Islam and Western Culture
599407
Multiculturalism is a lie.  It is a lie not because it says we should tolerate minorities (we should), but because it says every culture presents an equally valid way of looking at the world (they don't).  This lie has consequences.  The most significant being that educators in America and Canada have abandoned teaching Western culture for fear of offending minority cultures.  Policy makers in the West take our culture for granted.  They don't recognize that rational thinking is not natural, and it took a 1500 year battle with the Catholic Church, culminating in the Reformation and the Enlightenment, before rational thinking became a fixture in Western culture.  In the Arab world today, that battle is still waiting to be fought.

Consider the following thought pattern

1. a terrorist attack kills scores of people

2. muslims would never kill innocent people

3. therefore, the killers could not have been muslim

4. since they were not muslim, they must have been CIA or Mossad.

A person schooled in Western culture - the language of Aristotle and Socrates - will recognize the fallacies in this thought pattern: the false premise (#2), circular reasoning and logical quadruped (#2->#3), and non sequitur (#3->#4).  And even Westerners without a classical education will almost instinctively recognize those fallacies, even though they don't know the technical terms of logic. Yet to a person in the Arab world, the above thought pattern seems eminently reasonable. (See [...] search for "Iraq shrine blast: Your reaction"). Rational thinking, then, is an important difference between Western culture and Arab culture.  Not because Westerners are inherently smarter than Arabs, but because Western education has taught European history and philosophy (Aristotle, Socrates, Kant, and Mill, among others) and in doing so given students the tools of logic.

There is currently a movement among "multiculturalist" educators to take the European classics out of North American education.  Their motive is good - exposing a multiethnic student body to a multiethnic curriculum - but the result would be disastrous.  A whole generation of students will come up using the same flawed thinking patterns so common in the Arab world today, and the society those students build will likely come to resemble the violent, repressive theocracies of the Middle East. Indeed, by denying Western culture to our students, we are doing a grave disservice to immigrants who come here precisely because they want a better life for their children.  That better life includes a Western education.

This book is therefore quite right to say culture matters.  If we want to preserve our way of life, then we have to preserve our way of thinking, and the way we think is a direct product of our education in European history and philosophy.
497896
The teachings of Islam shouldn't t be confused with customs and traditions of any country. And you cannot criticize a religion you don't practice.
1664477
Very instructive concerning the methods Islamic Terrorists plan to destroy the western world. Must read to understand the workings of radical Islamic mind.
3816940
The review is for the audio CDs. I was looking for a lecture series on Islam, and Professor Nasr, with his wide experience in the west, was a good choice. I learned a considerable amount of new information (I have no expertise on Islam beyond informal self-education) and other areas with some familiarity were refined and expanded by the lectures. Professor Nasr was balanced in his presentation, as it is aimed toward westerners, plus he largely avoids the most contentious, partisan topics of recent years. The lectures were from around 2004, partly motivated by September 2001.

The time frame covers the origin of Islam and Islamic culture, and their rapid spread, the golden age, and then its challenges after the west assumed a more dominant role beginning with the age of exploration. The lectures explain the range of Islamic civilization in its first (approx.) 800 years, with notable advances in science, mathematics, art, education, and so on. Professor Nasr may even sound a little defensive a few times, almost as if he were tired of having to point out what may be largely unknown to westerners. A key topic was multi-cultural tolerance, such as in Spain, where Muslims, Jews and Christians co-existed with mutual benefit, and in contrast to the Crusades, which were meant to destroy.

The coverage on the decline of Islamic civilization's worldwide influence and advancement was frank, yet hopeful. Quite interesting.

Perhaps some experts might challenge Professor Nasr on his opinions and focus. The material sounded reasonable to me, and I appreciated a scholarly yet accessible presentation.
1709073
"Islam Unveiled" lays out in plain detail the basic tenants of the Islamic faith and elements of the Koran that put the lie to the statement that "Islam is a religion of peace."  At best, Islam is a religion of contradictions, however, the teachings of Islam regarding the treatment of non-believers appear to be plain, consistent, and abominable.

After reading this book, I now have some understanding of how and why Muslim suicide bombers and terrorists can take their own lives along with the lives of innocents.  Those Muslims Western political leaders term "radical Muslims" and "Isalmists" aren't radical at all.  I'd describe them as pious and true believers in their faith.  These Muslim terrorists are behaving precisely as their religion not only permits, but commands.  Their actions are solidly within the plain language of the Koran and teachings of Islam and its prophet.

I suppose that every great religion has elements that we in the West wish weren't present - doctrines of faith that run contrary to how we'd like the religion to fit our lives.  For instance, so many Christians have adapted Christianity to fit their own desires, beliefs, and personal view of what the Christian religion should be, it takes a nearly unascertainable number of Protestant sects to accomodate the spectrum of Christian ideologies.

