San Francisco’s Jewish Temple (Emmanu-El)
October 12, 1912
San Francisco
The first bestowal of God to the world of humanity is
religion because religion consists of divine teachings. Certainly divine
teachings are preferable to all other sources of instructions.
Religion confers upon man life everlasting. Religion is a
service to the world of morality. Religion guides humanity to eternal
happiness. Religion is the cause of everlasting honor to the world of man.
Religion has ever helped humanity towards progress.
But the proof must be established. To achieve this end, we
should investigate religion as seekers of truth. When we do so, we find that
religion is the cause of progress and development. Let us see, then, whether or
not religion is the cause of illumination; whether or not religion is the
impetus which enables man to make extraordinary strides.
Let us investigate in search of truth, without being bound
by blind imitations or dogmas. If we are bound by blind imitations, some will
believe that religion is the cause of happiness and others will say that
religion has been the cause of degradation. Hence, we must investigate whether
religion is the cause of human advancement or of retrogression, so that no
doubt shall linger in our minds.
We shall therefore investigate the Prophets and review the
episodes of their lives. We shall avoid traditions that some will find it
possible to repudiate and shall cite historical facts provable to all and which
are irrefutable. They are these:
Among the Prophets was Abraham, who prohibited idolatry and
was a herald of the oneness of God, consequently He was banished by the people
from His native land.