In an era when the relationship between Islam and the West seems mainly defined by mistrust and misunderstanding; we often forget that for centuries Muslim civilization was the envy of the world. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the major role played by the early Muslim world in influencing modern society; Lost History fills an important void. Written by an award-winning author and former diplomat with extensive experience in the Muslim world; it provides new insight not only into Islam's historic achievements but also the ancient resentments that fuel today's bitter conflicts.Michael Hamilton Morgan reveals how early Muslim advancements in science and culture lay the cornerstones of the European Renaissance; the Enlightenment; and modern Western society. As he chronicles the Golden Ages of Islam; beginning in 570 a.d. with the birth of Muhammad; and resonating today; he introduces scholars like Ibn Al-Haytham; Ibn Sina; Al-Tusi; Al-Khwarizmi; and Omar Khayyam; towering figures who revolutionized the mathematics; astronomy; and medicine of their time and paved the way for Newton; Copernicus; and many others. And he reminds us that inspired leaders from Muhammad to Suleiman the Magnificent and beyond championed religious tolerance; encouraged intellectual inquiry; and sponsored artistic; architectural; and literary works that still dazzle us with their brilliance. Lost History finally affords pioneering leaders with the proper credit and respect they so richly deserve.
#2826167 in Books Scott W Hibbard 2012-03-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .78 x 6.00l; 1.01 #File Name: 1421405776328 pagesReligious Politics and Secular States Egypt India and the United States
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. More relevant today than when it was written.By Bruce BoyleIt explores fundamentalism as an influence in politics in Muslim countries and the US. Reasonably moist reading (as opposed to dry :-)3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Top Down: Political Elites Use Religion For Partisan GainBy Lawrence HedblomReligious Politics and Secular States is a book that came out last Fall; written by Scott Hibbard of DePaul University. It is a comparative study that looks at the religious politics of three societies - Egypt; India and the US. Interestingly; each of these countries was considered "secular" in the mid-twentieth century.The book offers a decidedly different approach to the phenomenon of religious politics than other; similar works. Instead of looking at the social movements associated with "religious fundamentalisms;" this book focuses on the way in which religion is manipulated by political elites. It also looks at the way in which this type of manipulation helped to bring extreme forms of religious fundamentalism into the political mainstream.Hibbard's approach to the study of religion and politics is novel for two reasons. First; he is taking a "top down;" as opposed to a "bottom up;" approach to the topic. In other words; those who focus on social movements look at the changing trends in religion; and see this as the driving force behind political change. Religion; from this view; emerges organically from social life to influence national politics (i.e. the influence is from the bottom up). Hibbard; on the other hand; is looking at how elites - political and religious - have manipulated religion for partisan gain. It is not religion; per se; that is driving the process; but; rather; political actors who use the ideas and images of religion for their own ends. The influence; in short; is from the top down.The second area where this book differs from other; similar studies; is its emphasis upon the historical narrative and the extensive field work that informs the case studies. While this is not novel; it does differ from the emphasis upon statistical analysis that is so prominent in the mainstream social science research. Robert Putnam's new book on religion and American politics; American Grace ([...]/); reflects this latter approach; and relies heavily upon extensive statistical research and the compilation of data. It also reflects a "bottom up" analysis; as opposed to Hibbard's "top down" approachTo be fair; it is not that one book or approach to the topic is necessarily better than the other; rather; they are simply different. Together; both books provide a very interesting - and complementary - analysis of what is in reality a very complex human phenomenon.