Unfortunately, when we in the West project our views of the malleability of religion on to Islam, we make a grave error that will prove costly in both lives and treasure.  Islam is not a religion of peace, no matter how much we wish for it to be, no matter what uncomfortable history of Islam the diktats of Political Correctness require us to ignore or gloss over.

As "Islam Unveiled" undeniably demonstrates, Islam is a religion of submission, not peace.  The pious followers of Islam will not only refuse to allow Westerners to live and work among them as equals but also will literally fight Western corruption of Islamic culture.

It is critical for Western nations to first come to grips with the truth of this, and then determine the best way to deal with the truth of Islam.  Denial of this truth (if in fact the policy-makers of the West honestly believe the "Islam is peace" mantra they keep repeating) means that the West's response to Islamic terrorism is a blind crap-shoot - if it is successful, we can chalk it up to luck, not design.

I urge all non-Muslims to read this book with an open mind.  Buy and read the Koran as well if you think the authors are taking things out of context.  In this day and age, I don't know how we can fulfill our responsibilities as citizens without a truthful understanding about the nature of the challenge Islam presents to the West.  This book will help you come to that truthful understanding.
1849205
This book will be of great interest to those who realize and don't realize that Islam has come to the West and is not going home.  Europe has given away their Continent to Islam through masssive immigration from the Muslim world.  It is all over but the shouting for Europe.  Islam couldn't conquer Europe by sword but will in the future out populate native Europeans in their homeland.  This will have a serious impact on Europe and the entire world.

  The history of Islam, it's teachings and what this means for the West and the rest of the world is discussed in an interesting format.  Every detail of Islam cannot be analyzed in the scope of the book however even the reader who knew little about the religion will have a comprehendible knowledge after finishing.  The comparisons between Christianity and Islam are very insightful.

  The truth about the Crusades and their impact on the world are discussed.  Don't depend on the politicially correct movie, Kindom of Heaven, for your facts.

  The PIG series that I have read so far have both cut through the bull and been to the point which is what I like. It is imperative to know the truth about Islam and it's impact in the West and world now.
352640
A great little book for those seeking to better understand the Muslim religion and its historical links to Arab culture. The book is largely autobiographical and should be read by any Westerner who is puzzled by the civilized world's inability to moderate the various barbarous practices and beliefs of Muslims, particularly Arabs.  Although the author is not an accomplished writer, she is indeed courageous and her stories are chilling and instructive.
3262939
Islam, like most religions, is complex and open to interpretation. The author, Yahiya Emerick, was born into an American Christian family, and converted to Islam in 1989. Emerick tries to avoid controversy and tells the reader that Islam promotes religious tolerance. However, Islam has an image problem and I bought this book to get a better understanding of what the typical Muslim believes.

As an outside observer there seem to be two Islams. There is the one that educated Western Muslims like the author  promotes, this is a religion of peace, love, and forgiveness. In this respect, Islam does not seem that much different from Christianity and it is a religion that we in the West can feel comfortable with. Unfortunately, there is this other Islam represented by bearded zealots who share a world view not that much different from Adolf Hitler. These people are successfully spreading their message throughout the Middle East and North Africa. They want to kill heretics and apostates and impose Islamic law on non-believers. The Guide writes about the "nice" Islam and mostly ignores the other angry religion. As a result, the book glosses over or ignores a lot of controversial issues that most people in the West want to understand.

Emerick claims that all religions have their bad apples and terrorists groups like those who attacked the mall in Nairobi, are not true Muslims. His view is that the extremists are a tiny minority and the majority of Muslims are good people who oppose violence. Hopefully he is correct, however you are not going to find a discussion on the causes of terrorism in this book.

Emerick tells us that Islam is a tolerant religion. He uses the example of Muhammad, who practiced tolerance towards Jews and Christians in the 7th century. I recently spoke to a Christian from the Sudan who had a different perspective. Christians in the Middle East have had to cope with intolerance in recent years in countries like Lebanon and Egypt. Since 2003 the number of Christians in Iraq has fallen from 1.5 million to 250,000 and hundreds of churches have been destroyed. In the UK, a majority of Muslims told pollsters that it is acceptable to curb free speech to prevent their religion being criticized. Emerick does not address the issue of whether Islam is compatible with Western values and ignores the thorny subject of Shariah law which many Muslims in Europe want to introduce.

