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Mahometanism compared with Christianity
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John Henry
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Feb 12, 2007 05:47 PST
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Mahometanism compared
with Christianity
Particularly with
respect to their propagation
By Jonathan Edwards
(October 5, 1703 – March 22, 1758)
In what respect the propagation of Mahometanism is far from being
parallel with the propagation of Christianity, will appear by these
observations. -- The revolution that was brought to pass in the
world, by the propagation of Mahometanism, was not so great as that which
happened by the propagation of Christianity; yea, in this respect, was by
no means worthy to be compared to it. Consider the state the world was in
before Christianity was propagated; how dark, ignorant, barbarous, and
wicked; how strongly these things were established by long universal
immemorial custom; how fixed in men's hearts; how established by all
human authority, and power, and inclination; and how vast the alteration,
when Christianity was introduced and established; how vast the overthrow
of that which had been built up before, and stood from age to age; how
great, how strong the building; how absolute its destruction; and also,
how great the building that was erected in its room; and of how different
and opposite a nature from that which had stood on the same ground
before.
But as to the revolution brought to pass in the world by Mahometanism, it
consisted either in the change made among the heathen -- barbarous
nations, which had their original from Arabia or Scythia -- or among
professing Christians. But with respect to neither of these, was the
revolution comparably so great as the other. As to the change made among
those heathens, they long had entertained some obscure notions of
the true God; and many of the great truths of what is called natural
religion, they had obtained by those glimmerings of the light of the
gospel which had been diffused over great part of the world; even that
part of it that had not fully embraced Christianity. But Mahometanism
carried them very little farther in these things; and was an occasion of
but small advance of light and knowledge. As to the change made among
Christians, there was no advance at all made in knowledge, or in
anything that was good. And as to the change made among them as to
religious customs, they had so degenerated before, and were become so
superstitious, that the alteration was not very perceptible.
The difference of the two revolutions was immensely great as to
goodness. The change made in the world by the propagation of
Christianity, was a great change indeed, with regard to light and
knowledge. It was a change from great darkness to glorious and marvellous
light. By the preaching of the gospel in the world, the day-spring from
on high visited the earth, and the sun arose after a long night of the
grossest darkness. But as to the change made in Christendom by the
propagation of Mahometanism, there was no increase of light by it, but on
the contrary, it was evidently a change from light to darkness. It was a
propagation of ignorance, and not of knowledge. As to the change made
among the heathens, as we observed before, there was but a small degree
of increased light; and all that was added, was borrowed from
Christianity. Any increase of knowledge that arose, proceeded only from
Mahomet and his followers communicating what had before been communicated
to them by Christian teaching. There can be no pretence of the least
degree of addition in anything, beyond what they had before received from
the gospel. And as to rules and precepts, examples, promises, or
incitements to virtue of any kind, no addition at all was made. What
alteration there existed, was only for the worse; those examples,
histories, representations, and promises of the new Mahometan religion,
only tended exceedingly to debase, debauch, and corrupt the minds of such
as received it.
The revolution that was occasioned by the propagation of Christianity,
was an infinitely greater and more wonderful effect, if we consider the
opposition that was overcome in bringing it to pass. Christianity
was propagated against all the opposition that could be made by man's
carnal dispositions, strengthened by inveterate general custom,
principles, habits, and practice, prevailing like a mighty flood.
Mahometanism was propagated, not in opposition to those inclinations, but
by complying with them, and gratifying them, in examples,
precepts, and promises, as Stapferus observes, (Theol. Polern. tom.
iii. p.292.) Speaking of Mahomet's laws, he says,
"The law, which he published was, above all others, accommodated not
only to the opinions of men, but also to the depraved
nature, manners, and innate vices of those nations, among whom he
propagated it; nor did it require much more than external exercises,
which, to a carnal man, are much more easy to be performed, than those
spiritual exercises which the sacred pages prescribe. He allowed of
revenge for injuries; of discarding wives for the slightest causes; of
the addition of wives to wives, which must have served only as so many
new provocatives to lust. At the same time he indulged himself in the
greatest excess of promiscuous and base lasciviousness. He placed the
true worship of God in such external ceremonies, as have no tendency to
promote true piety. In fine., the whole of that religion which he
instituted, was adapted to no other end, than the shedding of human
blood."
This religion is
particularly adapted to the luxurious and sensual disposition.
Christianity was extremely contrary to the most established and darling
notions of the world; whereas Mahomet accommodated his doctrines to all
such notions as were most pleasing at that time, among the heathen,
Arabians, Jews, and the several most prevailing sects of Christians; as
Stapferus observes:
"Mahomet retained many of the opinions of the ancient Arabians; he
mixed his doctrine with the fables of the Jews, and retained many of the
ceremonies of the other religions prevalent at that time. The religion of
Mahomet favoured the prejudices of the Jews and of the heathens; and was
suited to the desires of the flesh, and to the allurements of the world.
