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st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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&quot;<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 />

&quot;Soirees de Carthage,&quot; 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

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