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==94:1. THE SALEM TEACHINGS IN VEDIC INDIA==

==94:1. THE SALEM TEACHINGS IN VEDIC INDIA==

94:1.1 In the days of Melchizedek, India was a cosmopolitan country which had recently come under the political and religious dominance of the Aryan-Andite invaders from the north and west. At this time only the northern and western portions of the peninsula had been extensively permeated by the Aryans. These Vedic newcomers had brought along with them their many tribal deities. Their religious forms of worship followed closely the ceremonial practices of their earlier Andite forebears in that the father still functioned as a priest and the mother as a priestess, and the family hearth was still utilized as an altar.

94:1.1 In the days of [[Melchizedek]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_India India] was a [[cosmopolitan]] country which had recently come under the [[political]] and [[religious]] [[dominance]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranian_peoples Aryan]-[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andite] [[invaders]] from the north and west. At this time only the northern and western portions of the [[peninsula]] had been extensively permeated by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan Aryans]. These [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit Vedic] newcomers had brought along with them their many [[tribal]] [[deities]]. Their religious [[forms]] of [[worship]] followed closely the [[ceremonial]] [[practices]] of their earlier [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andite] forebears in that the [[father]] still functioned as a [[priest]] and the [[mother]] as a priestess, and the [[family]] [[hearth]] was still utilized as an [[altar]].

94:1.2 The Vedic cult was then in process of growth and metamorphosis under the direction of the Brahman caste of teacher-priests, who were gradually assuming control over the expanding ritual of worship. The amalgamation of the onetime thirty-three Aryan deities was well under way when the Salem missionaries penetrated the north of India.

94:1.2 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit Vedic cult] was then in [[process]] of [[growth]] and [[metamorphosis]] under the direction of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin Brahman] [[caste]] of [[teacher]]-[[priests]], who were [[gradually]] assuming [[control]] over the expanding [[ritual]] of [[worship]]. The [[amalgamation]] of the onetime thirty-three [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_deities Aryan deities] was well under way when the [[Salem]] missionaries penetrated the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_India north of India].

94:1.3 The polytheism of these Aryans represented a degeneration of their earlier monotheism occasioned by their separation into tribal units, each tribe having its venerated god. This devolution of the original monotheism and trinitarianism of Andite Mesopotamia was in process of resynthesis in the early centuries of the second millennium before Christ. The many gods were organized into a pantheon under the triune leadership of Dyaus pitar, the lord of heaven; Indra, the tempestuous lord of the atmosphere; and Agni, the three-headed fire god, lord of the earth and the vestigial symbol of an earlier Trinity concept.

94:1.3 The [[polytheism]] of these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan Aryans] [[represented]] a [[degeneration]] of their earlier [[monotheism]] occasioned by their separation into [[tribal]] [[units]], each tribe having its venerated god. This [[devolution]] of the original monotheism and [[trinitarianism]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andite] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] was in [[process]] of resynthesis in the early centuries of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_BC second millennium before Christ]. The many gods were [[organized]] into a [[pantheon]] under the [[triune]] [[leadership]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyaus_Pita Dyaus pitar], the lord of heaven; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra Indra], the tempestuous lord of the [[atmosphere]]; and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni Agni], the three-headed [[fire]] god, lord of the [[earth]] and the vestigial [[symbol]] of an earlier [[Trinity]] [[concept]].

94:1.4 Definite henotheistic developments were paving the way for an evolved monotheism. Agni, the most ancient deity, was often exalted as the father-head of the entire pantheon. The deity-father principle, sometimes called Prajapati, sometimes termed Brahma, was submerged in the theologic battle which the Brahman priests later fought with the Salem teachers. The Brahman was conceived as the energy-divinity principle activating the entire Vedic pantheon.

