what you need to know about islam john esposito pdf
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There was a dilemma that hitting me every bit I read this book. The Islam that Esposito describes is besides Islam equally I would want it to be. I would love for violence to exist never justifiable. I want moderate Islam to come out on peak. I want to be able to communicate with Muslims who take a bones worldview similar enough to mine that we can at least share our religions to each other and make sense of what each other is saying. And I definitely don't want to have to deal with a bunch of Christians who are always assuming the exact opposite and making the near antagonistic assumptions and statements possible most Islam. So, what is the best way to accomplish those goals? Is there not a good in writing a book that assumes the best, with the hope that doing and then makes the all-time that much more likely to win in the end? Maybe. Then I tin't entirely error Esposito for doing that. It's not what I would do, but it might be a practical means to reaching a positive end. But it'south not the kind of volume I wanted to read.
...moreUnfortunately, it shortly became clear that the author was going through every outcome people had questions about and finding the most modernistic answer to exist found in the Islamic
This volume is a defense, not really an intro text. Despite what the title might make you call back, the goal of the book seems to be to highlight the shared values Islam has with "the Due west" and also defend Islam from current misconceptions. All adept, and all things that need to be faced and understood with toleration and humility.Unfortunately, it shortly became articulate that the author was going through every issue people had questions near and finding the most modern answer to be found in the Islamic tradition and leaving all the not-so-modern parts out. He also employed the time-worn strategy of maxim, "Well Judaism and Christianity did it too...times a billion!" To exist fair, the author is certainly not required to drag upwardly the worst of the worst, but what he leaves out is oft very crucial to agreement Islam equally a whole.
For instance, he talks of the Sunni/Shia split as a disagreement virtually how to choose successors to Muhammad. The Sunnis wanted a successor based on merit and the Shia wanted a blood relative to succeed. That IS an accurate argument, but information technology doesn't mention the assassinations and outright state of war that took place to make the split happen. Non just is it of import to add more historical context only information technology also seems a lilliputian insensitive to Shiites to say that they simply thought claret relatives should succeed. They thought their man, Ali, was the most meritorious, as well. And so much for that issue.
Another outcome where he "chose carefully" is polygamy. The Quran basically limits Muslims to four wives (though Muhammad ended upward having, similar, nine in his life, though this is not mentioned). What the writer fails to add is that they could have any number of concubines on the side (though, to complicate this even more, the bride could have as part of a marriage contract that the husband not take more concubines [it'southward this kind of complexity and nuance that's required if we actually want the truth]). You lot could say he doesn't have to mention them since they aren't married, but the real reason he leaves it out is because he'south trying to make Islam palatable, and mentioning concubines, non-Muslim slaves taken from other regions, isn't going to help his case. In fact, he quotes the verse from the Quran that is immediately before the line on concubines, and then stops. I wouldn't have known this, except that I'm working through the Quran myself, but when I saw that he left this out, I honestly opened my mouth in surprise.
I'm going to stop here at ii topics, simply the aforementioned bug persisted throughout. To be fair (again) to Mr. Esposito, if his chore is to show that Islam CAN be modernized or exist adequate to Westerners, so he simply needs to discover available paths to get there, and those paths don't have to follow what Islam was or is, and they don't have to hold with each other, either. Notwithstanding - and this is the last time I'll say this - without knowing the historical intent and context that is left out (and and then much has to exist in a small book anyhow), you will not get an accurate portrait. Or, maybe I should say you volition become a portrait instead of the real thing. An impressionistic, flowery Monet of a portrait.
There were definitely issues I learned about in this book that I thought were interesting, like Islam's accept on the surroundings, or Islamic banking. Yet, any new information I found was overshadowed past the author's articulate goal. I would title this book, "Part of What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam."
...moreMost of muslims are already familiar with most of the materials. All the same, in the manner the book answers the question, the reader gets an idea what westerners know and how can you compare islam and christianity
Information technology was an piece of cake, quick read to wing through, and provided an in-depth look at all religious areas of Islam, making all the data relatively cursory and to the point. I loved the way it was ready-out with FAQs as headers and so you could just pick it up at the one question yous wanted the respond to so could put it back down without having to carp with the rest of the book.
