Anaclitic prisoners paused in ethos hiatus, Islam now stands declined from its former science and literature greatness, but advanced in metaphysical infatuation. Only in recent years has world progress retouched Middle Eastern intellectuality.
Dependent still on the camel, horse, ass, and his own back as transporting medium; the impoverished plebeian pauses in desert isolation to ask favor of a God as distant now as it was in Islam beginnings - at the same time, Middle Eastern aristocrats luxuriate in plush office suites or other comfortable surroundings and invoke the same request - with somewhat greater success.
According to Bernard Lewis, Mohammedan's civilization decline and recent awakening to an impoverished community has invigorated a reevaluated philosophy: 'the basic fault was to fall away from good old ways, Islamic and Ottoman; the basic remedy was a return to the original auspices. This diagnosis and prescription still commands wide acceptance in the Middle East.' But metaphysical dependence cannot match the success of elbow grease and pursuit of materials.
In early civilizations, and with passage of time, not only Christians and Israelites, but also Muslims began to bring useful skills to Europe, and vice versa into the Ottoman ruled Islam theocracy. But the Ottoman soon disintegrated into regional self-rule; thus, Islamic cause was separated into sectional bickering, with the Mecca and Medina base isolated in Hajiz wilderness. But very quietly, in the wings, a mushrooming population spread ever outward; now, enormous migrations populate the major Christian and Israeli metropolitan areas. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 7 million Muslims. Earlier, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, the Balkans, even the whole of Europe and Asia Minor were threatened with Muslim invasion and insurgency. The United States will gradually follow suit as Third World countries convert this culture into a culture more suited to their own regional idealism.
With all its idealistic fervor, Lewis charges Islam with a major fault: "The lesson was harsh and clear-even a small European force could invade one of the heartlands of the Islamic empire and do so with impunity." And now, recent U.S. successes confirm the ease with which nescience and impoverishment can be routed. Islam's fault lies in its propensity to resist any advancement attributed to 'infidels' - except outright charity. Of course, the term 'infidels' is used to define 'Jews' or Christians.
Here at home, ambitious Islamic flocks migrate to the United States' freedoms; yet, immediately, they set out to undermine its good qualities with cultural reservations. In 'Middle-Eastern usage, liberty or freedom is a legal, not a political term. It meant one who was not a slave; unlike the West, Muslims did not use slavery and freedom as political metaphors' - preferring justice to liberty - albeit their justice definition is unbelievably severe.
Difference in the East and West success definition was thusly summarized by Lewis; 'In the West, one makes money to influence power. In the East, one seizes power to make money.'
Bernard Lewis writes a compelling account of Mohammedan mentality and Islam's tardiness to adopt science, literature and technology skills; thus, they fell behind in the world's march to increased knowledge. Even when favorite sons and daughters are exported to Western Universities for advanced educational opportunities, they soon regress to Islam prerogatives and evangelize their impoverished origins via new-found freedoms, regressing to justice initiatives instead of freedom attractions. Thus, Islam thinking can be pretty well summarized as consistent with the widely-circulated, ideological guide used at President Nasser's assassination time, authored by Abd al-Salam Faraj: 'Fighting the near enemy is more important than fighting a distant enemy. Jihad requires Muslim blood to flow until victory is achieved.' Saudi Arabia rulers, Nasser, and the Shah of Persia are also denounced as enemies of Islam. The Shah is long gone, and Nasser is deceased; only the Saudi Arabian rulers remain as home ground enemies along with a few other, lesser dominions. Now, America suffers victimization by the vehemence exported beyond Islam's home grounds.
History teaches almost nothing, except leaving a format for political expedience. Islam continues on its course to impose an austere existence on run-of-the-mill constituents, all seeking to energize the monotheism endured over centuries. Peace and prosperity cannot exist for the Muslim, or his neighbor, except each submits to metaphysics ambitioned to control the masses and their wealth.
At the present, no cure is forthcoming for the present cultural and political climate setting monotheism branches at odds with each other. But to discover how far we have come in developing the present world problem, this book is a good place to start.
Ben Winter, particles physicist, Bible scholar, and author of "THE GREAT DECEPTION: Symbols And Numbers Clarified," reveals there 'is' something new under the sun - that is, for modern Bible students. He addresses correctness of language and true intent of the major Bible topics: solves Bible mysteries, defines Gog and Magog, reveals Daniel He-goat's surprising identity, and dares to number the all important Ten Ages. Sign up for FREE book critiques at http://www.Winterbriar.com and view more articles in blog format at http://blog.thegreatdeception.net.