Victor Davis Hanson interviews Raymond Ibrahim, focusing on his extensive research on the historical conflicts between Christianity and Islam. Ibrahim discusses his early career, the significance of his book ‘The Al-Qaeda Reader’, and the role of military orders like the Templars and Hospitallers during the Crusades. The discussion also touches on contemporary issues related to Islam and the West, including the impact of Islamic piracy and the legacy of the Janissaries.
The core belief of Judaism is that the Lord promised to give us the land of Israel as our eternal homeland, as long as we study the Torah and obey its commandments. That’s been the deal, since long before Mohammed or Jesus were born. We’ve had to disperse all over the planet, and the world now makes it clear that we will not be allowed to survive as a people anywhere else. Another core precept of Judaism is the preservation of life, all life, including our own. This seems to be a principle that the West is rapidly losing, but I wish them well and thank them for modern medicine, dentistry, representational government, and lots of shiny gadgets and technology.
Great interview! Christians need to be more assertive, not just turn the other cheek. Unfortunately, these tribal, Semitic people will never stop fighting each other, so infused with their religious doctrines. I wish it were otherwise, especially since the U.S. continues to be drawn into these never-ending conflicts.
GOD states in Genesis 16:11-12 how the generation of Ishmael will act and
HE said he will be a wild man and his hand will be against everyman and
every man’s hand against him. Then it should be no surprise that what we
see today is what GOD said his generation would be.
An enlightening interview with Raymond Ibrahim. I bought the book from Amazon. My favorite segment of the interview is the story about a letter from a Muslim leader addressed to President Jefferson about the Barbary pirates conflict. For me, I had given up on the issue of who started this Muslim-Jewish war. The letter stated clearly that Muslim’s core belief is ‘death to the infidel.” And an infidel is defined as anyone who is not Muslim. Thus, Muslims, full of hate that is learned, started this intense hatred that caused the “first shot heard round the world” – to repurpose an historian’s quote about our American Revolution. Oh, wait; I also have read that the core belief of Jewish faith is death to anyone who is not Jewish especially Muslims; a desire that Jewish blood remain pure, and, that the people of Gaza are “animals.” And animals must be killed (starved). Then I add the sheer idiocy of American Christianity that supports Jewish people’s version of death to people of Muslim faith. Well, overall, my assessment of the these three religions remain as always – I still hold onto my faith that God reigns supreme. I look forward to experiencing a high number of intellectual insights when reading Dr. Ibrahim’s Two Swords. I like Dr. Hanson’s recommendation for a trilogy; I would buy the set.