Customer Reviews

Moslems Their Beliefs, Practices, and Politics

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Both Oussani and Belloc do a great job in disseminating a solid basic knowledge of one of the fastest growing threats to Western Civilization we know of. Belloc writing in the 1930's was a prophet in his understanding of the threat that Islam would pose to Western Civilization if allowed to progress economically. Oussani gives an insider's view which is to the point and reliable. An excellent read for the beginner.

There is little understanding today in the "West" relative to the reality of Islam. And this excellent little book is an effective corrective. It consists of a number of essays by Gabriel Oussani relative to the historical, political, and theological background of Islam, followed by Hilaire Belloc's magnificent essay on the same subject.

Oussani deals fairly, we judge, with the basic principles, policies, and history of Islam. But Belloc's final essay is the star of this show. Here, Belloc puts the rise of Islam in its proper historical context. And he explains its explosive original popularity as a corrective to what was then an extraordinarily unjust system of slavery and usury. Further, Belloc describes the stunning continuing vitality of Islam. And it is this vitality, we judge, that now makes Islam the target of the neoconservative war machine.

Read this important little book. And be well informed and hugely entertained in the process. God bless.

I found the book informative, overall, but was looking for more information about their religious beliefs and practices. Basically, the first half of the book was excellent but the second half did not hold my interest that much. Definitely good for basic info and it is a quick read as well, so worth the purchase.

"Moslems: Their beliefs, practices, and politics" by Gabriel Oussani and Hilaire Belloc. Publisher's note: "This book is a collection of articles by Gabriel Oussani about Moslems...published in the original Catholic Encyclopedia early in the 20th century. In addition, Belloc's prescient essay of 1936 is included." Oussani presents a generic history of Mohammad, along with his Islamic religious concepts. Oussani breaks out many of the various suras of the Koran into six different time-periods. Oussani discusses "Christianity in Arabia" but it really is very generic, he himself noted: "What was the exact condition of Christianity in southern Arabia during the fifth and sixth centuries, we do not know..." (p.81). Belloc's essay "The Great and Enduring Heresy of Mohammed" of March 1936 is reprinted. Belloc wrote: "Mohammedanism was a heresy: that is the essential point to grasp before going any further....It was a perversion of Christian doctrine" (p. 105). In just a couple of paragraphs, Belloc details how Mohammed `lifted' various aspects of Christianity to create Islam, and how Mohammed negated other aspects of Christian theology (p. 107). Belloc questioned: "[W]hy did this new, simple, energetic heresy have its sudden overwhelming success? One answer is that it won battles" (p. 109). Belloc doesn't cite anything specific sections of either the Koran or the ahadith to support his arguments. Belloc contends that Islam appealed to impoverish farmers because Mohammad forbade usury. Belloc contended that Islam survived because it arose outside of Christendom, and remained fairly well outside of the frontiers of Europe with its military power (p. 126). Belloc noted that the Crusades `failed' because of too few soldiers were available to fortify Palestine from Muslim reconquest by Saladin, and recognized that the Christian naval victory at Lepanto was crucial in thwarting the Islamic invasion of Europe. No new revelations about Islamic history herein, but Belloc offers several interesting perspectives regarding Islam. Writing in 1936, Belloc cautioned that Islam might re-arise if its military strength ever improved. Not one of the first 100 books that I would grab to learn something about Islam.

"Moslems: Their beliefs, practices, and politics" by Gabriel Oussani and Hilaire Belloc. Publisher's note: "This book is a collection of articles by Gabriel Oussani about Moslems...published in the original Catholic Encyclopedia early in the 20th century. In addition, Belloc's prescient essay of 1936 is included." Oussani presents a generic history of Mohammad, along with his Islamic religious concepts. Oussani breaks out many of the various suras of the Koran into six different time-periods. Oussani discusses "Christianity in Arabia" but it really is very generic, he himself noted: "What was the exact condition of Christianity in southern Arabia during the fifth and sixth centuries, we do not know..." (p.81). Belloc's essay "The Great and Enduring Heresy of Mohammed" of March 1936 is reprinted. Belloc wrote: "Mohammedanism was a heresy: that is the essential point to grasp before going any further....It was a perversion of Christian doctrine" (p. 105). In just a couple of paragraphs, Belloc details how Mohammed `lifted' various aspects of Christianity to create Islam, and how Mohammed negated other aspects of Christian theology (p. 107). Belloc questioned: "[W]hy did this new, simple, energetic heresy have its sudden overwhelming success? One answer is that it won battles" (p. 109). Belloc doesn't cite anything specific sections of either the Koran or the ahadith to support his arguments. Belloc contends that Islam appealed to impoverish farmers because Mohammad forbade usury. Belloc contended that Islam survived because it arose outside of Christendom, and remained fairly well outside of the frontiers of Europe with its military power (p. 126). Belloc noted that the Crusades `failed' because of too few soldiers were available to fortify Palestine from Muslim reconquest by Saladin, and recognized that the Christian naval victory at Lepanto was crucial in thwarting the Islamic invasion of Europe. No new revelations about Islamic history herein, but Belloc offers several interesting perspectives regarding Islam. Writing in 1936, Belloc cautioned that Islam might re-arise if its military strength ever improved. Not one of the first 100 books that I would grab to learn something about Islam.