William Ward (missionary)

William Ward (20 October 1769 – 7 March 1823) was an English Baptist missionary, author, printer and translator.

Quotes

• ‘In the first place, they were thus elevated in their antiquity beyond the Christian scriptures, the writings of Moses having been called the productions of yesterday, compared with those of the brahmins [...] the primitive religion of the Hindoos, it was said, revealed the most sublime doctrines, and inculcated a pure morality. [...] Many an object appears beautiful when seen at a distance, and through a mist; but when the fog has dispersed, and the person has approached it, he smiles at the deception. Such is the exact case with these books [Vedas, Bhagavadgita, Ramayana], and this system of idolatry.’
  • quoted in : Bhaskar Kamble, The Imperishable Seed: How Hindu Mathematics Changed the World and why this History was Erased, Garuda Prakashan Private Limited, 2022 ISBN 9798885750189

• ‘There is scarcely anything in Hindooism, when truly known, in which a learned man can delight, or of which a benevolent man can approve; and I am fully persuaded, that there will soon be but one opinion on the subject, and that this opinion will be, that the Hindoo system is less antient than the Egyptian, and that it is the most PUERILE, IMPURE, AND BLOODY, OF ANY SYSTEM OF IDOLATRY THAT WAS EVER ESTABLISHED ON EARTH.’
  • quoted in : Bhaskar Kamble, The Imperishable Seed: How Hindu Mathematics Changed the World and why this History was Erased, Garuda Prakashan Private Limited, 2022 ISBN 9798885750189