Saturday, June 28, 2003
ISLAM RECONSIDERED
Again
I'm reading Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide by Bat Yeor. This is a scholarly history of the institution of dhimmi, the Islamic customs and laws treating the life allowed to non-Muslims in lands conquered by Arabs and other Muslims. So far, it bears out the view I've gained from other studies: that there is no room for real tolerance in a religion and culture that is premised on a view that there is only "one true way" and that violence is an acceptable means for carrying out the fundamental commandement that the whole world should eventually follow that way. One interesting concept developed in the early parts of the book is that the "protection racket" offered to non-Muslim people when faced with the early Arab conquests was a natural extension of the culture that existed in Arabia at the time of Muhammed's life: Bedouin tribes were basically roving armed gangs who preyed on the more sedentary Jewish and Christian farmers and traders of the area, imposing a form of clientellism on them.
Meanwhile, there's a link at Arts and Letters Daily this morning to a review of Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post-Honour World by Akbar S Ahmed. This book seems to communicate the opposite thesis, i.e. the "Islam is really a religion of peace" mantra that our politicians and most of our popular media have been chanting since 911. I don't buy it, but then I've got a lot of study to do -- before 911, I had no real exposure to Islam other than having read the Koran 30 years ago or so.
GB, THHotA
posted by Greg 8:41 AM
