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THE KISE OF BUDDHISM IN INDIA. 247
very interesting descriptions of the Brahmanical caste system,
the wealth of the country, the repubhcan tendencies of
government, and the great learning of the Indian scholars,
expressed the most surprise at the self-abnegation and
asceticism practiced by the hermits of India. They further
speak of schools of prophets, or communities where men
lived abstemiously and peaceably, holding " all things in
common."
The Greek and Persian invasions into India, several
hundred years before Jesus' advent, opening up an interchange
of learning and letters, put into our hands keys to
be used in the elucidation of religious questions, growing
out of the Alexandrian School in Egypt, where the Indian
philosophy, Hellenism, and Judaism grasped in deadly conflict,
affecting and coloring the future Christianity of the
ages.
THE world's religions.
Religion as a soul emotion is universal ; but the expression
as a sentiment, owing to organization and racial tendency,
manifests itself in several great sects. The most primitive
worship of all is Fetichism, or Sabaism.
This is professed by 100,000,000,
The religion of Zoroaster and Confucius . . . . 40,000,000.
Brahmanism, the original faith of India .... 60,000,000.
Buddhism, the reformed faith 170,000,000.
Mohammedanism 96,000,000.
Judaism 4,500,000.
The Greek Church 62,000,000.
The Roman Church 139,000,000.
The sects of Protestantism 60,000,000.
These numbers profess to be approximations only. The
Tauists of China, numbering millions, are not mentioned.
The Buddhists, here estimated at one hundred and seventy
millions, far outnumber any other sect of religionists upon
the globe.
This admits of no doubt.