The Treasure Of The Magi - A Study Of Modern Zoroastrianism A Study of Modern Zoroastrianism

THE RELIGIOUS QUEST OF INDIA EDITED BY J. N. FARQUHAR, M. A., D. Lrrr. OXON LITERARY SECRETARY, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS, INDIA AND CEYLON AND H. D. GRISWOLD, M. A., PH. D. SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONS IN INDIA EDITORIAL PREFACE THE writers of this series of volumes on the variant forms of religious life in India are governed in their work by two impelling motives. I. They endeavour to work in the sincere and sympathetic spirit of science. They desire to understand the perplexingly involved developments of thought and life in India and dis passionately to estimate their value. They recognize the futility of any such attempt to understand and evaluate, unless it is grounded in a thorough historical study of the phenomena investigated. In recognizing this fact they do no more than share what is common ground among all modern students of religion of any repute. But they also believe that it is neces sary to set the practical side of each system in living relation to the beliefs and the literature, and that, in this regard, the close and direct contact which they have each had with Indian religious life ought to prove a source of valuable light For, until a clear understanding has been gained of the practical influence exerted by the habits of worship, by the practice of the ascetic, devotional, or occult discipline, by the social organization and by the family system, the real impact of the faith upon the life of the individual and the community cannot be estimated and, without the advantage of extended personal intercourse, a trustworthy account of the religious experience of a community can scarcely be achieved by even themost careful student. II. They seek to set each form of Indian religion by the side of Christianity in such a way that the relationship may stand out clear. Jesus Christ has become to them the light of iv EDITORIAL PREFACE all their seeing, an. d they believe Him destined to be the light of the world. They are persuaded that sooner or later the age-long quest of the Indian spirit for religious truth and power will find in Him at once its goal and a new starting point, and they will be content if the preparation of this series contributes in the smallest degree to hasten this consumma tion. If there be readers to whom this motive is unwelcome, they may be reminded that no man approaches the study of a religion without religious convictions, either positive or negative for both reader and writer, therefore, it is better that these should be explicitly stated at the outset. More over, even a complete lack of sympathy with the motive here acknowledged need not diminish a readers interest in following an honest and careful attempt to bring the religions of India into comparison with the religion which to-day is their only possible rival, and to which they largely owe their present noticeable and significant revival. It is possible that to some minds there may seem to be a measure of incompatibility between these two motives. The writers, however, feel otherwise. For them the second motive reinforces the first for they have found that he who would lead others into a new faith must first of all understand the faith that is theirs already understand it, moreover, sympa thetically, with a mind quick to note not its weaknesses alone but that in it which has enabled it to survive and has given itits power over the hearts of those who profess it. The duty of the Editors of the series is limited to seeing that the volumes are in general harmony with the principles here described, Each writer is alone responsible for the opinions expressed in his volume, whether in regard to Indian religions or to Christianity. JAMES HOPE MOULTON Photo by J...