Publisher's Synopsis
From the PREFACE.
This little volume consists of a series of Lectures delivered in Shanghai, China, during the early days of the Great War. They were delivered in the weekly conferences of adherents of the World's Great Religions in the International Institute of China. They were given under the auspices of the Billings Lectureship controlled by the Unitarian Association of Boston. No restriction was placed on the lecturer either in choice of topic or in its treatment. The one selected to give the lectures is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of China, a union organization of all Presbyterians in China.
The appreciative approach to the religious beliefs, opinions and habits of other persons, peoples and races has in later years become more customary than was permissible in earlier days. This is probably the first time that the appreciative attitude has been maintained in an all-around investigation, first of four of the great non-Christian Religions of Asiatic peoples and then of religious conceptions current among Christian peoples. It is hard to say which treatment in these two divisions is harder to maintain, but probably towards those in one's own midst who hold views different from one's own. It is comparatively easier for an American Christian to evince great toleration to a great system like Confucianism, away off in Far Cathay, than to bear with a fellow countryman who holds decided and different views of his own concerning aspects of Christianity.
The great religions discussed are those which are found in China. There is thus a Chinese as well as Oriental tone to the discussion. The hearers of the lectures were those who adhered to different religious Faiths. The appreciative spirit commended itself to non-Christians even more than to Christians, to Chinese more than to Westerners.
Possibly complete truth cannot be reached, if the constructive and appreciative attitude alone is maintained. Perhaps truth requires that criticism be applied to everything which in one's opinion is wrong, erroneous, mistaken or even impolitic. If all this be sound doctrine, then the lecturer must appeal to the large number of critics to complete the study by their varied criticisms, while he remains content with an investigation based on appreciation of what the other man is thinking, of his beliefs, his speculations, his aspirations and his hopes. In general, it is better to think well of another than to think ill, or at least to dwell on another's good points than on his bad points. As a new translator expresses in English the words of St. Paul in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13, "Love is never glad when others go wrong, love is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient.."..
