that of
Gautama, and I think it would be generally admitted that the influence
even of this mighty and beautiful spirit has never possessed the
immediacy, intensity, and personal value which distinguish that of
Jesus. It might be maintained with some show of reason that the
civilisation of Christendom, although it is now being copied by
non-Christian communities such as Japan, is not necessarily the highest
because it happens to be the strongest, and that it is even regarded
with contempt by the best representatives of some more ancient faiths.
Still that is not quite the point. The point is that the name of
Jesus, which stands for a moral ideal which is the very negation of
materialism, commands a reverence, and indeed a worship, the like of
which no other has ever received in the history of mankind. It is no
use trying to place Jesus in a row along with other religious masters.
He is first and the rest nowhere; we have no category for Him. I am
not trying to prove the impossible, namely, that Christianity is the
only true religion and the rest are all false. We shall get on better
when that kind of nonsense ceases to be spoken. All I am concerned to
emphasise is that somehow Jesus seems to sum up and focus the religious
ideal for mankind. His influence for good is greater than that of all
the masters of men put together, and still goes on increasing. It is a
notable fact that although churches and creeds are losing their hold
upon the modern mind, the name of Jesus is held in greater regard than
ever. We have heard of a meeting of workmen cheering Jesus and hissing
the churches. In our day most people are agreed that in Jesus we have
the most perfect life ever exhibited to humanity. It is not only
Christians who take this view; everyone, or nearly everyone, does so.
Some years ago a book was published which bore on the title-page the
question, "What would Jesus do?" The book was not very well written,
and I do not think the writer would have claimed that it contained
anything original, but it had an enormous sale simply because of its
attempt to answer the question on the covers. The most unlikely people
bought and read it, people who never went to church and would not dream
of doing so. From indications such as these one is justified in
asserting that our western civilisation has accepted as true that, no
matter who Jesus was, His character represents the highest standard for
human attainment. In seekin