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Great Divide: Failure of Islam and Triumph of the West

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There is a story that both the Democrats and the Republicans won't tell. It is the story of a failed foreign policy based on political correctness rather than facts. Supposedly we are in a "war on terrorism" and/or fighting a few "evil men." Why they are evil and why they are terrorists is never explained by our leaders. What our eventual goal in our war with these "evil men" is, is not explained. It can't be articulated because there is an elephant in the room that few have the political courage to mention.

The unmentionable elephant is Islam. It is unmentionable because according to the currently acceptable rules of political correctness, we are never, ever, EVER allowed to say anything unkind about any one's religion. In fact we can't even mention "Islam" in the same breath as "terrorism" unless we preface our remarks with words like "fundamentalist" or "extremist" or "radical" or "Islamist" to prove we don't mean to disparage the "vast majority of Muslims" who are said to be peace loving and misunderstood Jeffersonian democrats as harmless as the Amish and of sweet disposition, something like the late Mother Theresa. We are told again and again that if we only would take the time to "understand Islam" we'll come to love it.

Now at last there is a book that gives us the facts. Islam is a failure measurable by every standard from science, to economic development to human rights. In "The Great Divide" Alvin Schmidt has done a great service to his readers. The first chapter begins by comparing the life of Jesus Christ with Muhammad. A lot of the information revealed in this chapter cites highly unfavorable, but corroborated facts about Muhammad, facts that Muslims are not permitted to hear, read, or talk about in Islamic countries.

The second chapter focuses on how early Christianity grew and expanded during its first 300 years without resorting to any form of violence, even when countless numbers of Christians were severely persecuted, as opposed to Islam, which from the time of its inception in 622 frequently and widely employed the sword to expand and grow.

The third chapter surveys the role of women in the West versus the role of women in Islamic countries. Chapter 4 concentrates on the moral issue of slavery. It shows that slavery was first outlawed in the West, where Christianity had its greatest presence. Unknown to many, this chapter documents and shows that slavery still exists today in some Islamic countries in Africa.

In the fifth chapter the Christian concept of charity is compared with the Islamic practice of Zakat. The latter is often loosely translated as "charity." But the chapter shows that the two are not the same, especially not in terms of what charity originally meant. The sixth chapter, "The Crusades and the Rest of the Story," provides evidence that the Crusades began as defensive just war as a result of the West having experienced numerous military attacks and invasions from Islamic forces.

Chapter 7 shows the differences regarding liberty and justice between the West and Islamic countries are significant and prominent. Chapter 8 explores the question of which religion, Christianity or Islam, has provided the most favorable conditions to the growth and development of modern science.

The ninth chapter discusses the differences between Islam and the West in regard to the relationship between religion and the state. The tenth chapter examines the question of whether Islam is a "peaceful religion," as is often heard today. To answer this question, the chapter looks at Islam's 1,400-year history, including what the Koran and the Hadith reveal on this matter.

The last chapter discusses the effects Islam's apologists (Muslims and non-Muslims) are having in the West today. It notes that apologists in the West's current environment of political correctness not only are disallowing discussion regarding anything unfavorable to Islam, regardless of the facts, but also, are posing a major threat to the Judeo-Christian culture of the Western world.

This is the best book on the subject and should be read by everyone. "The Great Divide" is a masterpiece.

Schmidt writes this perspective on Islam from a sociologist's perspective also viewing it somewhat from the viewpoint of history and theology. He convincingly shows that the current view of Islam's history and beliefs compared with Christianity's is somewhat distorted and untrue.

He aspect by aspect shows how today's world is not shown the entire breath of Islam's past and current cultural and theological stance on many societal issues: women, charity, liberty, justice, war and peace, Jesus, the Crusades, science and medicine, law. These are all fascinating and enlightening discussions, and at the least would fester further research and inquiry into interested subject matters with bibliographical materials included for such persual.

If one seeks but a theological comparison of the two, one would be wise to check out the best source I have found: Norman L. Geisler and Abdul Saleeb's "Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross."

A spate of volumes on Islam have come out in the last decade. The author, Alvin Schmidt, was able to take advantage of all this new scholarship to draw the proper conclusions about Islam. The author then condensed all the pertinent facts that back up his conclusions, and put it all into eleven, easy-read chapters!

I especially appreciated pages 24-26 and 289 where Alvin Schmidt addresses the "Allah was a Moon god" debate that is raging, mostly via the Web. There he mentions that Yoel Natan has a lengthy book coming out on how Allah was a Moon god.

This all shows exactly how cutting edge Alvin Schmidt's research is, and it shows that he does not shy away from controversial topics, either! This is the kind of book I want to read on Islam!

Schmidt writes what many are afraid to talk about: The truth about Islam. He does an excellent job of comparing Islam and the Koran to Christianity and the Bible. He backs his statements up with facts and provides solid references. This book is going to tick you off- whether you are Conservative or Liberal, Christian or Muslim. The sometimes shocking details provided here will educate you on a variety of issues and take you on a journey through history. This book is a real eye opener. Contrary to what the media would like you to believe, Muhammad was not a nice guy. This should be required reading for not only all Americans, but all infidels (non-Muslims) as well.

