The Reconciliation of Races and Religions

Thomas Kelly Cheyne (1841 - 1915)

“The primary aim of this work is twofold,” writes Thomas K. Cheyne. “It would fain contribute to the cause of universal peace, and promote the better understanding of the various religions which really are but one religion. The union of religions must necessarily precede the union of races, which at present is so lamentably incomplete…. I have endeavoured to study the various races and religions on their best side, and not to fetter myself to any individual teacher or party, for ‘out of His fullness have all we received.’ Max Müller was hardly right in advising the Brahmists to call themselves Christians, and it is a pity that we so habitually speak of Buddhists and Mohammedans. I venture to remark that the favourite name of the Bahais among themselves is ‘Friends.’… Wishing to get nearer to a ‘human-catholic’ religion I have sought the privilege of simultaneous membership of several brotherhoods of Friends of God. It is my wish to show that both these and other homes of spiritual life are, when studied from the inside, essentially one, and that religions necessarily issue in racial and world-wide unity.”

Thomas Kelly Cheyne, D.Litt. D.D., was an English divine and Biblical critic. He was born in London and educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, London and Oxford University. Subsequently he studied German theological methods at Göttingen. He was ordained in 1864 and held a fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford, 1868-1882. He became Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture in 1885, which post he resigned in 1908. Cheyne was the first person to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the leader of the Bahá’í Faith, on His arrival in Oxford on the 31st of December, 1912. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was impressed by Cheyne and gave him the epithet Ruhání (Spiritual) and addressed him as “my spiritual philosopher”. By 1914, this renowned Christian scholar became a member of the Bahá’í Faith. He wrote the present work, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions, in that same year. The book consists mainly of Bábí and Bahá’í historical and biographical notes. At the time, membership in the Bahá’í Faith did not require one to renounce membership in the church, so he remained a Christian minister. He was also interested in and had sympathies towards other religious teachings and movement such as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). (Introduction by Nicholas J. Bridgewater)

Genre(s): Other religions

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 00 – Dedication; Preface Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:08:29
Play 01 01 – Introduction Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:19:09
Play 02 02 – [Part I. The Jewels of the Faiths]: A Study of the Chief Religions on their Best Side with a View to their Expansion and Enrichment and to an Ultimate Synthesis and to the Final Union of Races and Nations on a Spiritual Basis; Another Image of God; The Bāb; Effect of Ṣufism. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:04
Play 03 03 – [Part I. The Jewels of the Faiths]: Inayat Khan; Sheykh Aḥmad. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:17:59
Play 04 04 – [Part I. The Jewels of the Faiths]: Seyyid Kaẓim—Islam—Parsiism—Buddhism: From “On Aḥmad's death” to “…is too complex a question to be discussed here.” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:13
Play 05 05 – [Part I. The Jewels of the Faiths]: Seyyid Kaẓim—Islam—Parsiism—Buddhism: From “All honour to Buddhism…” to “…in his fearsome pilgrimage.” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:28
Play 06 06 – [Part I. The Jewels of the Faiths]: The Bhagavad-Gita and the Upanishads; Judaism; Christianity. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:13:08
Play 07 07 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Seyyid 'Ali Muḥammad (The Bāb): From “Seyyid 'Ali Muḥammad was born…” to “…on him to take some food.’ [Footnote: NH, pp. 348, 349.]” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:19:49
Play 08 08 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Seyyid 'Ali Muḥammad (The Bāb): From “Certainly it was a notable journey…” to “…and of the purposes of God.’ [Footnote: AMB, p. 142.]” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:02
Play 09 09 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Seyyid 'Ali Muḥammad (The Bāb): From “It is also in a book written at Maku…” to “…at length graciously acceded.” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:17:28
Play 10 10 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Seyyid 'Ali Muḥammad (The Bāb): From “Now when a little while had elapsed…” to “…and numerous pilgrims from many countries resort to it.” Eulogium on the Master. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:14:17
Play 11 11 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Mullā Ḥuseyn of Bushraweyh. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:17:41
Play 12 12 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Mullā Muḥammad 'Ali of Barfurush. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:14:14
Play 13 13 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Sayyid Yaḥya Darabi; Mullā Muḥammad 'Ali of Zanjan. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:09:27
Play 14 14 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Ḳurratu'l 'Ayn: From “Among the Heroes of God…” to “…to the Government” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:22:14
Play 15 15 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Ḳurratu'l 'Ayn: From “We next meet with her…” to “…into the very centre fount of the Bahai faith in universal peace.” Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:19:49
Play 16 16 – [Part II. Biographical and Historical]: Baha-'ullah (Mirza Ḥuseyn Ali of Nūr). Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:32:43
Play 17 17 – [Part III. Biographical and Historical (continued)]: Ṣubḥ-i-Ezel (or Azal); Subsequent Discoveries. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:19:36
Play 18 18 – [Part III. Biographical and Historical (continued)]: Dayyan; Mirza Haydar 'Ali; Abdul Baha (Abbas Effendi). Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:51
Play 19 19 – [Part IV. Biographical and Historical; Ambassador to Humanity]: Ambassador to Humanity Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:19:34
Play 20 20 – [Part V. A Series of Illustrative Studies Bearing on Comparative Religion]: Eighteen (or, with the Bāb, Ninteen) Letters of the Living of the First Unity; Titles of the Bāb, etc.; The Bahai View of Religion; The New Dispensation; Manifestation. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:16:34
Play 21 21 – [Part V. A Series of Illustrative Studies Bearing on Comparative Religion]: Great Manifestation; When?; Non-Finality of Revelation; Early Christianity and Bahaism and Buddhism; Western and Eastern Religion. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:15:44
Play 22 22 – [Part V. A Series of Illustrative Studies Bearing on Comparative Religion]: Religious Teachers of the East; Reform of Islam; Synthesis of Religions. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:17:22
Play 23 23 – [Part V. A Series of Illustrative Studies Bearing on Comparative Religion]: Incarnations; Is Jesus Unique?; The Spirit of God. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:13:49
Play 24 24 – [Part V. A Series of Illustrative Studies Bearing on Comparative Religion]: Chinese and Japanese Religion; God-Man; Prayer to the Perpetual Creator; The Opportuneness of Bahaism Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:15:43
Play 25 25 – Bahai Bibliography. Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:03:42