The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-05
The Decline of EIahomedanism.

Aiuid the conflicting opinions which are
entertained respecting the affairs of the
East, there is one in which travellers APP
pear TO be unanimous. It is that Ma
home1anism, the next purest religion af-
ter Christianity, has long since culmina-
ted and is now incontestibly on the de-
cline.
We say the next purest religion after
Christianity, because all false beliefs have
tolerated the worship of idols, except Ma
h~omcdanism alone. The ancient Egyp-
tians adored bulls, crocodiles and birds.
The Hindoos bowed to hideous images of
stone. The Philistines had their Dragon.
Even Greece and Rome sacrificed to &c
titious gods. 1t is true, that the philos-
ophers, in all these Pagan lands, ayerred
that The idols were only emblematic; the
great majority of the people adored the
images themselves, utterly oblirious to
anything beyond. The influence of such
beliefs was incurably degrading. Even
among the intellectual Greeks, and even
among the civilized Romans, religion
was often licentious in its effects, and
nearly always brutalizing.
But Mahomedanism is a pure Deism.
Indeed, so fearful was its founder that it
might some day degenerate into idolatry,
that he forbade the representation of the
human person for any object whatever
In consequence, good Moslems can en-
ploy only flowers and arabesques to or
nament even their houses. The Mahom-
edan is taught that there is but one God;
that lie is a spirit; that He loves justice
and truth; that He is Omnipresent as well
as O~mnipotent; and that He will finally
judge all men. 1t was not merely the
sword, as has been generally assumed that
spread the faith of Islam. 1t was in part
also its doctrines, which, pure, and eleva-
ted in comparison with the grosser reli-
gioas of the times, appealed to the divin-
er elements of human nature. Its rapid
extension ceases to be miraculous, when
we consider that it met nowhere, except
in western Europ., with a faith more spin
itual than itself; for the corrupt Christi
anity of Syria and Egypt, in the seventh
and eighth centuries, was but one remove
better thar positive Plagiarism. The mo-
ment, however, Mahomedanism came into
collision with an earnest Christianity,
which it did in Spain and France, it ceas-
cd to make progress. 1t is to the reli-
gion of Gaul, not less than to its chival-
~, that the world owes its preservation
FROM Moslem slavery. Had western Eu-
rope been as sensual, as idolatrous, and
as degraded generally as the eastern ma
lions, not even the battle axe or Charles
Martel could have rolled back the tide of
Saracenic invasion.
Like all false religions, Mahomedanism
carries within itself the seeds of decay.
The Bible makes no pretensions to be a
civil code, undertakes to teach no scien-
tifc dogmas; it is strictly a revelation,
when correctly interpreted concerning the
affairs of the soul. But the Koran as
sumes to be both a spiritual and temporal
authority. Originating in an ignorant
age, it holds false views Of science, aud
inculcates political and moral axioms at
variance with human progress. Baham-
ism, which teaches that it is a crime to
eat anything having life, is perishing be.
fore the microscope, which reveals anima.
ted creatures in every drop of water thai
is drunk, in the very air we breathe, Sc
Islamism is dying ont before the truth;
Of astronomy, geology and civilization il
general. An educated Turk sees at onc
/ that the Koran was not inspired, but on
Iy the composition of an ignorant came
driver. The printing press is reconquer
ing the East to christianity, Schoot