ON ISLAM AND ANIMISM. 



99 



fastened to the cup by a screw, allowing the inner cup to 

 revolve, so that the keys reach every portion of the outer 

 goblet. 



In conclusion, we are not so much concerned with the fact of 

 animism in Islam as we are with the failure of Islam to meet 

 animistic practices and overcome them. Gottfried Simon has 

 shown conclusively that Islam cannot uproot pagan practices or 

 remove the terror of spirits and demon-worship in Sumatra and 

 Java among Moslems. In the coniiict with animism, Islam has 

 not been triumphant.* Christianity, as Harnack has shown, 

 did win in its conflict with demon-worship in the first struggle, 

 and is winning to-day,f 



Animism in Islam offers points of contact and contrast that 

 may well be used by the missionary. Christianity's message and 

 power must be applied to the degrading superstitions of Islam, 

 and especially to these utterly pagan practices. The fear of 

 spirits can be met by the love of the Holy Spirit ; the terror of 

 death by the repose and confidence of the Christian; true exor- 

 cism is not found in the Zcir, but in prayer ; so-called demonic 

 possession can often be cured by medical skill, and superstition 

 of every kind rooted out by education ; Jesus Christ is the Lord 

 of the Unseen World, particularly the world of demons and of 

 angels. Christ points out the true ladder of Jacob and the 

 angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man — 

 He is the sole channel of communication with the other world. 

 With Him as our living, loving Saviour and Friend we have no 

 fear of "the arrow that flieth by day nor of the pestilence that 

 walketh in darkness." 



Discussion. 



The Chairman welcomed an account of Islam from so high an 

 authority as Dr. Zwemer. Kesident as he was in a Moslem country, 

 and constantly engaged in discussion and intercourse with Moslems, 

 he had given a most excellent and valuable idea of what modern 



The Progress and Arrest of Islam in Sumatra, London, 1912. 

 t Harnack, The Mission and Expansion of Christianity^ vol. i, book ii, 

 chapter iii. 



H 2 



