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Articles_of_he_Bishop_of_Uramiah, page : 404
baptismal systems is apparent. The Jew, as a true Uni-
tarian, could not tolerate the name of John to be associated
with that of the Elohim; whereas the Christian formula
was extremely repugnant to his religious taste. There is
no doubt that the Christian baptism, with its sacramental
character and polytheistic taint, was abhorred also by the
Sabians. The symbol of the convenant between Allah
and His worshipers was not baptism but circumcision (Gen.
xvii), an ancient institution which was strictly observed, not
only by the three religions, but also by many pagan Arab
tribes. These diverse baptismal forms and rituals among
the Semitic peoples in the East were not an essential divine
institution but only a symbol or sign, and therefore not
strong and efficacious enough to supplant one another.
tarian, could not tolerate the name of John to be associated
with that of the Elohim; whereas the Christian formula
was extremely repugnant to his religious taste. There is
no doubt that the Christian baptism, with its sacramental
character and polytheistic taint, was abhorred also by the
Sabians. The symbol of the convenant between Allah
and His worshipers was not baptism but circumcision (Gen.
xvii), an ancient institution which was strictly observed, not
only by the three religions, but also by many pagan Arab
tribes. These diverse baptismal forms and rituals among
the Semitic peoples in the East were not an essential divine
institution but only a symbol or sign, and therefore not
strong and efficacious enough to supplant one another.