Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/16

though the word theology is admitted as a scientific term. No attempt is made to give a system of scientific principles for the study of theology. Still inasmuch as the theological ideas of people have had serious influence on the lives of individuals and societies, the previous scientific effort of the Hindus on this subject is presented in the second chapter under the title Hindu Terminology so far as it touches the subject.

This terminology has not been a result of a narrow system. It is a terminology suitable for the scientific treatment of those social phenomena which have been created by the theological ideas, and which pervade the whole world. I have given that terminology in detail because I think that it is to be of permanent value to science. This analysis will also show how the theological ideas and social questions are rigorously kept apart in the Hindu thought. It is also shown that the only case in which these, two separate departments of ideas are mixed is in the case of the religions that are in the traditions of theophratry (sampradaya).

Explanation of Hinduism.—As Hinduism, that is, the Hindu community or its traditions, has not been formed by the process of theophratry the process which led to the formation of Hinduism has been discussed in the third chapter. Here I have shown that the different tribes and castes under Hinduism, though of heterogeneous origin, acquired conception of unity, and that this body, though non-theological, distinguished itself from foreign theophratries (sampradayas) like Christianity and Mohamedanism which follow unsacred conduct. I then proceeded to describe the internal ties which bind the various castes and tribes under Hinduism, and showed how the Hindus