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JAINISM, CHRISTIANITY & SCIENCE
heaven, it will follow that they embody a promise which could not have been fulfilled and an expectation which could not be realized. But it is not very likely that the authors of Christianity, whose knowledge has been seen to be so very precise and accurate, could be ignorant of such a matter as this. It would seem to follow from this that the origin of Christianity must have been conceived while Mahāvīra was still in this world or very very shortly thereafter, though for centuries the seed lay quite dormant and inactive.
How and in what manner the gospels were composed is not known. It would seem that the teaching of the Tirthaikara was brought to the Holy Land by some - one, or rather by more than one persons, who not unlikely composed the document designated as “Q” by the modern investigator. Perhaps a secret drama used to be played about the great Attainment, in mystic style. When the number of admirers increased the amplified gospels were composed, half revealing, half concealing the truth. Various kinds of precautions were taken to prevent the historical sense from impressing itself on the devotee's mind. But the men who generally Trere admitted in large numbers in the fold, in the hope of being enlightened at leisure later on, proved very unpliant, and heresies and antagonisms soon became rampant in the community. Outside persecution--bitter and relentless in naturem-added to the difficulties of the propounders of the truth, and alas ! the word of wisdom became buried deeper and deeper with each succeeding generation, till what is a real perversion of the true doctrine came to be ranked as the truth.
The humanity of today is grossly indifferent to their
