The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-08-13
Christianity and Islam.

Christianity and Islam.
It Is noteworthy that while Buddhism holds
It's own In Eastern Asia, and Judaism retains
firm grasp upon the chosen people, yet the
other two great faiths of manknd-Christi-
anity and Islam-are undergoing serious dis
kurbance. The most competent observers OF
The Moslem world tell us that it was never
In a state Of more violent commotion; and
We know that Christian preachers in Europe
and America regard the tendencies Of our
time as in the highest degree dangerous to
revealed religion. There Is, however, q
marked difference In the perils to which
christianity and Islam are respectively ex-
posed, for the assault is levelled in the one
case at the mere outward husk of ecclesi-
astical polty, but in the other at the very
eesence OF the faith.
Up to the outbreak Of the Wahabite revolt
In Arabia, toward the close OF the last CEN
Jury, the Mohammedan world had for a long
period enjoyed immunity from schism. The
Shiites, Of course, are definitely separated
from the other followers OF Mohammed; but
with the exception of the subjects OF the Sui
tan OF Morocco. all the Sunnite or orthodox
Moslems in Asia and Africa as well as Eu-
rope, acknowledged the spiritual authority
Of che Ottoman Calph. Even the Wahabite
movement though it looked for a time for
pnidable enough, received so sharp check
from the armies Of MEHEAIET ALI that, re-
Rarded as political force It has since done
little more than languish in the interior of
Arabia. But since the military weak
ness of the Porte was concusively dem
onstrated In the last war with Rus
eia, the claims Of the house OF 9TH
MAN to tho headship of Islam have come
to be disputed in all quarters. Even in
che Khanates Of Central ASIA whose people
are allied by lineage to the Turks, only
faint Difference is now paid to ABDUL
HAND in his capacity of Commander of the
Faithful. In India the relation Of the Mus
Bllmans to the Ottoman Caliph is somewhat
closer because England has hitherto favored
the maintenance of such spiritual ties be-
tween her Moslem subjects and her tradition
al ally. But Wahabite doctrines are said TO
have been extensively propagated In India,
and there Is no reason to suppose that the
substitution Of new family for the house OF
OTHMAN in the Caliphate would encounter
very strenuous opposition in that country.
While such is the Indifferent attitude Of
this portion Of the Moslem world to-
ward ABDUL-HAMID. all Of the Arab
populations from Algeria to the Persian Gulf
are profoundly disaffected, and are prepared
Mt any moment to recognize In one Of the
Nneal descendants OF MoHAMMED at Mecca
the lawful head Of their religion. AS for the
negro Mohammcdans Of Central Africa, they
have produced prophet Of their own, who,
like the mcdipval founder of the sect OF the
Almohades, AYERS that he is intrusted with a
fresh revelation from the Deity. Here, then,
seem TO be collected the materials Of great
catastrophe; for unity is In theory indis-
ponsable to the Caliphate, and so long as
there are several aspirants to that Office
their pretcnsions must be adjudicated by
internecine war. In Short the religious dis
pensions which exist in the Moslem world
ere of kind that necessarily must be set
tied with the sword.
Though Christianity, on the other hand,
hos outgrown the period Of religious wars,
yet by the admissions Of It's cxpounders it is
menaced by the subtlcr dangers of decay
The differences between the Greek and Roman
Churches, between Catholic and Protestant,
have ccnseh to have the slightest effect upon
political action, and oven theologlans seem
Inclined to minimize mere Emergencies OF
doctrine In order to unite believers against
the common enemy agnosticism. Far from
fighting to support one or another claimant
to tho Papacy, Catholics will not lift their
hands to reGstablish guarantees once believed
Indispensable to the dignity OF the Pontih
cate; and in almost every Christian State
Professionals as we'll as Catholics have az
Quiesced in legislation which comedies com
petc political equality to those who deny
the fundamental principles OF the Chris
tlan faith. Whether wo suppose that
these concessions arc made because
of tho prevalence Of an enlightened
spirit OF liberation, or because Christians art
no longer strong enough to refuse them
there Is ia either case too much ground fol
the apprchcnsons expressed, not only D!
LEO XIII, but by some Of the wlscst Prot
estant divlnc5 In Scotland and America, tina
the process OF scculariZarlon has abroad.
gone so far as to threaten the existence .
organized Christianity, This is true o
France and Protestant Germany, and
Is said that the spread Of athcstlc opin
Ions in northern Italy has been astonishinGl
rapid during the last ten years. We know
that unbclicf is rife In switzerland, that 1t !
almost universal among the educated classe
In Russia, and that 1t permcates the uppe
strata of English society. although the inlu
eaca OF an Established Church has thus 70
made the avowal n iniidelity discreditable.
Thus. while Christianity, unlike Islam