ABSTRACT
Early Christianity worked itself into the fabric of the Roman Empire with a steady, irresistible advance, while the marvellous progress of early Mohammedanism can be compared to the overwhelming suddenness of a great natural catastrophe. Both Christianity and Mohammedanism are intensely missionary; each of them in its turn considers itself destined for universal dominion, and, therefore, as the ultimate expression of the Divine Will to the world. As in India, so in Japan, the introduction of modern European civilization has engendered a prevailing intellectual opposition to official Christianity. In North and Central Africa the Mohammedan trader is a far more efficient propagandist than the Christian missionary, and, by its better adaptive power, Mohammedanism makes much greater headway among the millions of the Dark Continent than does Christianity. The conversion of Constantine decided the political fortunes of Christianity, which was henceforth backed by the force of the world’s greatest military power.
