| Title | : | The Future of Islam |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0195165217 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780195165210 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 |
| Publication | : | First published January 22, 2010 |
Here, Esposito explores the major questions and issues that face Islam in the 21st century and that will deeply affect global Is Islam compatible with modern notions of democracy, rule of law, gender equality, and human rights? How representative and widespread is Islamic fundamentalism and the threat of global terrorism? Can Muslim minority communities be loyal citizens in America and Europe? In the midst of these questions, Esposito places an important emphasis on the issue of Islamophobia, the threat it poses, and its vast impact on politics and society in the US and Europe. He also turns the mirror on the US and Europe and paints a revealing portrait of how we appear to Muslims.
Recent decades have brought extraordinary changes in the Muslim world, and in addressing these issues, Esposito paints a complex picture of Islam in all its diversity--a picture of urgent importance as we face the challenges of the coming century.
Reviews
"A Georgetown University professor and well-known scholar of Islam, Esposito analyzes the current and future practice of Islam in this short but insightful volume... Esposito's enthusiasm for his topic makes his book an easy and enlightening read."--Publishers Weekly
"Esposito's book is a calculated appeal to the moderate middle ground upon whom the success of Obama's policies depends. Esposito is the right man for the he is a leading scholar of modern Islam, with more than 35 books on the subject to his credit, and heads a centre for Christian-Muslim understanding at Georgetown University. Through his scholarship and engaging writing, Esposito proposes the way forward for a better future for both Islam and the west."--The
The Future of Islam Reviews
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The book is a waste of time. The author has addressed the rise of Islamophobia in the West as well as Anti-West sentiments in the Muslim countries with superficial arguments quoting from American president speeches as well as unknown Muslim Scholars which no so-called 'moderate' Muslims follow.
I don't think he understands that the main focus of Islam is to create an ideal and progressive society. For years after its brilliant inception in Medina, Islam was able to successfully export and replicate this brilliant society 'Ummah' over to many foreign lands successfully. Till Islam faced another brilliant model society created in Europe, one centered on the Individual instead of the Divine.
None of the Islamic reformers or scholars has been able to evolve the Ummah to meet the challenge presented by the new Western society. that is why most Muslims love to live in the Western societies as subconsciously they acknowledge its superiority. Unfortunately, books like these written by Western authors are not helping Muslims to evolve their Ummah. The Ummah can only be evolved from within, by efforts made by Muslim reformers. -
I felt this book was based on Islamophobia and western distortions about Islam. I think this book didn't really discuss much in a positive regard. I think there's other writers and journalists who have a better grasp on Islam and the Middle East.
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Professor Esposito has dissected the subject comprehensively. His conclusions are very clear.
Islam, like ALL religions suffers from the same ailments that are at the heart of corrupting and have corrupted theologies throughout history.
The use of religions for political influence and power to control masses of humans and nations; repressive authoritarian regimes resort to tactics that nurture the flourishing of thoughts of exclusivity, rigid conservative fundamentalism, and the intolerance of pluralism. Such is the fate of humanity to date which has led to blood shed time and time again. History is full of records of wars fought in the name of the "Divine": depending on the view of who's in power to invoke such murderous wars against humanity.
Regardless of the professor's tabulations of the various steps taken by individual reformists in the Muslim faith, as well as the various movements, and organizations of progressive thoughts to help "cleanse" the Islamic faith, the same is required of all religions.
As he clearly states on page 177, "Salvation ultimately depends NOT on belonging to a specific faith but more generally and importantly on ethical or moral conduct".
This is fine well and good. BUT, till universal binding declarations are taken at the highest level: at the UN, till there is a more unifying order, to CRIMINALIZE abuse of religions for political gain against humans, we are STILL back to square one.
The UN MUST hold all member nations to the highest forms of punishment of individuals as well as organizations that foster hatred, death, and destruction in the name of religion. -
Dr. Esposito always writes thoughtful, easy to understand works on Islam. He writes with a neutral view, but I am sure in today’s world of anti-Islamic bias that would get him accused of being pro Islam. Of course as a practicing Catholic that taught at Holy Cross before going on to Georgetown he is just a serious scholar presenting the facts as he sees them. The Future of Islam is interesting and informative reading for both Muslim and non-Muslim.
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Islam in the eyes of An Orientalist, it gives a new perspective of how religion can truly be the key factor of world peace. The future of Islam depicts on this book is solely about making peace with pluralistic outlook scheme !
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I thoughtI was going to be impressed by this but soon those thoughts were crushed.
I appreciate the time he took to convey what the "other" non muslim thinks and what the muslim thinks and he tried to bridge the gap between the two. He concludes that true Islam is one without tyranny from the governements. I do agree. However, still his arguments were very shallow.