Another controversial issue is the appropriateness of the veil and the need for women should cover their heads. Europe is debating whether to ban the veil in certain circumstances. According to the author, women need to cover their heads to dampen unwanted sexual advances from men. This seems a strange argument for anyone brought up in the West. Few women at Cairo University in the 1970s covered their heads or wore a veil, today the reverse is true. Emerick doesn't explain why attitudes have changed and why Muslims in countries like Egypt now appear to be more devout.

I came away confused about the contradictions between Emerick's peaceful and reassuring Islam and the newspaper headlines we have become accustomed to reading. There are obviously different ways of interpreting Islam, Emerick presents a religion that we shouldn't be afraid of, I hope he is correct.
3596435
My seven year old son and I are dedicating the next six months to reading about the Middle Ages.  A central theme of this period is the conflict between the West and Islam.  There are many books that come from the Christian perspective but many fewer come from the Muslim point of view.  Understanding both perspectives is essential to gaining a more complete understanding of the period.

David Macauly's "Mosque" carefully follows the construction of a mosque complex in Seventeenth Century Instanbul.  Most of Macaulay's focus is on the engineering and building crafts associated with the construction of the mosque.  Yet at the same time, he provides us insights into Islamic culture by describing the religious prerequisites that dictate the site location and functions of the buildings.  Islamic culture in the Middle Ages is a complex subject and "Mosque" is a great introduction to the subject.  Highly recommended.
2821175
Very interesting look into the muslim women under the veils, and the wealthier westernized men living in a very conservative Saudi Arabia. What surprised me was that the most beautiful women actually like the veiling (and are dressed very stylishly under it) since then the men on the street don't harass them. The other westernized women say it is much too hot to wear in Saudi, but they must wear it by law.
I am going to pass on the book to my teenage niece, who is currently learning about other cultures in school. The book gives a lot more insight into the muslim lifestyle than a Social Studies textbook ever will.
1218058
The book, particularly the chapters regarding the origins of Islam, fully represents a Western view of Islam and the prophet of Islam, and this is competible with the name of the publisher of the book: "Westview." Advocating that there is a competition between Islam and Christianity, the author seems to take one of the two sides eventhough he tries to avoid this bias. Thus, he appears to stay away from the objectivity criterion and look at the phenomenon from a narrow perspective only, that is "orientalist" in Edward Said's term.

In addition, it is clearly understood that the writer is not qualified to write on this topic, and his limited interviews with people from the Middle East societies seems problematic. It seems that these interviews were made with some people from the elites (probably seriously influenced by Western ideas) of those societies he encountered as a journalist rather than with experts on Islam. Consequently, his assumptions and allegations reflect one side's perceptions only, without providing adequate evidence to support his arguments.
1395112
This book is subtitled, "How America's Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization." In her book, Ms. West describes the situation facing Western Civilization as a generation of young people refuses to grow up and assume the role of adults. We are seeing in our own nation the results of this refusal to assume adult responsibilities. Everywhere one looks we see physical adults acting like children and refusing to accept adult responsibilities. The book is filled with pages illustrating examples of this failure.

It is not an easy read but it is a valuable read if you have any interest in the future of the United States of America or, on a more global scale, Western Civilization itself.

Ms. West's book is also a sobering read; she points out in very clear terms the problems our society faces today. As our society goes, so go the lives of the members of that society. Our society and we as members of that society are facing one of the greatest threats in the history of Western Civilization.

One of the most dangerous aspects of that threat is our refusal to even identify the threat or acknowledge that it exists. We appear to think that if we deny that the threat is real, it may even cease to be a threat. That is truly delusional.

The threat is Islam and the Quran (and yes, I do have a copy of the Quran and have read many portions of it, but mostly use it as a reference). Islam has a clear agenda which includes the United States. Islam's goal is the conversion of all peoples and nations to a global caliphate under Sharia law. If you do not understand the implications of an Islamic society under Sharia law, you better start doing your homework; this book is an excellent place to start.

The book starts well but then bogs down a little with too many illustrations of adolescent misbehavior. Don't give up on it as it really gets interesting again later on in the book. In the chapter called "The Real Culture War," page 148, and from that point on it is a captivating page turner. In a sense, it is upsetting to read; if you are faint of heart and prefer denial it would probably be better if you passed on this book.

The book points out how a moral vacuum in the West has left an opening for a zealous Islam to step in and fill that void. It is interesting that as Western Civilization has turned its collective backs on Christianity, that it has unwittingly abandoned its best defense against Islam. By abandoning the virtues and moral certainties of Christianity for the nebulous uncertainties of multiculturalism and secular humanism; Western Civilization has left the gates wide open for the entrance of Islam.

