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This book, 'The Great Debate - Buddhism and Christianity Face to Face' is an accurate reflection of the historical occasion when Buddhism and Christianity were brought into an arena of face to face controversial discussion through an oral debate, led by the eminent Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda thero, the silver tongued orator of the age and David De Silva, a Wesleyan minister held at Panadura, Sri Lanka about one and a quarter centuries ago when ancient Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was under British colonial rule and Buddhism was in great danger due to the island being overrun by a flood of Christian missionaries. The chapters of this book has been described the origin and prevalence of Buddhism, the doctrines of Buddhism, the moral influence of Bu, rebirth, Animistic or spirit ideas , and different speeches made by Reverend Migettuwatte Gunananda and Reverend David De Silva on Buddhism and Christianity. Furthermore, it has been this booklet which induced Colonel H. S. Olcott of America to embrace Buddhism.
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GREAT DEBATE
BUDDHISM and
Christianity FACE to FACE
WITH
Introduction and Annotations by
J. M PEEBLES M. D., M. A., Ph- D.
BUDDHISM AND
CHRISTIANITY BEING AN ORAL DEBATE HELD AT PANADURA between
The Rev. MIGETTUWATTE
GUNANANDA
a Buddhist Priest &
The Rev. DAVID DE SILVA a Wesleyan Clergyman.
IN T R O D U C T IO N
AND
A N N O T A T IO N S
By J. M. PEEBLES, M. D., M. A.. Ph. D. Author, Lecturer, Traveler, U. S. A, Ex-Consul; Fellow of the Geographical Society, Washington, D.C.; Member of the Victoria Institute of London; Vice-President of the Psycho-Therapeutic Society of London; Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, New Orleans, U.S.A.; Corresponding Member of the Oriental Society, Calcutta, India Ac.
P. K. W . SIR IW A R D H A N A 520,
BOOK -SELLER & PUBLISHER M ARADANA ROAD, COLOM BO.
PREFACE With an admiration o f the calm ness that characterises the Oriental mind, and a deep interest in the symbolisms that underlie the Eastern religions, I had long desired to see these religions, especially Buddhism, brought into the arena o f discussion face to face with the Christian religion, that each system might be subjeoted to the test o f controversy. This was partially done awhile since at Pantura, Ceylon, where a Buddhist priest met, in an oral debate, the Rev. Mr. Silva, a Wesleyan minister. The discussion continued tw o days, before an alm ost breathless audience, numbering at times from five to seven thousand in attendance. Each o f the parties had their sympathising friends, and both, as usual, claim ed the victory, So far as I heard expressions from what seemed to be impartial minds, they were to the end that the Buddhist priest, being the m ost graceful speaker, and adapting himself to the popular mind, carried the multitude with him, It is certain that some o f the Christians did not feel satisfied with the result. The debate was reported, and a few copies published by John Capper, E sq., Editor o f the Ceylon Times. “ The report,” so he says, “ has been revised by the respective disputants, so that it may be taken as a correct account o f what passed. The Pali extracts were revised by Rev. C. Alwis and a portion by Mr. L. de Z oysa, the Government interpreter.”
FOREWORD. The period o f controversy in Geylon on Buddhism is now over. But about one hundred years ago it was quite different. In 1813 the Sinhalese sovereignty came to an end with the last King o f Kandy. Kandy convention which promised that "The religion o f Booihoo professed b y the chiefs and inhabitants o f these provinces is declared inviolable and its Rites, M inisters, and the places o f worship are to be maintained and p r o t e c t e d became a dead