I am going to limit this to his views on saudi arabia. That's because that's what I disagreed with and thought he could argue his point better than his own opinion.
For a start, he constantly refers to saudi arabia as a Salafi/Wahabi and that's a bias term. I studied in "Wahabi" schools and listened and watched radio/tv of religious figure for 28 years. I never heard one of them say "everything is Haram unless mentioned otherwise" as Esposito claims. On the contrary, what they always said and now is drilled our minds is that everything is "Halal" unless this Halal causes someone extreme harm, you should not do it. The mentality of suicide bombing is an intrusion into our belief system. People of my grandmother's time were not literate, as well as poor and worked hard, and still my grandmother never mentioned how a neighbour killed another or blown himself up in a mosque. Social circumstances may be a reason but not enough reason to blame a guy who is dead more than 100 years old. Who, by the way, saved saudi arabia from extreme ignorance, they were worshipping idols and praying to graves. He taught them religion and how to read, write and be kind to one another. This person is why I and million other people get a proper education in the first place.
Another point which I noticed was how Esposito used a lot of reference for Shia in Iran and Iraq and not one about the history of Imam Muhammed Ibn Abdulwahab or what he's accomplished, religion-wise. Which for me doesn't shout objectiveness. You can call Al Saud regime a dictatorial regime but to associate it with terrorism needs more evidence than financial supprt to religious scholars trips and support for islamic charity campaigns. He's just merely repeated what every other Iranan-backed media is saying without a proper reference from actual books we read.
I've put a lot of notes to comment on but it is going to be take me longer and I'd like to make my points properly. I also want to take time to write my review in Arabic and address the questionable parts of his views with more backed-up evidence. -
This excellent book does exactly what it says on the box. John Esposito provides balanced and informed answers to the big questions that arise time and again in discussions of Islam today: Islam and democracy, Islam and other faiths, Islam and terrorism, women in Islam, and Islamic reform.
It's a real pity that, in the current climate, Australia doesn't have its own Esposito. Until one pops up, I think I'll order a dozen copies of this book and mail them to our Prime Minister, some of his backbenchers, and a few of his media mates. Too many public figures keep asking the same questions about Islam - often rhetorically - seemingly unaware that the answers are under their noses in books like this. -
Esposito himself says that he's retreading ground, and it definitely feels that way as someone who's been studying the Middle East. His use of statistics via Gallup and others is valuable, though, since it shows a clear pattern of thought that doesn't rely on speculation. He paints a pretty rosy picture of Islam, and since the book was published I think relations have worsened due to ISIL, although the Arab Spring may have offset that as well. He hopes for reconciliation between the West and Islamic world, citing their shared heritage and the fact that Christianity and Judaism have managed to acknowledge their similarities. Hopefully he's not wrong.
I think it's valuable, but I listed it as "okay" because it's kind of dry and statistics do get boring. -
Really informative and balanced. I would say that it goes straight to the point, by challenging the current presumptions about Islam, and explaining very methodically how the social and political aspects affect those presumptions in each part of the world differently.
Esposito draws a vast picture of the Islamic scholars that try to modernize/reinterpret Islam in the Middle East and Asia, and he gives us concise positions of each of them. This is mainly in Chapter 3, which deals with Reform of Islam, and which is the main reason to read this book. -
Insightful and well composed. Author, John Esposito, provides an enlightening perspective on Islam from a decades of experience studying with, befriending, and empathizing with Muslims. The book is filled with statistics and facts that came from credible polling organizations like the PEW research foundation. For anyone who wants a well-developed and honest introduction to Islam, this is an ideal book. It helped me go from knowing almost nothing to having a very basic introductory understanding.
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Not a very engaging read really. The basic premise is that Islam is similar to all religions and contains good, bad, idiotic and dogmatic elements. Who knew eh? The book is overburdened with lots of statistics that don't always add to the narrative
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A pretty good book with some fairly interesting information in it a bit heavy in parts with the statistics though.
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230 - 2013
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This book helps to look at the religion from a different lens. Apart from people and the culture a religion is also known by how its being perceived by the larger set of societies. Thinking only the religious aspects might constraint you from broader impact a religion could have. Therefore, the religious leaders should be proactive to not let certain incidences malign the message of greater good a religion carries.
Pluralism should not be a matter of concern in a democracy but if it is being choked by blind belief against a race than it questions its very existence. The power of democracy will only be optimum when we mutually respect and trust each other irrespective of the race, color or creed and work towards the creation of great civilization.
For me this book is not only about Islam but about democracy and how strongly it can flourish if we be more knowledgeable and open.
