Toynbee Maintains Spirit Distinguishes Religious Doctrines

The real criterion for comparison of religions is the "attitude or spirit of a religion," Arnold J. Toynbee old a near-capacity crowd in Sanders Theatre yesterday.

"This attitude underlies and inspires theological concepts and practice" which are, he added, the usually accepted criteria. Neither, however, allows a clear-cut comparison of faiths.

He emphasized also that this criterion permits a comparison only of groups of religions, not individual creeds.

In the first of four Hewitt Lectures sponsored by the Episcopal Theological Seminary, Toynbee said that this "attitude" involves two main points: the religion's view of evil, and its treatment of suffering. While the Buddhist seeks to extinguish suffering.

Toynbee will give the second Hewitt Lecture tonight at 8 p.m.