Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 6021

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

6021. THE LORD: A CONVERSATION WITH MOHAMMEDANS. The Mohammedans are exceedingly averse to three persons in the Divinity, as thus there would be three gods. When, therefore, Christians and Mohammedans talk together about God, the latter say that Christians make three gods; but when the Christians reply that they have one God, the Mohommadans are indignant and demand which of the three is truly God. Then some reply that God the Father is, because He created the universe. The Mohammedans say that, in that case, the other two are inferior gods, and are merely so styled. But when they that the three are equal, they retire, and despise Christians as of little, and indeed of scarcely any, judgment in spiritual matters. A certain one had a man-servant of the Mohammedan religion, whom he also questioned about God, saying, What do you believe about Christ? He answered, That He is the Savior. And what about God? He replied, That He is the Creator and upholder of the universe. He then inquired whether or no God saved. He said that He did save. What, then, did he believe about Christ - was He God, or not? He said, that He was God. Then he [i.e., the master] said that thus there are two [gods]. Then the servant left him, saying that he made two gods, therefore he was unwilling to be his servant. After a time, he [i.e., the Christian master] understood, that, by Christ, whom he called Savior, he [i.e. the Mohammedan servant] meant God the Creator as regards salvation: thus the same, and not another. Thus Mohammedans who are saved acknowledge the Lord to be one with the Father, and almost hate Christians because they make three gods. In like manner the Jews laugh at Christians; especially because they make three gods, when yet every one knows that God is one. So, also, the Roman Catholics, ought to be ashamed that they have arrogated to themselves Divine power.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church