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When Worlds Collide: Exploring the Ideological and Political Foundations of the Clash of Civilizations

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In his book When Worlds Collide, DR Gene Heck provides an in depth analysis to prove that Islam, in either it's classical or Wahhabist forms, is not the root cause of terrorism. Rather, it is the bastardization of the religion that has set the conditions for the current terrorist issue. In order to do this, Heck breaks his study down into three main areas. First, he provides a background discussion on Islam and the sources of modern Middle East terror. Next, he shows the political evolution of extremist Islam, including a discussion on the development of Wahhabism and the extremist perversion of it. Finally after exploring the historical and religious issues surrounding the evolution of terrorism, he explores an in depth discussion of the potential cures for the issues surrounding problems within the Middle East. There are several critical reasons for the success of this book. First, Heck provides the reader clear and easily understandable definitions of key terms and issues. Secondly, he continuously provides critical contextual references both religious and historically. His effective use of transitions allows the reader to follow the themes throughout the book. Although he strongly proves his thesis, the reader would have benefited from a glossary to serve as a reference and maps to put the discussions in context. This book is a must read for anyone who wants a more complete understanding of the issues surrounding modern terror and its relation to Islam, as well as potential solutions to those problems.