Asia and Europe : studies presenting the conclusions formed by the author in a long life devoted to the subject of the relations between Asia and Europe / by Meredith Townsend.

  • Townsend, Meredith, 1831-1911.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Asia and Europe : studies presenting the conclusions formed by the author in a long life devoted to the subject of the relations between Asia and Europe / by Meredith Townsend. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    most difficult to explain. They do not as a rule travel, and are little interested in travellers’ obser- vations, which indeed they usually disbelieve. But they have devoted such mental force to the con- sideration of the Whence and Whither, and the relation of the visible to the invisible, that all the creeds accepted by civilized and semi-civilized man- kind are of Asiatic origin. All humanity, except the negroes and the savage races of America and Polynesia, regulate their conduct and look for a future state as some Asiatic has taught them. Nor is the teaching always feeble. Europe having accepted with hearty confidence the views of Peter and Paul, both Asiatics, about the meaning of what their Divine Master said, re- gards all other systems of religious thought with contemptuous distaste, and sums them up in its heart as “heathen rubbish.” Yet Confucius must have been a wise man, or his writings could not have moulded the Chinese mind ; while Mahom- medanism has a grip such as no other creed, not even Christianity, possesses except on a few in- dividuals. Brahminism and Buddhism alike rest upon deep and far reaching philosophies. The truth is, the contempt is chiefly born of neglect and ignorance. A Scotch Calvinist, who believes very nearly the same thing, is annoyed by belief in Kismet, though the greatest thinkers of all ages have failed to separate the foreknowledge of ab- solute power from absolute destiny. Englishmen