THE YOUTH'S

Liberal Guide

FOR THEIR

MORAL CULTURE

AND

RELIGIOUS ENLIGHTENMENT,

BY

PROF. H. M. KOTTINGER, A. M.

(Translated FROM THE REVISED GERMAN EDITION)

"Fathers! Mothers! Let us live for our children!"

FRED. FROEBEL,

Founder of the "Kindergarten."

MILWAUKEE:

TRAYSER BROS., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, GRAND OPERA HOUSE, 62 ONEIDA STREET.

1877.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1877,

By Prof. H. M. KOTTINGER, A. M.,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PART SECOND.

RELIGIOUS ENLIGHTENMENT.

"We need have no fear of being too radical. Paine was splendidly in advance of his time; but he was orthodox, compared with the infidels of to-day."

ROBERT INGERSOLL, "The Gods."

SECTION FIRST.

Outline of tHE HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPAL RELIGIONS.

"The world is my country, and to do good-my religion."-Thomas Paine.

§ 1. Introduction-Definition-Utility, and Division of the History of Religions.

What is religion? With regard to the meaning of this word there are different opinions. Originally, in the Latin language, from which it is dirived, it denotes reflection, consciousness, tenderness of feeling, and the Romans did not only speak of religion towards the gods, but also of the religion (to wit, of the duty) we owe to parents, friends, and to our country. Moreover, as far as man feels himself dependent on nature, religion may also be called the "sentiment and confession of our dependence on nature.' Feuerbach. The poet Shelley defines it "the perception of the relation in which we stand to the principle of the Universe." ("Notes to Queen Mab.") Generally we mean by the word "religion" the belief in God and in the doctrine of the duties we have to perform with regard to him, to ourselves, and to our fellowcreatures. But in a treatise on the history of religions (and such an one is here given) the word "religion" may be explained as the sum of the representations which men at certain times conceived of the Universe, of their nature and duties. Whereas the degree of civilization mostly depends on the character of these representations, and whereas they always grow more perfect in the course of time, the history of the religions may be defined the description of these representations, and of their influence on the advancing condition of human civilization.

The study of the history of the religions is useful; for it explains us the present condition of religion from its former times, and strengthens our sight for the future; it makes us tolerant, enlight