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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]], [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]].

94:1.1 In the days of [[Melchizedek]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_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 [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].

94:1.2 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].

94:1.5 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]].

94:1.5 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 [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]].

94:1.6 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/Epic_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 [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.

94:1.7 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.

94:9.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism] prospered because it offered [[salvation]] through [[belief]] in the [[Buddha]], the [[enlightened]] one. It was more [[representative]] of the [[Melchizedek]] [[truths]] than any other [[religious]] system to be found throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Asia eastern Asia]. But Buddhism did not become widespread as a [[religion]] until it was espoused in self-protection by the low-caste [[King|monarch] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoka Asoka], who, next to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhnaton Ikhnaton in Egypt], was one of the most remarkable civil rulers between [[Melchizedek]] and [[Michael]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoka Asoka] built a great [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_Empire#Ashoka_the_Great Indian empire] through the [[propaganda]] of his [[Buddhist]] missionaries. During a period of twenty-five years he [[trained]] and sent forth more than seventeen thousand missionaries to the farthest [[frontiers]] of all the known world. In one [[generation]] he made [[Buddhism]] the dominant [[religion]] of one half the world. It soon became [[established]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet Tibet], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir Kashmir],[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceylon Ceylon], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma Burma], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java Java], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siam Siam], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea Korea], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Japan]. And generally speaking, it was a [[religion]] vastly superior to those which it supplanted or upstepped.

94:9.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism] prospered because it offered [[salvation]] through [[belief]] in the [[Buddha]], the [[enlightened]] one. It was more [[representative]] of the [[Melchizedek]] [[truths]] than any other [[religious]] system to be found throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Asia eastern Asia]. But Buddhism did not become widespread as a [[religion]] until it was espoused in self-protection by the low-caste [[King|monarch] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoka Asoka], who, next to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhnaton Ikhnaton in Egypt], was one of the most remarkable civil rulers between [[Melchizedek]] and [[Michael]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoka Asoka] built a great [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_Empire#Ashoka_the_Great Indian empire] through the [[propaganda]] of his [[Buddhist]] missionaries. During a period of twenty-five years he [[trained]] and sent forth more than seventeen thousand missionaries to the farthest [[frontiers]] of all the known world. In one [[generation]] he made [[Buddhism]] the dominant [[religion]] of one half the world. It soon became [[established]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet Tibet], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir Kashmir],[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceylon Ceylon], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma Burma], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java Java], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siam Siam], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea Korea], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Japan]. And generally speaking, it was a [[religion]] vastly superior to those which it supplanted or upstepped.

94:9.2 The spread of [[Buddhism]] from its homeland in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_India India] to all of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia Asia] is one of the thrilling [[stories]] of the [[spiritual]] [[devotion]] and missionary [[persistence]] of [[sincere]] religionists. The [[teachers]] of [[Gautama]]'s gospel not only braved the [[perils]] of the overland caravan routes but faced the [[dangers]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Sea China Seas] as they pursued their mission over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia Asiatic continent], bringing to all peoples the message of their [[faith]]. But this [[Buddhism]] was no longer the [[simple]] doctrine of [[Gautama]]; it was the miraculized gospel which made him a [[god]]. And the farther [[Buddhism]] spread from its highland [[home]] in India, the more unlike the teachings of [[Gautama]] it became, and the more like the [[religions]] it supplanted, it grew to be.

94:9.2 The spread of [[Buddhism]] from its homeland in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_India India] to all of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia Asia] is one of the thrilling [[stories]] of the [[spiritual]] [[devotion]] and missionary [[persistence]] of [[sincere]] religionists. The [[teachers]] of [[Gautama]]'s gospel not only braved the [[perils]] of the overland caravan routes but faced the [[dangers]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Sea China Seas] as they pursued their mission over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia Asiatic continent], bringing to all peoples the message of their [[faith]]. But this [[Buddhism]] was no longer the [[simple]] doctrine of [[Gautama]]; it was the miraculized gospel which made him a [[god]]. And the farther [[Buddhism]] spread from its highland [[home]] in India, the more unlike the teachings of [[Gautama]] it became, and the more like the [[religions]] it supplanted, it grew to be.

94:9.3 [[Buddhism]], later on, was much affected by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism Taoism] in China, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto] in Japan, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiainity Christianity] in Tibet. After a thousand years, in India Buddhism simply withered and expired. It became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahmanized] and later abjectly [[surrendered]] to [[Islam]], while throughout much of the rest of the [[Orient]] it [[degenerated]] into a [[ritual]] which [[Gautama Siddhartha]] would never have recognized.

94:9.3 [[Buddhism]], later on, was much affected by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism Taoism] in China, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto Shinto] in Japan, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiainity Christianity] in Tibet. After a thousand years, in India Buddhism simply withered and expired. It became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahmanized] and later abjectly [[surrendered]] to [[Islam]], while throughout much of the rest of the [[Orient]] it [[degenerated]] into a [[ritual]] which [[Gautama Siddhartha]] would never have recognized.