Name of the science which compares one religion with another with a view to discovering common elements in all of them, and to tracing their development from primitive forms to their present tenets and practises. The effort of many students of this science to prove that Christianity is merely an evolution of the religions of primitive races and of paganism has proved futile chiefly through the studies of Catholic experts in ethnology, and the labors of Catholic missionaries among primitive peoples, notably the members of the Society of the Divine Word.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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