Karen Armstrong's book: "Islam"

[Ernesto]

Just read it while on vacation. A very educational read! It took some work because it is a bit of a (brief) "textbook". However, I now feel like I'm getting the drift on the Sunni-Shiite rift.
Seems like the "twelver" Shii are expecting a missing descendant of Mohammed to materialize as their savior. In the mean time the Sunnis are more pragmatically secular in terms of government, but don't buy into the part about the coming of a divine intervention.
Near as I can tell, Mohammed was a bit of a socialist when it came down to the welfare of his less fortunate brethren. Kinda sounds like he would be a good Democrat today.
I don't intend to offend anyone here, & I do recommend the book. Ms. Armstrong is a distinguished scholar of world religions for those that haven't heard of her.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Haven't read this book

but have read "A History of God" by the same author. Your analysis of the Prophet sounds about right to me.

[NickofTime]

2. Karen Armstrong not Reliable

Read some other works on Islam, say those published between 1930 and 1970, before you swallow Karen Armstrong hook, line, and sinker. Some of her books contain stunning inaccuracies.

Check out the customer reviews on Amazon.com, for example.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Can you recount some of the inaccuracies here?

Customer reviews on Amazon can be amusing but aren't to be relied upon.

[Ernesto]

6. "For example," I have read Amazon's reviews

The ex-nun was a way too easy target for Muslim bashers that did not have their blood lust satisfied by what appears to be a fairly objective, very short history of the faith. Of course the term "politically correct" was (predictably) bandied about by those wanted no mercy for "them gal durned evil-doers".
I have read several of Ms. Armstrong's works on other religious topics & listened to her speak on more than one occasion.
This old atheist is merely a seeker of knowledge & for the life me can find no hook, line or sinker within my digestive system.

[Texifornia]

12. Reviews on Amazon...

hardly amount to refutation of the author's credibility. I have found her work to be well documented and footnoted. No doubt, criticism could be applied, in this case the distinction between Twelver Shia and other Shia (including Shia splinter groups such as Ismaeli and Druze) is not clearly made, but overall her work is very good.

I have read works on Islam from the 1930s and 1940s. There are usually laughable, often referring to Muslims as Mohammedans.

[donheld]

19. I have read two of Karen's Books

"The Battle for God" and "Muhammed." I find her quite reliable. Unless you can point out specific errors, don't berate her.

[The Magistrate]

21. That Is A Little Broad, Sir

The good Ms. Armstrong is, it is true, accustommed in her work to take people at their face value, and accept the best construction that can be put on things. That is not inaccuracy, though, merely disagreement with someone else's preferred emphasis. The book mentioned above is, in my view, an excellent introduction to the subject....

[demnan]

3. Thanks

I might pick it up.

[flordehinojos]

4. i heard her speak on a cnn program several years ago. i recognized her

name in your post. i thought she had impressive knowledge--and despite what others are saying to discredit her, i thought she gave a fact filled presentation which explained a lot and made a whole lot of sense.

[Harlequin]

7. In Iran, because of the effect Mr. Bush has on recruitment, they call him

the 13th Imam.

[radwriter0555]

8. recruitment for what?

?

[Ernesto]

10. Islamic Jihad

[radwriter0555]

13. LOL! You're kidding, right?

**Snarf** Islamic jihad? where do you get this nonsense? CNN?

[Ernesto]

9. That makes sense Harlequin

The idiot's "axis of evil" remarks have certainly enhanced the strength of Iran's Shiite fundamentalist cleric/politicians. The "13th Imam" couldn't have been more helpful in turning back the popular tide of political moderation that was under way in Iran during the Clinton years.

[Harlequin]

14. Thanks, Ernesto

[Neecy]

11. I'll check it out...

I've read her History of God and Jerusalem, and I've enjoyed them - I like her writing style, and I usually know when she's off-track through other sources. I'll have to pick this one up --

[Harlequin]

15. Having read KA's book on the Buddha, and also having read the

original text upon which it was based, the Pali Canon, she did a good job at a) placing it in context and b) clarifying it. The Pali Canon was a great read too -- full of all those great twists and turns a book reflecting an oral tradition comes with.

[bemildred]

16. Great book, an antidote for all the bullshit.

:thumbsup:

[CJCRANE]

17. It's kinda like Christianity -

if you strip away the rituals and the heaven and hell stuff, most of Islam is about looking after your family and those less fortunate than yourself, not accumulating wealth, being compassionate etc.

[Ernesto]

18. Yes, Mohammad's concern for the Ummah

is (for me) a very attractive component of the religion's core values....What a contrast to the modern day "compassionate Conservatives".

[Harlequin]

20. Mohammad's concern for the Ummah is not unlike my own concern

for Uma.

:) !