CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAMACOMPARISON of Christianity with Muhammedanism or with any other religion must be preceded by a statement of the objects with which such comparison is undertaken, for the possibilities which lie in this direction are numerous. The missionary, for instance, may consider that a knowledge of the similarities of these religions would increase the efficacy of his proselytising work: his purpose would thus be wholly practical. The ecclesiastically -minded Christian, already convinced of the superiority of his own religion, will be chiefly anxious to secure scientific proof of the fact: the study of comparative religion from this point of view was once a popular branch of apologetics and is by no means out of favour at the presentB ITable of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS; PAGE; The subject from different points of view: limits of treatmenti; The nature of the subject: the historical points of connection between Christianity and Islam 2; A Christianity and the rise of Islam :; 1 Muhammed and his contemporaries 9; 2 The influence of Christianity upon the de-; velopment of Muhammed - 11; 3 Muhammed's knowledge of Christianity 14; 4 The position of Christians under Muham-; medanism28; B The similarity of Christian and Muhammedan; metaphysics during the middle ages :; 1 The means and direction by which Christian; influence affected Islam 34; 2 The penetration of daily life by the spirit; of religion; asceticism, contradictions and influences affecting the development of a clerical class and the theory of marriage39; 3 The theory of life in general with reference; to the doctrine of immortality -55; 4 The attitude of religion towards the State,; economic life, society, etc 64; 5 The permanent importance to Islam of these; influences: the doctrine of duties 77; vii; TABLE OF CONTENTS; PAGE; 6 Ritual80; 7 Mysticism and the worship of saints 83; 8 Dogma and the development of scholasti