94:1.4 Definite [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism henotheistic] [[developments]] were paving the way for an evolved [[monotheism]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni Agni], the most [[ancient]] [[deity]], was often exalted as the father-head of the entire [[pantheon]]. The [[deity]]-father principle, sometimes called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajapati Prajapati], sometimes termed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma Brahma], was submerged in the [[theologic]] battle which the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin Brahman priests] later fought with the [[Salem]] teachers. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahman] was conceived as the [[energy]]-[[divinity]] principle activating the entire [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedic] [[pantheon]].

94:1.5 The Salem missionaries preached the one God of Melchizedek, the Most High of heaven. This portrayal was not altogether disharmonious with the emerging concept of the Father-Brahma as the source of all gods, but the Salem doctrine was nonritualistic and hence ran directly counter to the dogmas, traditions, and teachings of the Brahman priesthood. Never would the Brahman priests accept the Salem teaching of salvation through faith, favor with God apart from ritualistic observances and sacrificial ceremonials.

94:1.5 The [[Salem]] missionaries preached the one [[God]] of [[Melchizedek]], the [[Most High]] of heaven. This portrayal was not altogether disharmonious with the emerging [[concept]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma Father-Brahma] as the source of all gods, but the [[Salem]] [[doctrine]] was nonritualistic and hence ran directly counter to the [[dogmas]], [[traditions]], and teachings of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin Brahman priesthood]. Never would the Brahman priests [[accept]] the [[Salem]] teaching of [[salvation]] through [[faith]], [[favor]] with [[God]] apart from ritualistic observances and [[sacrificial]] [[ceremonials]].

94:1.6 The rejection of the Melchizedek gospel of trust in God and salvation through faith marked a vital turning point for India. The Salem missionaries had contributed much to the loss of faith in all the ancient Vedic gods, but the leaders, the priests of Vedism, refused to accept the Melchizedek teaching of one God and one simple faith.

94:1.6 The rejection of the [[Melchizedek]] [[gospel]] of [[trust]] in [[God]] and [[salvation]] through [[faith]] marked a vital turning point for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient India India]. The Salem missionaries had contributed much to the loss of [[faith]] in all the ancient [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedic gods], but the [[leaders]], the priests of Vedism, refused to accept the [[Melchizedek]] teaching of one God and one [[simple]] [[faith]].

94:1.7 The Brahmans culled the sacred writings of their day in an effort to combat the Salem teachers, and this compilation, as later revised, has come on down to modern times as the Rig-Veda, one of the most ancient of sacred books. The second, third, and fourth Vedas followed as the Brahmans sought to crystallize, formalize, and fix their rituals of worship and sacrifice upon the peoples of those days. Taken at their best, these writings are the equal of any other body of similar character in beauty of concept and truth of discernment. But as this superior religion became contaminated with the thousands upon thousands of superstitions, cults, and rituals of southern India, it progressively metamorphosed into the most variegated system of theology ever developed by mortal man. An examination of the Vedas will disclose some of the highest and some of the most debased concepts of Deity ever to be conceived.

94:1.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin Brahmans] culled the [[sacred]] [[writings]] of their day in an [[effort]] to combat the [[Salem]] teachers, and this compilation, as later revised, has come on down to [[modern]] times as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rig-Veda Rigveda], one of the most [[ancient]] of sacred [[books]]. The second, third, and fourth Vedas followed as the Brahmans sought to crystallize, formalize, and fix their [[rituals]] of [[worship]] and [[sacrifice]] upon the peoples of those days. Taken at their best, these [[writings]] are the equal of any other body of similar [[character]] in [[beauty]] of [[concept]] and [[truth]] of [[discernment]]. But as this superior [[religion]] became contaminated with the thousands upon thousands of [[superstitions]], [[cults]], and [[rituals]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_India  southern India], it progressively [[metamorphosed]] into the most variegated [[system]] of [[theology]] ever developed by [[mortal]] man. An examination of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedas] will disclose some of the highest and some of the most debased [[concepts]] of [[Deity]] ever to be conceived.

==94:2. BRAHMANISM==

==94:2. BRAHMANISM==