The way that the writer detailed the departure between cultu
Looking for a quick guide to Islam? I call up this is your book.Information technology was an piece of cake, quick read to wing through, and provided an in-depth wait at all religious areas of Islam, making all the data relatively brief and to the point. I loved the mode it was fix-out with FAQs as headers so you could just choice information technology upwardly at the one question you wanted the respond to and then could put it back downward without having to bother with the residuum of the book.
The way that the author detailed the difference betwixt cultural customs and religious (Islamic) customs was fantastic. It actually helped to learn the difference between what Muslims (religious) individuals believed and what was believed as a society or community in Muslim countries.
It handled controversial subjects well and talked about the historical background of customs and behavior in the Islamic religion and culture. E.1000. why Islamic aren't fond of hand-shakes (touching non-familial people was seen equally unclean and inappropriate if the individual was unmarried) and why they are stereotyped every bit hating animals, especially dogs (dogs were often dirty and flea-ridden and touching them made a Muslin unclean for prayer; letting a dirty canis familiaris into your house made the house unclean too).
I did find that the author was a piffling too biased - the author is a Muslim himself - at times - saying things like "we believe in ___" or "Allah told us ____" etc. rather than avoiding the personal pronouns and separating himself from the topic. He as well compared nearly every topic to parts of Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism or Catholicism which I found rather unnecessary.
Overall, a good introduction slice to Islam. If you demand something to requite you a quick and easy background to the Muslim faith than I would recommend picking this upward.
...moreInformation technology'southward quite deciptive at many places in the book, giving half facts that don't represent the whole scenario. I am lucky to take had known things prior to reading the book that the writer didn't feel information technology's of import to cover up.
Moreover, The author didn't provide whatsoever polls, data or inquiry that would provide an thought to what Muslims do actually believe in, at present, at least. Instead, the writer chose to utilise words like, few, most, some. Not good. Also if you wanna read a prim
Saccharide coated view of lslam.It's quite deciptive at many places in the book, giving half facts that don't stand for the whole scenario. I am lucky to have had known things prior to reading the book that the writer didn't feel it'due south of import to comprehend up.
Moreover, The author didn't provide any polls, information or enquiry that would provide an thought to what Muslims do actually believe in, now, at least. Instead, the writer chose to use words like, few, most, some. Not good. Likewise if you wanna read a primer on Islam I don't recommend this one, not comprehensive plenty, only not nada stars bad.
...more thanthree.5 stars
Dainty introduction but as others noted, information technology's not comprehensive and deep plenty for certain subjects/questions that the volume covers. But to exist off-white, it covers a lot of interesting questions that come up in the daily lives of people.
Bite-sized information about a multifariousness of subjects3.five stars
Dainty introduction but as others noted, it's non comprehensive and deep enough for certain subjects/questions that the volume covers. But to be off-white, it covers a lot of interesting questions that come up in the daily lives of people.
...more thanDespite this. I learned a ton nearly Islam and Muslims. I feel like with that knowledge many of my own questions and even fears have been answered or faded away in the low-cal of understanding.
...more"What Everyone Needs to Know Most Islam" is a great place to start in understanding this faith and its people! Written by an practiced in the study of Islam, post-9/eleven, this volume answers all the major questions. Islam is a very peaceful religion, and in then many ways remarkably related to Christianity. This volume doesn't gloss over some of its more questionable as
With all the fear-mongering with regard to Islam and Muslims these days, I felt information technology necessary to brush up on my knowledge of this religion."What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam" is a great place to start in understanding this religion and its people! Written by an expert in the written report of Islam, postal service-9/eleven, this book answers all the major questions. Islam is a very peaceful religion, and in so many ways remarkably related to Christianity. This book doesn't gloss over some of its more questionable aspects, merely also puts them into a more authentic context. Much of the misunderstanding we have stems from a kind of Western arrogance, the idea that our morals and values are the simply ones worth having and that information technology is our job to insist that all other cultures suit to that. By superimposing our ain beliefs on others, we find it like shooting fish in a barrel to judge their actions negatively, but this book strives to draw people closer to an understanding of the native cultures as well as the religion itself.
Actually interesting read. Much of it I knew, having spent the last few years focusing some report on Islam, but some I actually did non, and I enjoyed increasing my cognition. Because of its question/answer nature, there are some things that get repeated, but it was put together in a way that made sense and was piece of cake to follow.
