FishbellykanakaDude wrote:
> Here's a REALLY interesting walkthrough of the History of the
> Islam:
> History of Islam, Parts 1 thru 5
>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no5RCHR ... eqEjEejQnf
> It is amazingly factual! If you actually want to educate yourself,
> and don't want a "conversion attempt" (which I certainly don't),
> PLEASE do check this series out.
> I thought I knew WAY more than I actually did know, and now I feel
> much more fully armed for discussions with anyone interested (for
> whatever reason) in this very human drama.
> Aloha nui! Mahaloz at'cha!
<shaka!>
I watched all five videos (total time about an hour), and I
was pleasantly surprised that they are as good as you say.
The only fault I would name is that they avoid discussing any of the
very real controversies within Islam itself. They avoid discussion of
controversies about the validity of the Koran and the Hadith, which
are important about understanding violent jihadist extremism today.
The videos blame it on the Kharijites, which is a very fanciful
explanation, since the Kharijites had disappeared within a couple of
centuries.
This is a good time to mention that I'm writing a book on
Islam and Iran, which is a subject that I'm very familiar with
because I've written thousands of articles on Islam and Iran.
It's currently just a partial draft, and the draft is currently
available on a hidden page on my web site:
http://generationaldynamics.com/pg/ww20 ... .gx113.htm
Since I'm not a Muslim, I'm able to describe Islam and Iran in a
respectful, balanced, non-ideological way, but also describing the
controversies within Islam that Muslims themselves feel obligated to
avoid.
If you have some time, take a look and tell me what you think.