But the religion which Christ taught, did not, in the least instance,
favour the depraved affections of men, and the indulgence of the flesh;
but was diametrically opposed to them: nor was it suited to the
prejudices of either Jews or Gentiles; but it was plainly contrary to the
preconceived opinions of men. Whence the apostles, in preaching this
religion, immediately opposed both the religion of the Jews and the
Gentiles."
(Ibid. p.340.) Christianity was propagated under the most violent,
universal, and cruel persecution of all the powers of the world.
Mahometanism was not so; it never made its way any where, in any
remarkable degree, against persecution.
The difference will appear great, if we consider the time when
each of these were propagated. Christianity was propagated at a time when
human learning and science was at its greatest height in the world. But
Mahometanism was broached and propagated in ages of great darkness, after
learning had exceedingly decayed, and was almost extinguished in the
world.
The difference will farther appear, if we consider the places
front whence these religions were propagated. -- Christianity was first
begun in a place of great light, the greatest light with regard to
religious knowledge then known, and in a very public part of the globe;
whither resorted innumerable multitudes of people three times every
year, from almost all parts of the then known world. And beside the
vast resort of Jews and proselytes thither, it was a country that was at
that time under the inspection and government of the Romans, where they
had a governor, and other public officers, constantly residing. It was
propagated especially from Jerusalem, the chief city in that country, and
one of the greatest and most public cities in the world; and, indeed, all
things considered, was next to Rome itself, nay, in some respects, even
far beyond Rome. And the nations among whom it was first propagated after
the Jews, were -- not the more ignorant and barbarous, but -- the most
knowing and learned in the world; as particularly the Greeks and Romans.
And the cities where it was very early received, and from whence it was
promulgated to other parts, were the greatest, most public, and polite;
such as Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria, Corinth, Athens, and Rome: and some
of these were the greatest seats of learning and philosophy on earth. --
Whereas
Mahometanism was broached in a dark corner of the earth, Arabia; and the
people among whom it first gained strength, who sent out armies to
propagate it to the rest of the world, were an ignorant and barbarous
sort of people; such as the Saracens and Turks, who originated
from Scythia.
The difference appears
in the means and method of propagation.
Christianity was propagated by light, instruction and knowledge,
reasoning and inquiry. These things were encouraged by the gospel; and by
these means the gospel
prevailed. But
Mahometanism, was not propagated by light and instruction, but by
darkness; not by encouraging reasoning and search, but by discouraging
knowledge and learning; by shutting out those things, and forbidding
inquiry; and so, in short, by blinding, the eyes of mankind. -- It was
propagated by the power of the sword also; by potent sultans,
absolute tyrants, and mighty
armies.
Christianity was propagated by the weakest of men, unarmed with anything
but meekness, humility, love, miracles, clear evidence, most virtuous,
holy, and amiable examples, and the power and favour of eminent virtue,
joined with assured belief of the truth, with self-denial and suffering
for truth and holiness. By such weapons as these was it propagated
against the power, authority, wealth, and armour of the world: against
the greatest potentates, most absolute and cruel tyrants, their most
crafty counsels, and greatest strength, utmost rage and cruelty, and
determined resolutions to put a stop to it. It was propagated against all
the strength of the strongest empire that ever was in the world.
One principal way
wherein the propagation of Christianity is a proof of its truth, consists
in its being an evidence of the facts that are the foundation of it.
Christianity is built on certain great and wonderful visible facts; such
as, Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the great and
innumerable miracles wrought by him and his apostles, and other his
followers, in Judea and many parts of the world. -- These facts were
always referred to, as the foundation of the whole; and Christianity
always pretended [i.e. put forward the claim] to be built on them.
That Christianity, which, in effect, is no other than the belief of
these facts, should be extensively propagated in and near the places and
time when the facts were said to be wrought; when and where there was
so much opportunity and advantage to know the truth of the matter; is a
great, standing, everlasting evidence of the truth of the
facts.
But as
to Mahometanism, it pretends to no facts for its proof and foundation,
but only Mahomet's pretences to intercourse with heaven, and his success
in rapine [i.e. plunder], murder, and violence. -- Belief of
sensible miracles, or public attestations of heaven to Mahomet's
authority and doctrines, was no part of his religion -- and was not
employed in its propagation.
