Book Title: Jaina Philosophy
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: World Jain Confederation

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Page 120
________________ * Have Christian Missions to India Been Successful ? which is already the birthright of all human souls. The spirit of this gospel refuses to recognise natural goodness, moral aspirations and spiritual worship emanating from any other source. On these grounds, not to go into further detail, Christian propagandism is founded. In the face of these declarations, is it to be wondered that the enlightened thought of mankind within and without the Christian fold has begun to question the virtue, the divinity, the humanity even, of such a propagandism? Can one wonder that the question is propounded “Is Christianity a failure”, “Are missions failures" and "Why does the world refuse to accept the salvation thus offered?" I have no word to say in depreciation of the supposed personal character and life of him who is claimed by these dogmatists to be the saviour of the world. I honour and respect all efforts for the uplifting of mankind, no matter under what name. But to claim for him and for his devotion the exclusive virtue and saying grace which these false interpreters of his life declare is, in my view, to rob him of his real glory and rob mankind of the legitimate influence and uplifting virtue of his devotion, and consecration. Admitting the purity of his life, the grandeur of his devotion, the beauty of his character and the truth of his ethical teachings, it yet remains to be said that thousands of years before his birth among men, similar masters appeared who taught the same truth, achieved equal character and injected into the philosophies and thought of mankind the same inspirations and many of them sealed the genuineness of their devotions with their own blood. Referring to the religion and philosophy of my own people and to the history of the lives of the illustrious prophets and regenerators, whose names are sacred in our thought, I have to say that no Christian minister can point to a single moral truth or ethical statement in his new testament of Jesus the Christ that I 111 Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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