Plantagenet Richardson

West Meets Islam 2nd Edn. Plantagenet Richardson

Presented in the traditional form of a dialogue, now of 83 parts rather than 73, this 2nd edition has been completely revised, with a number of corrections and several new features, in fact increased in thickness by some 20%. The book examines the dilemma of Muslims living in the West, and how they often approve of their western lifestyle while feeling it is not sufficiently Islamic. On the other hand, they may realise that a lot is wrong with existing Muslim states, and long for a pure Islamic state vaguely like the half-imagined golden age of a distant Caliphate. For some, this may lead them to Islamic State, the IS or ISIS or ISIL which has become so familiar to us; they may also see it as an opportunity for excitement and adventure, rather as young people went to the colonies in the past. But others, and this includes the "Orientalis" character, see ISIS as the very worst of all possible worlds, and have the wisdom to detest what it is doing, Islamic though it may at first sight appear to be. For the West too there is a dilemma, an urgent need to understand both these perplexed people who now live with us, and Islam in general, an understanding which is sometimes severely hindered by various well-organised groups in the West. The western "Occidentalis" character only slowly and gradually stumbles on the simple and effective technique which some Christian and other Western groups are using to ferment trouble. They may see it is as the right thing to do, but in fact we need the moderate Muslims on our side !