The book of religions
The book of religions; comprises the views, creeds, sentiments, or opinions, of all the principal religious sects in the world, particularly of all Christian denominations in Europe and America, to which are added church and missionary statistics, together with biographical sketches.
The work is intended to serve as a manual for those who are desirous of acquiring, with as little trouble as possible, a correct knowledge of the tenets of systems of religious faith, presented for the consideration of mankind; —
to enable them, almost at a glance, to compare on6 creed or system with another, and each with -the holy Scriptures; — to settle the minds of those who have formed no definite opinions on religious subjects; — and to lead us all, by contrasting the sacred truth is and sublime beauties of Christianity with the absurd notions of pagan idolaters, of sceptics, and of infidels.
The Church and Missionary Statistics are believed to be as accurate as can be constructed from materials which annually un- dergo greater or less changes.
The Biographical Sketches are derived from the most authentic sources. While they convey useful knowledge in regard to the fathers and defenders of the various systems of religious faith, they may also stimulate our readers to the practice of those Christian virtues and graces which adorned the lives of many of them, and render their names immortal. A few only of the works from which valuable aid has been received, can be mentioned : —Mosheim and McLaine's Eccle- siastical History ; Gregory and Ruter's Church History ; Encyclo- pasdia Americana ; Brown's Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge ; Adams's View of Religions, and History of the Jews ; Benedict's History of all Religions; Evans's Sketches; Buck's and Hen- derson's Theological Dictionaries; Eliot's, Allen's, and Blake's Biographical Dictionaries; Davenport ; Watson ; Grant's Nestorians , Coleman's Christian Antiquities; Ratio Disciplins.
Haydn's Dictionary of Dates, &c. To clergymen and laymen of all denominations, who have assist- ed the Editor in presenting their various views with clearness and fairness ; to the secretaries of the several missionary boards ; to editors of religious journals, and to other persons who have kindly furnished documents for. the Statistics and Biographical Sketches, he tenders acknowledgments of unfeigned gratitude. While the Editor assures the public that the whole has been prepared with much diligence and care, and with an entire freedom from sectarian zeal or party bias, he cannot but indulge the hope that his " Book of Religions " will prove acceptable and beneficial to the community, as imbodying a great variety of sects on a subject of deep concern, worthy of the exercise of our highest faculties, and requiring our most charitable conclusions.
Curator note : interesting book about religions that you have never heard of some of them, as wise man said: who knows only one religion, he does not know any.
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