The Brahmo-Somaj Movement
Dr. G. F. Pentecost writes of the Hindus who have formed themselves into various Somajs, or independent churches, of which the Brahmo-Somaj in Bengal is the chief: "These men have repudiated Hinduism as a system. They have brought their wives out from behind the parda, or zenana, educated them, and are endeavoring to put themselves and their families on a European basis of family and social life. They are, as a rule, well-to-do people, many of the men being lawyers or occupying high positions in the service of the government. Theism is the basis of their religion—what they have. The Brahmos have, as before noted, sought to incorporate as much of Christianity as they can without accepting Jesus as the incarnate Son of God—his atonement and resurrection from the dead. I am satisfied that the Somaj movement has reached its limit of strength. It is at least a protest against the absurdities and wickedness of Hinduism, and an effort to find a new basis of faith in theism; but as theism cannot stand alone, the result is that the life of these movements is and must be short. They will either fall into atheism, which, indeed, some of them are doing, calling themselves agnostics in the meantime, or they will embrace Christ and his salvation, which also some of them are doing—and that gladly and joyfully."—Gospel in All Lands.