I believe that this book has very important information and astute insights for those who prefer to be informed. I'm very glad I read it.
375147
This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is enriching and enlightening to us Westerners who mistakenly believe that Islam is a religion of peace hijacked by a handful of extremists. It's understandable how so many people believe that, trying to extend an olive branch and maintain peace. Unfortunately, it's just not true. And that's what the primary message of this book is. The great issue of our time is how to adapt Islam into the global system with the least possible bloodshed.
4735239
The average US citizen has been duped to think that tolerance means "accepting" which it doesn't. It does mean that others have the right to follow the dictates of their hearts or consciences with respect to their beliefs. It does not mean that the American culture has to bow to accepting the aims of others in ways that would change American culture. This seems especially true regarding Islam. In that our US citizens are being duped to look at Islamists in ways that they aren't. Author Don Richardson made an in-depth study of Islam and discovered that the ultimate aim of it's strongest leaders is world domination. "Peace" in Islam is to be ruled by Islam. That the so-called "radical" or "extreme" Islamists are really the fundamentalists that adhere to the Koran. The peaceful Muslims are those who don't speak Arabic and who have been taught by their Imams only the more peaceful, though few, verses that speak of or promote peaceful co-existance with followers of the "Book." Richardson points out that our aim as Americans is to befriend Muslims and kindly show them the values in an American culture different than theirs, especially Christian values. This book is very valuable because it shows Islam as it really is and not now it wants to appear to our citizens.
2439928
Seyyed Hossein Nasr "A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World" (Kazi, 1994)

Picking up a new book (in the sense of not having read before) by Professor Nasr is an experience to be relished, but at the same time one for which you need to brace yourself. Nasr tackles God, Philosophy, Civilization and the crisis of modern man... not exactly holiday reading. His books invariably present the reader with a 'tour de force' of traditional Islamic knowledge as well as an almost frightening breadth of learning spanning the fields of Philosophy, Science, History, the Arts, Education, Politics, Economics and of course Religion.

Above all else, perhaps, Professor Nasr's genius lies in his ability to weave together relevant information from seemingly disparate fields to create an organic synthesis simultaneously in accordance with the teachings of Islam and scholastically rigorous enough to present a formidable challenge to the most critical mind. One must also take into consideration his intellectual pedigree, second to none in both the traditional world of Islam, and modern Western learning, presented through his eloquent command of the English language which renders his writing such a joy to read.

The book in question is perhaps the ideal entrance for a Muslim reader into the thought of Nasr. Its aim is to at once reaffirm the many aspects of the Islamic 'message' (the first seven chapters) before venturing into a fairly deep, although understandably brief considering the amount of ground covered, analysis of the modern Western world (the next seven chapters) in chapters dealing with Modern Philosophy, Science and Technology and so forth. The fifteenth and final chapter takes the form of an epilogue restating the need for young Muslims to both learn their own tradition deeply and also to learn about the Modern World seriously in order to be able to respond Islamically to the multitude of challenges it poses a follower of tradition. Indeed, Nasr asserts that while the West has produced numerous scholars who study Islam and the Islamic World from their point of view, the Islamic world has produced very few scholars able to study the various aspects of the West (in any depth at least) from the Islamic perspective.

So there we have the basic outline of the work, one which is both ambitious and greatly needed at this critical juncture in history. Professor Nasr is by no means the first Islamic scholar to address the topic of the spiritual welfare of the youth as it is confronted with modernity, however he is certainly the one author whose masterful treatment this issue has needed the most. As he notes, most Islamic critiques of the Modern West are shallow, ill-informed and reactionary, unable to stand up to much serious examination. Nasr characteristically avoids such emotional, simplistic generalisations and presents the reader with the learned, scholarly treatment we have come to expect.

The volume touches on so many themes that it is difficult to summarise, leaving one to conclude with a strong recommendation in favour of tracking it down and partaking in its blessings (barakah) for yourself. You may also find yourself turning the final page with a sense of faith and belonging, having rediscovered your prestigious tradition, a sense of sobriety having learnt something of the nature of the problems of modernity but above all a sense of illumination and purpose based upon the Eternal Reality of Divinity. Nasr concludes aptly with a well-known quote from the Noble Quran: "When the Truth comes, falsehood shall fade away."

Note: The copy in question is published by Kazi (1994) and while it is adequate, the reader is advised to seek out the edition published by the ITS - The Islamic Texts Society, whose books are always of the highest quality, the Kazi edition lacking especially with regard to the typeface used for the chapter headings.
2180643
Islam is a growing presence on the global stage. This book is a valuable starting point to understanding Islam's history and ideology in a concise and easy to read package.
1553131
This book is very informative and easy to read. It is a enjoyable read. I strongly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn the basics of Islam from an American perspective. The author writes very candadly and strives to express his points rather than try to impress his readers. Again, I highly recommend this book.