The Great Divide-The Failure of Islam and the Triumph of the West, by Alvin J. Schmidt, a scholarly and well-documented work, is a factual, non-emotional critique of Islam. He contrasts the biographies of Jesus and Muhammad, and the spirit and intent of the Bible vs. the Qur'an. Dr. Schmidt shares pertinent information regarding the treatment of Muslim women, and covers such issues as slavery (which is ongoing in Islam), "charity", the Crusades, Islamic liberty and justice, and church and state. Dr. Schmidt addresses the big question of this century candidly, as to whether or not Islam is a religion of peace, sidestepping the quagmire of political correctness. This is a "must read" for all who want to learn the essential facts of Islam.

Dr. Schmidt raises issues that the world must address, and he does so in a lucid, thorough, and compelling manner. For anyone who values democracy, Western liberalism, and insights into history and the contemporary world this book is essential. Open-minded, inclusive, and thoughtful readers will value this work, a heavily documented masterpiece.

Alvin Schmidt's book about the "great divide" between Christianity and Islam is Christians, as well as, secular people need to read. It demonstrates the essential difference between Christianity and Islam; one (Christianity) is a religion founded on love and freedom from bondage, while the other (Islam) seeks to enslave and make others "submit." He opens the book by noticing the fundamental differences between Jesus and Muhammad and their views on such things as marriage, God, heaven.

Chapter two is a perfect, yet quick history lesson that is most relevant for secular people and Christians who insisted on thinking Islam, in its normative state, is a religion of peace. He accurately shows the differences in the growth of the two religions. Initially (first 300 years) Christianity spread through a passive movement relying on a sociological construct based on loving their neighbor and martyrdom. Islam spread immediately by the sword - this is objective historical data, no polemics here.

The other chapters are good, and while I cannot whole heartily endorse all his assertions, when he deals with history he is accurate and when he asserts a particular theological concept or idea, the reader knows the difference. The material and arguments are well laid out and overall, this is an outstanding work that any laymen can read and get an accurate historical understanding of the Islamic religion as it compares to Christianity.

I do need to note, there are muslims who seek a spiritual interpretation of the koran and Islamic history; they do so with either great courage or a congnitive dissonance. But if the West insists on accepting a politically correct Islam, then I hope these Islamic mystics succeed; because the West doesn't heed, it may very well fail.

This book is a must read for every American. We need to be aware of the reality of the Islam belief system as it is being practiced by the radical Muslims today.

This book is a must read - cold hard facts everyone should know.

There is much in this book to recommend, particularly the extensive accounting of the Church in her earliest days and the ways in which the Church lived out the gospel message by building hospitals, caring for the sick, the poor, the widows and orphans.

Certainly, anyone who is as familiar with the history of the Catholic Church as I am knows that from the beginning she shone like the Sun because of the wonders of her charity. Pagans were drawn to her goodness and to the love of her Christian believers.

Also, knowing the history of Islam as I do I must admit that there is nothing in it that can equal the incredible accomplishments of Catholic Christianity as it made its way in the world and changed the world through the gospel of Christ.

However this book, and Schmidt himself both have flaws that become glaring as the reader progresses from chapter to chapter. It is one thing to praise the Church and her accomplishments in Christ and to criticize Islam along the way. This is understandable and in fact is the point of this book.

But to relentlessly criticize Islam as Schmidt does without admitting any of its accomplishments and in fact to criticize everything that Islam and Muslims have ever been as he does is shortsighted in the extreme. In this way Schmidt risks losing the reader by protesting too much, unless of course the reader is mainly interested in an imbalanced diatribe against Islam.

Also, since Schmidt sees the world through the myopic eyes of a modern American Evangelical (I believe he is a Missouri Synod Lutheran) he can't resist distorting the history of the Catholic Church and of the Popes, the successors of Peter.

Without understanding the complexities of the Galileo controversy - Schmidt is a sociologist, not a historian and this becomes apparent in his approach to this subject - he attacks the pope and the Catholic Church for its position on Galileo.

The true history of this interaction between Galileo and his Church is far more complicated than Schmidt comprehends and his outsider view, as one who is and has always been outside of the Church, results in an incorrect reporting of history.

He seems to want to praise Lutherans for their enlightened view of Galileo's heliocentric ideas, never mentioning the fact that both Calvin and Luther condemned Galileo as a heretic.

Also, Schmidt fails to understand the powerful political situation surrounding Pope Innocent III and King John of England in relation to the Magna Carta and instead uses that incident as an opportunity to bash the Vicar of Christ who was faced with a very real challenge to valid authority.

The problems in Schmidt's book are all signs of an author who has maintained a relentlessly negative view of Islam and a jaundiced view of the history of the Catholic Church.

In the end it is the work of a man who has not always pursued history with the greatest vigor.