Page:The young Moslem looks at life (1937).djvu/150

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mies the Christian missionaries have come, under the conqueror's protection; and the Moslem has felt that to become a Christian was to join the ranks of the oppressors, and to be disloyal to one's own nationality. Furthermore, the missionaries bring with them an alien culture and teach foreign languages; and they are popularly supposed to be the supporters and agents of an economic system that exploits the native peoples and their countries. And how can one blame the Moslem for being a bit suspicious when he sees the huge sums of money made by foreign companies from the jute factories of Bengal, from the great oil fields of Burma, Iran and Iraq, from the copper and diamond mines of South Africa, and from the cotton of India?

12. Finally, Christianity is divided, and many of its sects enter into bitter competition. The Moslem, in spite of the sects in Islam, is terribly confused by this lack of unity in Christianity. He cannot understand why, if Christians worship one God and recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world and use one Bible, there should be such innumerable divisions: Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Seventh Day Adventists and so forth. Nor can we Christians understand why it should continue to be so, since there is so much emphasis these days on the essential unity of all Christians. If the Moslem is interested in Christianity at all, he is likely to ask, "Which of these various sects represents the true Christian faith?"


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