I replied, “That is another error, for I believe that he was the beloved son of God, for the reason that so far as we know, he was the best man ever born, and lived the nearest to God, and so was His well beloved son; that as we are all the offspring of God by creation, and by pure and upright lives all become the sons of God, but as Jesus was the best of all, he was the son of God, our elder brother in the great human family.” He asked, “Do you not believe that Jesus is God?” “Most certainly not. I would feel that I was an idolator, and committing sin in accepting such a belief. There can be only one infinite God, without body or parts, one and indivisible.” “Do you not then believe that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost?” “Positively not. It is absolutely impossible for me to believe that the Infinite God could be born of a woman, or have a son by a woman. Such an idea was born of paganism, and is a degradation of the Almighty to the notion that the pagans had of their gods.” “Mr. Japhet!” he exclaimed, “I am really shocked that you should say such things. It is too serious and sacred a subject for such remarks.” I answered: “There is nothing too sacred for examination by honest reason, and a devout common sense. I was afraid, when this conversation commenced, that something might be said to displease, if not to offend you, but you asked me straightforward questions, and I have told you in reply what I believe and do not believe. I know that such expressions, as I have used, might shock many, and they might wonder that I was not killed instantly by fire from heaven, or be stricken with paralysis, for uttering them. Yet, I have no fear of either. I have weighed these subjects, and thought of them for years with the utmost reverence and fear of God, and with devout prayer to Him for light and help, so I do not speak lightly or in haste. I am just as jealous of my faith in the God I worship, and try to obey, as you can be of yours. As to one of the expressions I used, do you not make as strong and plain statements against the heathen notion of gods, when you are preaching in the bazars?” “Yes,” he answered, “we do use strong expressions when we are speaking against idolatry, for ours is the only and true God.” I replied, “Your own conception of God, you believe to be the true one, but what about those of other men? Can they not also have their ideas about God, and be as honest as you are? The trouble is that Christians ‘reduce their God to a diagram, and their emotions to a system,’ and then demand that everybody else shall believe and feel as they do, or be considered not orthodox, heretics and infidels.” He did not reply to this, but said, “I am sorry that you do not know Jesus as your Saviour, and feel that his blood washes away your sins.”