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1082
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
that it should have allowed itself to become an agency for the spread of ignorance, falsehood and sensualism which alone seem to have been included in its purview.
To conclude, our enquiry has brought us to the highly satisfactory conclusion that there are no real differences of principles amongst the rational religions of the world which we have examined here. Much has been said here, in this book, which throws light on the respective merits and demerits of each system of philosophical thought, and it has been seen that all the differences that prevail amongst us are due to inexhaustive research and hasty, defective generalisations. The spirit of personification is also responsible for a great deal of mischief. It might be that the differences of opinion on philosophical matters must prevail amongst us, for all of us cannot become wise at once, but that is assuredly no ground for there being any differences, much less bitter differences, of feelings on matters religious, when the whole humanity is at one on the essentials of religious and spiritual salvation. How much nearer the attainment of our goal would we be if, instead of dissipating our energies in bigoted discussions of religious principles, which in very truth are not different but identically the same in every religion, we were to settle down to understand the truth, to work out our salvation, to realize our Ideal. It is well to bear in mind that we should impart knowledge, but only in a spirit of sincerity, sympathy and love, never in any other mood. The object is not to convict, but to convince ; and harsh words, offensive arguments, and unsympathetic tone do more damage on such occasions than perhaps
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