If we consider the
propagation of Christianity as a doctrine or belief of wonderful divine
facts, Mahometanism is not set up in opposition to it; because the
Mahometan religion itself acknowledges the principal facts of
Christianity, though it has no facts of its own to urge. And so
Mahometanism rather confirms than weakens Christianity; and the
propagation of Mahometanism itself may be considered as one thing
belonging to the propagation of Christianity, and as a part of that
propagation, in as far as it consists in a propagation of a professed
belief of those facts. It is so far an instance of the propagation of
that which is the foundation of Christianity, that it proves all the
rest. The Alcoran [i.e. Koran] owns Jesus to be a great
prophet; "the messenger of God,"
(Surat.
v. 84.) that he wrought
miracles, healing a man blind from his birth, and the leprous,
(Surat.
v. 119.) also raising
the dead; and that Jesus as born of Mary was himself a miracle,
(Surat.
xxiii. 52.) He often
speaks of Jesus as the servant and messenger of God;
(Surat.
iv. 158. iii. 152. iv. 169, 170. v.
84.) Now, owning this,
is in effect owning the whole. This is the foundation of the whole, and
proves all the rest. It owns that Jesus was miraculously conceived and
born;
(Surat.
iii. 47. xix. 20, 21.)
and without sin.
(Surat.
iii. 36. xix. 19.) --
Mahomet owns Jesus, and ascribes the conception of Christ alone to the
power of God, and the inflation of his Spirit. -- In
Surat.
xxi. 19. are these
words, as the words of God: "And Mary was a chaste virgin, and We
inspired her with Our Spirit, and set up her and her son as a miracle to
all ages." -- He owned Jesus to be the Messiah foretold in the law
and the prophets;
Surat.
iii. 45. "When the
angels said, O Mary, certainly God declares to thee his own word; his
name shall be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary:"
Surat.
xix. 29. Surat. iv.
"Certainly Christ
Jesus, the son of Mary, is the ambassador of God and his word." He
owned Christ's ascension into heaven. "God raised him (Christ) to
himself;"
Surat.
iv. 157. Concerning
Christ's miracles, Mahomet says,
Surat.
iii. 45 v. 119.
"God says, O Jesus, the son of Mary, I have strengthened thee by the
Spirit of holiness; and thou shalt, by my leave, heal a man blind from
his birth; and by my leave thou shalt raise the dead from their
graves." [*]
In this respect the great propagation of the Mahometan religion is a
confirmation of revealed religion -- and so of the Christian in
particular, which alone can have any pretext to be a religion revealed by
God -- as this is a great demonstration of the extreme darkness,
blindness, weakness, childishness, folly, and madness of mankind in
matters of religion, and shows how greatly they stand in need of a divine
guide, and divine grace and strength for their help, such as the gospel
reveals. And that this gross delusion has continued so long to so great
an extent, shows how helpless mankind are, under ignorance and delusion
in matters of religion; and what absolute need they have of extraordinary
divine interposition for their relief. And besides, such a miserable,
blind, helpless state of mankind, is also exactly agreeable to the
representation made in the Christian revelation.
NOTE:
* Even though the Surat of the Alcoran acknowledgeth these truths of
Scripture, nonetheless it blasphemes at these four points:
1. It denies the Holy Trinity.
2. It rejects the deity of Jesus Christ.
3. It rejects the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. It adds and takes away from the words of God.
This is evidenced by the words of the Holy Bible, and the words of the
Alcoran:
Holy Bible:
"... And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit
is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ... He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave
of his Son." (1
John 5:6-7, 10)
Alcoran:
"Unbelievers are those who say: 'God is one of three.' There is but
one God. If they do not desist from so saying, those of them that
disbelieve shall be sternly
punished." (Surah
5:73)
Holy Bible:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. ... I am he
that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of
death."
(Revelation 1:8, 18)
Alcoran:
"God will say: 'Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind
'Worship me and my mother as gods besides God?' 'Glory to You, 'he will
answer, 'how could I ever say that to which I have no
right?" (Surah
5:116)
Holy Bible:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ... And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth." (John
1:1-4, 14; Hebrews 1:1-3)
Alcoran:
"The Christians say: The Christ is the son of God; these are the
words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved
before; may Allah destroy
them." (Sura 9:30,
cf. 17.111, 19:88-89, 23:91, 25:2)
Holy Bible:
"Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited
for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved
the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already
dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had
been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion,
he gave the body to
Joseph." (Mark
15:43-45; cf. John 19:31-34)
Alcoran:
"And for their saying, `We did slay the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary,
the Messenger of Allah;' whereas they slew him not, nor did they bring
about his death upon the cross, but he was made to appear to them
like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state
of doubt about it; they have no certain knowledge thereof, but only
pursue a conjecture; and they did not arrive at a certainty concerning
it." (Surat
4:157)
Holy Bible:
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in
the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright
and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I
testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part
out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which are written in this
book." (Revelation
22:16-19; cf. Galatians 1:6-9; John 3:16, 36)
------------------------
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron." (1Timothy 4:1-2)
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