Ancient Faiths And Modern: A Dissertation upon Worships, Legends and Divinities in Central and Western Asia, Europe, and Elsewhere, Before the Christian Era. Showing Their Relations to Religious Customs as They Now Exist.

"Ancient Faiths And Modern" by Thomas Inman is a historical dissertation written in the late 19th century. The work examines various worship practices, legends, and deities from ancient civilizations, particularly those of Central and Western Asia, Europe, and beyond, leading up to the current religious customs. Inman seeks to draw connections between these ancient faiths and contemporary religious practices, challenging the orthodox views held within Christianity and proposing an alternative perspective on spirituality. The opening of the dissertation begins with an exploration of the author's past experiences as a physician, which led him to question the efficacy of medical treatments and the role of religious belief in healing. He reflects on the suppression of knowledge within the medical and religious professions and emphasizes the importance of independent inquiry into truth. This philosophical foundation sets the stage for Inman's investigation into religious practices, beginning with a critique of the Old Testament and a comparison of ancient and modern beliefs. He proposes that many doctrines and rituals from Christianity are deeply rooted in earlier pagan traditions, inviting readers to consider the possibility that these religious constructs may not be divinely ordained but rather a continuation of historical practices adapted to new cultural contexts.