T$laiti Part of Exhibit on Religions of the World shown at STUDENT VOLXRSfTEER MOVEMENT CONVENTION Kansas City, Mo„ December 31, 1913— January 4. 1914 Tslam. 6od $0 Coved the morld tbat fie gave fii$ only begotten Son. Rise and Disintegration of Tsiam. Islam came into being, theoretically perfect and complete, claiming to be a world-reltgion, a final revelation through Mohammed, finally interpreted by his Companions. But it satisfies neither the human intellect nor the human heart, Hence it has always been swayed by the tendency on the one hand to on the other hand to Rationalism Mysticism ending in Materialism; ending in Pantheism. But however strong the tendency, it swings back again to The Dead Centre of Traditionalism and Orthodox Islam of to-day is the Orthodox Islam of the 8th century. Sources. Islam borrowed from three main sources: — Arabian Heathenism Judaism Corrupt Christianity together with Zoroastrian especially chiefly the Apocryphal ideas. the Talmud. Gospels. Founder Mohammed, born 570 a.d., began to prophesy 610, Hij’ra 622, died 632. Thirteen Centuries of Development. After Mohammed’s death followed a period of consolidation and expansion until the Great Schism, which gave rise to the Sunnis (orthodox) and Shiahs (pantheistic). The next five centuries were marked by the rise of scholastic theology, the influence of Western thought, the founding of the Der\-ish Orders and the recognition of the Sufis (mystics) in Orthodox Islam. Then came 600 years of stagnation under Turkish influence. A period of re- vival set in at the close of the eighteenth century. To-day national move- ments are stirring in Turkey and in Persia. Britain is now the chief political power in the Moslem world. There are 82,000,000 Moslems under British rule. Sects of Islam. The two great divisions, Sunni and Shiah, stand for the Orthodox and Pan- theistic position. The Sunnis cling to the Koran and Traditions. The Shiahs look for the Iman or Messiah-to-come. The great bulk of Moslems arc Sunnis. The Mohammedan idea of God which separates Him from man and the world explains why Suhism arose to satisfy, with its mysticism, the hunger of the soul for God, and on the other hand accounts for the cynical atheism of Omar Khayyam. modern movements. Rational. Traditional. Neo-Islamic School in India Wahabis. Denies the miraculous and interprets the Koran ration- alistically. Puritan reformers holding to the right to private judment. Mystic. Babis and Behais chiefly in Persia. A mixture of Sufiism and Universalism. The Great Senussi Order, to which are affiliated all the Dervish Orders, aims at uniting all orthodox Moslems into one Federation free from all secular control, and so presenting an effective barrier to the forces of European civilization and the modern spirit. It is at present the mightiest force in the Moslem world. tfie Challenge of Islam. Alone of non-Christian faiths. Islam claims to have judged and superseded Christianity. Islam JIfTirms. The Unity of God. A conception majestic in simplicity but sterile. God is aloof, passionless, needing no-one, loving no-one. Character is overlooked in emphasising unity. The Might of God, Absolute, autocratic will-power, acting apart from reason and love. A greatness that crushes. Submission to such a God tends to fatalism. The Mercy of God. The spasmodic clemency of a despot, lenient to sin as well as to the sinner. No deep hatred of sin; no sense of the cost of forgiveness. No need for atonement. The Fact of a Sinless Prophet— Jesus. Son of Mary. "Word of God," "Spirit of God" who worked miracles, ascended to Heaven and will come again. The Unique Relation to God of a Sinful Prophet — Mohammed. Final revealer of God to men. Islam Denies. The Fatherhood of God. "Like as a Father pitieth His children." The Holiness of God. "Thus saith the High and Lofty One Whose Name is Holy, I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble." The Mystery of the Incarnation. "One God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus." “The Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me." The Fact of the Cross. "Christ Crucified the Power of God and the Wisdom of God." The Presence of the Holy Spirit. “He shall guide you into all Truth. He shall glorify ME." ** Islam defies your King.’* (Cable sent by Cairo Student Volunteers to the 1900 Conference.) On the gateway of the Church of St. John the Baptist at Damascus, now a Mosque, still stand the words Thy Kingdom, O Christ, Is a Kingdom of all Ages. A Call to Prayer “That they may know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent." Chy Kingdom Come. I$|gm g missionary Religion BECAUSE OF ITS Conviction 6od is. There is no Cod but Cod.** "These are in the Garden and "Holy, Righteous Father." I care not; And these are in the Fire, and "God is Love." I care not. So He is Allah Most High, " In all their affliction the King, the Reality." He was afflicted." Sense of Vocation 6od mills. Man is the Servant of God.*’ Allah is not to be asked concerning what He does. He is the Guider aright and the Leader astray.” Missionary Whose service is perfect freedom. “I have called you friends." "The good and acceptable and perfect Will of God." Purpose five Deus Uult The World for God. "O ye who believe, kill the idolaters wheresoever ye shall find them and take them prisoners and lay wait for them." Islam can and does use methods which Christianity must delib- erately and necessarily refuse. "Great God, if I were not stopped by this raging sea, I would go on to the nations of the West, preaching the unity of Thy Name and putting to the sword those that would not submit." Akbah on the shores of the Atlantic. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole crea- tion.” " The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God." "We are ambassadors on behalf of Christ as though God were entreating by us; we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God." St. Paul to the Corinthians. Response To-day. I Delight to do Chy mm, 0 my 6od. Every Moslem a missionary of his Every Christian ? religion — such as it is. Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison. Part of Exhibit on Religions of the World shown at Student Volunteer Movement C onvention, Kansas City, Mo., Decemb.;r 31, 1913-January 4, 1914. Refertnee books suggested: Gairdner. W. H. T.. The Reproach of Islam. MacDonald. D. B., /.spects of Islam. Rodwell. j. M.. Tracslatlon of the Koran. Sell. Edward B.. The Faith of Islam. Wherry. E. M.; Zwemer, S. M.. and Mylrea. C. G.. Islam and Missions. Zwemer'. Samuel M.. Islam: A Challenge to Faith. ■