Introduction to the Science of Religion

Author(s): Max Muller
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London

Page 57

SECOND LECTURE.
DELIVERED AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION,
FEBRUARY 26, 1870.
THERE is no lack of materials for the student of
1 the Science of Religion. It is trûe that, compared with the number of languages which the comparative philologist has to deal with, the number of religions is small. In a comparative study of languages, however, we fiad most of our materials ready for use; we possess grammars and dictionaries, while it is difficult to say, where we are to look for the grammars and dictionaries of the principal religions of the world. Not in the catechisms, or the articles, not even in the so-called creeds 1 or confessions of faith which, if they do not give us an actual misrepresentation of the doctrines which they profess to epitomise, give us always the shadow only, and never the soul and substance of a religion. But how seldom do we find even such helps!
Among Eastern nations it is not unusual to distinguish between religions that are founded on a book, and others that have no such vouchers to produce.
1 What are creeds? Skeletons, freezing abstractions, metaphysical expressions of unintelligible dogmas; and these I ant to regard as the expositions of the fresh, living, infinite truth which came from Jesus ! I might with equal propriety be required to hear and receive the lispings of infancy as the expressions of wisdom. Creeds are to the Scriptures, what rushlights are to the sun,' - Dr. Channing, On Creeds.'