st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
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"<br />
ON THE MAHOMETAN CONTROVERSY. 99<br />
without being open to the charge <strong>of</strong> idolatry. In<br />
<strong>st</strong>ead <strong>of</strong> this, he passes at once to the tu qitoque<br />
argument <strong>of</strong> the conduct <strong>of</strong> Mahometans themselves<br />
at the Kaaba. The defect is supplied in a modern<br />
discussion, supposed to be held between a Mufti and<br />
a Chri<strong>st</strong>ian 1 prie<strong>st</strong>, which it is intere<strong>st</strong>ing to compare<br />
with this earlier one.<br />
The Mufti has been indignantly repudiating the<br />
charge <strong>of</strong> idolatry brought again<strong>st</strong> his own people, on<br />
the ground that they are in the habit <strong>of</strong> making pros<br />
trations before the entrance <strong>of</strong> their mosques, over<br />
which are inscribed certain verses <strong>of</strong> the Koran. This,<br />
he declares, is<br />
done, not by way <strong>of</strong> adoration to the<br />
written text, but as a means <strong>of</strong> elevating the mind <strong>of</strong><br />
the worshipper to God.<br />
Eh, bien! replies the Chri<strong>st</strong>ian prie<strong>st</strong>, 1<br />
usage<br />
que vous faites de ces signes e<strong>st</strong> celui que nous<br />
faisons de nos images. Nous n adorons pas les<br />
images ;<br />
nous nous en servons pour mieux penser<br />
aux objets qu elles representent. Les images sont<br />
surtout le livre du peuple. Quand quelqu un voit la<br />
croix, il se rappelle a 1 in<strong>st</strong>ant la vie et la mort de<br />
Jesus-Chri<strong>st</strong>, plus vite que toi et que moi, qui lisons<br />
TEvangile.<br />
MUPHTI. C e<strong>st</strong> ainsi ?<br />
PRETRE. Ni plus ni moins.<br />
MUPHTI. Je t assure que tu leves un grand<br />
scandale k ines yeux. Maintenant, partout ou j irai,<br />
je dirai que les Chretiens ne sont pas idolatres.<br />
"Soirees de Carthage," par M. 1 Abbe F. Bourgade, 1847.<br />
The author <strong>of</strong> this work, and its sequel, La Clef du Koran,<br />
1852, was almoner <strong>of</strong> the Chapel <strong>of</strong> St. Louis at Carthage.<br />
H 2