Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/253

RELIGION AND MORALS. 225 it is based upon the Koran and the tradition of the life and sayings of Mohammed, enlarged by deductions and analogies ; that whatever comes from these sources has the force and authority of a revealed law of God ; that it demands honesty in business, modesty or decency in behavior, fraternity between all Moslems, benevolence and kindness toward all creatures, and the practice of all virtue and avoidance of all vice, all that is contrary to religion, law, humanity, good manners and the duties of society. It forbids gambling, drinking, intoxicating liquors, taking God's name in vain, using false oaths, making or possessing images, and music; and it especially requires the Moslem to guard against deception, lying, slander, and abuse of his neighbor. In practice there are many Moslems whose lives are irreproachable according to the Christian stan- dard, who fear God, and in their dealings with men are honest, truthful and benevolent : who are temperate in the gratification of their desires and cultivate a self-denying spirit ; and of whose sincere desire to do right there can be no doubt. The fifth-day paper of Kung Hsien Ho, a prize essay on Confucianism, quoted an ancient book to the effect that " from the emperor down to the common people the fundamental thing for all to do is to cultivate virtue." This finds its first expression in proper maintenance of the relations of sovereign and minister, father and son, elder brother and younger, hus- band and wife, and friend with friend. Next to the five rela- tions named Confucian teaching lays great stress on the five constants, benevolence or love, righteousness or fitness, wor- ship or principle, wisdom or thorough knowledge, and faith- fulness or what one can depend upon. The influence of these is very great, and all living things are subject to them. He who through them is able to restore the original good nature of man and to hold fast to it is called a worthy. He who has got hold of the spiritual nature and is at peace and rest is called a sage. He who sends forth unseen and infinite influences throughout all things is called divine. The sages consider that the most important thing is to get benevolence, because it includes righteousness, religion and wisdom. The 15