PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS IN CHICAGO
(Vivekananda in Indian Newspapers, pp. 5-6.)
[The Indian Mirror, December 7, 1893]
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HINDU CRITICISES CHRISTIANITY
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MR.VIVEKANUNDA SAYS RELIGION OF THE VEDAS
IS RELIGION OF LOVE
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VIVEKANUNDA SAYS CHRISTIANITY IS INTOLERANT
Dr. Noble presided at the afternoon session. The Hall of Colombus [Columbus] was badly crowded. . . . Dr. Noble then presented Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu monk, who was applauded loudly as he stepped forward to the centre of the platform. He wore an orange robe, bound with a scarlet sash, and a pale yellow turban. The customary smile was on his handsome face and his eyes shown with animation. Said he:
We who come from the East have sat here on the platform day after day, and have been told in a patronizing way that we ought to accept Christianity because Christian nations are the most prosperous. We look about us, and we see England, the most prosperous Christian nation in the world, with her foot on the neck of 250,000,000 of Asiatics. We look back into history, and see that the prosperity of Christian Europe began with Spain. Spain’s prosperity began with the invasion of Mexico. Christianity wins its prosperity by cutting the throats of its fellowmen. At such a price the Hindu will not have prosperity. (Vide “Cantakerous Remarks”, Complete Works, III: 474.)
I have sat here to-day, and I have heard the height of intolerance. I have heard the creed of the Moslem applauded, when to-day the Moslem sword is carrying destruction into India. Blood and the sword are not for the Hindu, whose religion is based on the law of love. (This last paragraph is a heretofore unpublished extract.)
When the applause had ceased, Mr. Vivekananda went [on] to read his paper, a summary of which follows: [Vide “Paper on Hinduism”, Complete Works, I: 6-20]. . . .