I highly recommend this to basically the whole of America. Larn what Islam is ACTUALLY about, non what media tells you by skewing the facts in lodge to draw Muslims as all being hateful terrorists. This book is about the OTHER 99.nine% of Muslims.
...moreJohn Esposito tries to address most questions raised in the West, without blaming nor condoning Islam. The book aims to reverberate the complexity of dumbing down the faith of a billion humans, while still addressing the internal and external challenges information technology f
A concise introduction to Islam, its tenets, its history, its relationship to other faiths, its tumultuous relation to terrorism and other societal themes/problems. The Q&A format makes the book very approachable and is expert starter for novices.John Esposito tries to accost near questions raised in the Due west, without blaming nor condoning Islam. The book aims to reflect the complexity of dumbing downwardly the faith of a billion humans, while still addressing the internal and external challenges it faces.
All that said, many answers are a bit superficial and barely bear upon the surface of actually important current Islam issues: struggle with modernization, holistic but tribal worldview, blaming vs. cocky-responsibility, coexistence with secular societies, separation of religion and state, honor killings, conservatism/literalism, women rights, gay rights, male chauvinism.
...more thanRead: http://2010rantings.blogspot.com/2011...
...moreI found this to exist an informative introduction to the topic. The question-and-answer format resulted in a flowing arrangement that worked well for many short readings and will piece of work well for quick consultation in the time to come. My impression, withal, was that Islam is really just about the aforementioned as Judaism and Christianity (which have some major differences themselves). The distinctiveness or otherness of the faith is downplayed in favor of similarities—especially similarities
OvercontextualizedI constitute this to exist an informative introduction to the topic. The question-and-answer format resulted in a flowing organization that worked well for many brusk readings and volition work well for quick consultation in the futurity. My impression, still, was that Islam is really simply nigh the same equally Judaism and Christianity (which have some major differences themselves). The distinctiveness or otherness of the religion is downplayed in favor of similarities—peculiarly similarities with Catholic Christianity.
...moreThis book gives a lot of information nigh Islam, organized in question-answer grade. And that's office of the problem with the book. It seems a niggling disorganized, with topics hard to detect. It's also a bit encumbered past its essential purposes--inform, but nowadays Islam in a very positive calorie-free. I would like to have had more hard data on Islamic history and culture, more specifics nigh the contents of the Quran and fewer generalized sections designed to add 50
Expert outset to understanding IslamThis book gives a lot of information well-nigh Islam, organized in question-reply form. And that's function of the problem with the book. It seems a trivial disorganized, with topics hard to find. Information technology's besides a bit burdened by its essential purposes--inform, but present Islam in a very positive low-cal. I would like to accept had more than hard information on Islamic history and civilisation, more specifics about the contents of the Quran and fewer generalized sections designed to add luster to the reader's stance of Muslims.
...more than...with that said. Reading this book did enforce what fourteen years of Catholic teaching taught me, which is religion is fucking ridiculous, and more of a roadblock towards God and so a Pathway.
Esposito was raised a Roman Catholic in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, and spent a decade in a Catholic monastery. After taking his first degree he worked equally a manage
He is a professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is also the manager of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian understanding at Georgetown Academy.Esposito was raised a Roman Catholic in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York Urban center, and spent a decade in a Catholic monastery. After taking his first degree he worked equally a management consultant and loftier-school teacher. He then studied and received a masters in theology at St. John'southward Academy. He earned a PhD at Temple University, Pennsylvania in 1974, studying Islam and held post doc appointments at Harvard and Oxford. He is well-known as a promoter of stiff ties betwixt Muslims and Christians and has challenged the Vatican to make greater efforts to encourage such ties.
A specialist in Islam, political Islam, and the impact of Islamic movements from North Africa to Southeast Asia, Dr. Esposito serves equally a consultant to the Department of State as well every bit multinational corporations, governments, universities, and the media worldwide. In 2005, Professor Esposito won the American University of Faith's prestigious Martin Eastward. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion. This award honors a scholar who has been exemplary in promoting the public understanding of religion. A prolific writer, Professor Esposito is the author of over 25 books, including What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, and Unholy State of war: Terror in the Name of Islam. He is likewise the Editor-in-Principal of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Mod Islamic World, The Oxford History of Islam, and The Oxford Dictionary of Islam.
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