De Tocqueville Versus Lewis and Pipes
I must admit I find de Tocqueville's observations to be at least as accurate as those of Bernard Lewis:De Tocqueville Versus Lewis and Pipes
Anyone who has read Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America knows of his extraordinary mind. He was not only a wise, penetrating, and prophetic, but his was an aristocratic mind: magnanimous, urbane, and free from sectarian prejudice. Hence one should take all the more seriously his assessment of Islam:
"I studied the Quran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction that by and large there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as that of Muhammad. So far as I can see, it is the principal cause of the decadence so visible today in the Muslim world and, though less absurd than the polytheism of old, its social and political tendencies are in my opinion more to be feared, and I therefore regard it as a form of decadence rather than a form of progress in relation to paganism itself."
posted by Unknown @ 1:21 AM
6 Comments:
Does this De Tocqueville blog much? I'd like to read more.
:)
Churchill had this to say, and this when muslims posed no threat, either internal or external to the West.
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."
"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."
So it was not just De Tocqueville that realised the serious nature of the threat of islam.
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And this from Bertrand Russell
Bolshevism combines the characteristics of the French Revolution with those of the rise of Islam. Marx has taught that Communism is fatally predestined to come about; this produces a state of mind not unlike that of the early successors of Mahommet.
Among religions, Bolshevism is to be reckoned with Mohammedanism rather than with Christianity and Buddhism. Christianity and Buddhism are primarily personal religions, with mystical doctrines and a love of contemplation. Mohammedanism and Bolshevism are practical, social, unspiritual, concerned to win the empire of this world.
Bertrand Russell
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Or John Wesley on Islam
Ever since the religion of Islam appeared in the world, the espousers of it...have been as wolves and tigers to all other nations, rending and tearing all that fell into their merciless paws, and grinding them with their iron teeth; that numberless cities are raised from the foundation, and only their name remaining; that many countries, which were once as the garden of God, are now a desolate wilderness; and that so many once numerous and powerful nations are vanished from the earth! Such was, and is at this day, the rage, the fury, the revenge, of these destroyers of human kind.
The Doctrine of Original Sin, Works (1841), ix. 205.
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Some of the greatest thinkers have noted the sheer barbarity of islam, and unconsciously thanked the Lord that islam had been repulsed from Europe. But what do they know, our present leaders, in a fit of idiocy or ignorance, have now bequeathed a legacy that I'm sure, our grandchildren will appreciate.
DP111
"The deeper study of the Koran, Hadith, and Arab history led me to believe that Islam had been cleverly devised on the principle of divide and rule. And its purpose is to enable the Arabs to dominate the rest of the world. I have no doubt the Prophet wanted to raise himself to the same status as Allah. Muhammad loved Arabia & its culture, and his one desire was to create a strong, conquering Arab nation that believed in him and propagated his name. This could only be achieved by imperial dominance."
--Salman Rushdie
Anon posted: I have no doubt the Prophet wanted to raise himself to the same status as Allah
Rushdie is partly right - mohammed is above allah. Reading the koran and associated texts, it is quite amazing to see allah running around trying to please mohammed. In fact allah makes clear, that he is in no position to argue anything with mohammed. What mohammed wants, mohammed gets, via a quick visitation from the angel Gabriel.
Additionally, muslims are not too upset if allah is criticised, but get murderously upset if mohammed is criticised in any way. This further indicates that muslims themselves seem to consider mohammed as more important then allah.
Strange "religion".
DP111
Excellent quotes. However, I wish I had the references to the book and page number. I have the Russell quote (used by Ibn Warraq in his book) but not the others.
Wasn't Mohammed not about 40 years old when he first introduced the concept of Islam? If that was the case then he had the benefit of all those early years to experience and joyfully love Arabian culture first before becoming a killjoy. I'd be quite happy to stand corrected if I've got this wrong.
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