.

The Christ had preached a universal doctrine, a new revelation of the Good God, the Father over all. They who tried to graft this on to Judaism, the imperfect creed of one small nation, were in grievous error, and had totally misunderstood the teaching of the Christ. The Christ was not the Messiah promised to the Jews. That Messiah was to be an earthly king, was intended for the Jews alone, and had not yet come.

I trust that the work will prove a source of information and inspiration for both student and layman, Jew and non-Jew, and induce such as have become indifferent to, or prejudiced against, the teachings of the Synagogue, or of Reform Judaism in particular, to take a deeper insight into, and look up with a higher regard to the sublime and eternal verities of Judaism.

Generally considered as a legend, this author presents Pantika as a religion, a culture, and a way of life as observed by the ancients. These legends were as real to that people as Christianity is to its adherents.