Polemics of Henry Martyn and the Iranian Muslim Clergymen on the Particular Prophethood in Qajar Period
Subject Areas : Christianity
Mahmoud Riza Esfandyar
1
(ندارد)
Keywords: Promotion of Christianity, New Testament, Shi‘ate clergymen, particular prophethood, apologetics,
Abstract :
This article surveys the life, studies and activities of Henry Martyn, theBritish priest and missionary who came to Iran, in order to promote theProtestantism in early Qajar period. Martyn wanted to edit and publishthe New Testament in Persian and it was one of the most importantgoals of his travel which he had started since he was in India.In Iran, Martyn established meetings, in which he debated withMuslim clergymen. He promoted his beliefs to common people andwrote treatises against the Islamic doctrines such as particularprophethood and inimitability of the Quran. He worked hard to convertIranians into Christianity. In return, the Muslim clergymen, Qajargovernment and the common people reacted against his activities andwrote apologetics in order to reply to Martyn's ideas.
