The late twentieth century has witnessed the emergence of an unexpected and extraordinary phenomenon: Islamist political movements. Beginning in the early 1970s; militants revolted against the regimes in power throughout the Muslim world and exacerbated political conflicts everywhere. Their jihad; or “Holy Struggle;†aimed to establish a global Islamic state based solely on a strict interpretation of the Koran. Religious ideology proved a cohesive force; gathering followers ranging from students and the young urban poor to middle-class professionals.After an initial triumph with the Islamic revolution in Iran; the movement waged jihad against the USSR in Afghanistan; proclaiming for the first time a doctrine of extreme violence. By the end of the 1990s; the failure to seize political power elsewhere led to a split: movement moderates developed new concepts of “Muslim democracy†while extremists resorted to large-scale terrorist attacks around the world.Jihad is the first extensive; in-depth attempt to follow the history and geography of this disturbing political-religious phenomenon. Fluent in Arabic; Gilles Kepel has traveled throughout the Muslim world gathering documents; interviews; and archival materials inaccessible to most scholars; in order to give us a comprehensive understanding of the scope of Islamist movements; their past; and their present. As we confront the threat of terrorism to our lives and liberties; Kepel helps us make sense of the ominous reality of jihad today.
#985034 in Books Simon Schuster 1993-04-12 1993-04-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .70 x 6.12l; 1.04 #File Name: 0671797972288 pagesGreat product!
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. DEAD SEA SCROLLS' THE HIDDEN TRUTHBy Robert WilliamsThe Dead Sea Scrolls Deception is the kind of book everyone likes to read but has a very hard time believing. Such is the grip that religion has on Christians.Cave 1 containing The Dead Sea scrolls was discovered in Judea in 1947 by Muhammad adh-Dhib; AKA Muhammad the Wolf; a member of the Ta'amireh tribe of Bebouin. Subsequently; 10 other caves with scrolls were found and explored. To make a long story short; the scrolls eventually wound up in the hands of "the international team" of scholars encamped in the Ecole Biblique; the French-Dominican archaeological school in Jerusalem. The team was predominately Catholic; as was the Ecole. The scrolls were supposed to be studied by the team; then published for all scholars to study. This never happened; at least not as it was supposed. The international team dragged their feet and refused to let any outsiders have access; see or photograph them no matter how qualified they might be. This lasted; amid many protests until 1991. In Sept.; 1991; The Huntington Library in California disclosed that it had a complete set of photographs of all the unpublished scroll material that had been entrusted to the library by Betty Bechtel. Having learned of the photographs existance; the "team" demanded them back. The library refused and then made them available to any scholar who wanted them.The authors; Baigent and Leigh contend that the team; controlled by the Church; wanted to conceal the scrolls as long as they possibly could in order to protect the Catholic doctrine should the scrolls contain anything adverse to those teachings. Also that they enjoyed having a scholastic monopoly on them and the prestige that went with it.The authors go even further and proclaim that there is in fact material within the scrolls that conflicts with the opinions of the "international team" as well as Catholic Church doctrine.I enjoyed reading this book and believe that much of what they say is the truth. It is well documented. However; I believe that their opinions regarding the Christian connection are too nebulous to be accepted as the truth. Judea during that era was in such chaos and turmoil; it may never be discovered what actually occurred.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Tell me about deceptionBy Paulo ReimannThe book is a deception per se. Want a Dead Sea Scrolls good book? - stick to Geza Vermes. Not worth the time and effort. Holly Blood and Holly Grail Wale entertaining. This one sucks.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. very informative bookBy PapperThe first part of the book is tedious; but you get rewarded if you read all the way through to the end.
