http:\/\/blogs.ancientfaith.com\/joeljmiller\/islamic-violence\/<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I say, I find his challenge interesting and important. \u00a0And I mean that. \u00a0But I don\u2019t think he\u2019s right. \u00a0I think that what he says deserves reply.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I think I\u2019ll need to respond to him \u2014 or, more accurately, to the kinds of ideas that he\u2019s advocating \u2014 in some detail, either in my revised book or perhaps elsewhere. \u00a0But, without elaborating on them, here are some places where I would challenge him<\/em>:<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0It isn\u2019t true that Islamic theology \u201cdrove conquest\u201d \u201cfrom Day One.\u201d \u00a0For the first ten years of the existence of Islam, Muslims were persecuted. \u00a0And, thereafter, they were under military attack for most of the rest of Muhammad\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
2. \u00a0It seems simplistic to assume that Islam lacks a deep concept of love because it isn\u2019t Trinitarian. \u00a0Judaism isn\u2019t Trinitarian, either. \u00a0And Christianity itself \u2014 think of the Crusades, think of European colonialism and the slave trade, think of the Spanish Reconquista and the Inquisition, think of Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107<\/span>\u00a0(how ironic that Joel Miller relies so heavily upon the anti-Muslim sentiments of, of all things, a Serbian<\/em>\u00a0writer!), think of innumerable other examples \u2014 hasn\u2019t always exhibited divine love especially well.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
3. \u00a0The claim that \u201cIslam began as a Christian heresy\u201d is dubious, at best. \u00a0Dante thought so, but he had the excuse of being an under-informed medieval Catholic. \u00a0Mr. Miller should know better before he applies fingers to computer keyboard<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
These sorts of notions merit a response. \u00a0I\u2019ll address them, at least in passing, in my book. \u00a0(They\u2019ve been added to my checklist.)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 In fits and starts, I occcasionally work on revising my old Abraham Divided book \u2014 an introduction to the Arabs and Islam aimed principally at Latter-day Saints \u2014 for republication, probably under a different title (it will be a substantial revision, certainly in the last two chapters) rather than as a third edition. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1643,1694,66,1691,2896],"class_list":["post-69775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-anti-islamic","tag-anti-islamic-propaganda","tag-islam","tag-islam-and-violence","tag-terrorism"],"yoast_head":"\n
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