In this thought-provoking lecture, delivered in 1874, Rabbi Isidor Kalisch explores the links between ancient Near Eastern religions and the development of Western civilization. Arguing that the key to preserving our civil and religious liberty lies in a deeper understanding of these ancient traditions, Kalisch offers a provocative and insightful perspective on the roots of modern culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.