And They Revoked Her Honorary University Degree!

Three quarters of the people in Pakistan favor the death penalty for leaving Islam. In Iraq or Bangladesh it is only about 42 percent of the population. Instead of merely socially ostracizing or imprisoning the original thinker – all distasteful reprisals to the western mind that prizes freedom of ideas … millions of people believe this person should be killed.

Where is the outcry against such an intolerable idea? Paradoxically a sizable contingent of western liberals are following Ben Affleck’s lead in shouting “gross and racist” when anybody wonders aloud about Islam and how it is practiced. Islam is a peaceful religion we are told. Not necessarily true. That is why you must read Ayaan’s Hirsi Ali’s most recent book, Heretic.

This is not a book by an Islamophobe. Ayaan grew up with the Islamic religion and although she had a questioning nature, her religious indoctrination had her at one time seeing the justice in demands for the death of the heretical Salman Rushdie. She understands a certain mindset from the inside. Escaping an arranged marriage and observing the lifestyles of the good people of Holland moved her in another direction. This could not have happened as easily if she had remained immersed in the male dominated stridently religious culture of her homeland.

For Western liberals, this should be an eye opening book. Western liberals have got into the convoluted reasoning that when a horrendous murder is committed and the perpetrator does a shout out to god during the execution, discussing the religious motivation is off limits. Ayaan informs us - If a large group of people believe that the Qur’an should be literally accepted as the word of god and those words glorify the slaying of someone who is not a Muslim and also the execution of someone who questions some of that intolerant wording in the sacred text – we have a problem. The problem is an accepted body of ideas that warrants discussion.

This is a hopeful book as Ayaan sees the awakening of an Islamic reformation in response to life in the modern world. She identifies five key tenets of Islam that are at odds with a free society. She tells us there are already Muslims in the past and present who have questioned these core ideas and some have even been executed for this. We should not be encouraging the power structures that have been set up in some communities which enact ruthless responses to those attempting this reformation. The western world should be encouraging modern Islamic thinkers who challenge the subjugation of women or the glorification of religious warriors who get a ticket to a male dominated paradise. The western world should not be encouraging any Islamic groups who shout discrimination while privately believing in ideas that restrict civil rights.

This is not a tome filled with hate speech. It is an impassioned response to a primitive 8th century version of a religion that needs to enter the twenty first century

84 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great book! Must read!

The author herself is the narrator of the book, I listened to it in just two days because I couldn't stop. Makes me want to research more about the subject and I will definitely buy more of her books.

20 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Reform

The writing and story was so moving and persuading that I could not stop listening. I got this book as a joke, but nothing was funny about it. It was a very enlightening to see in the mind of Islam. Enlightening and scary. The upshot is that we, liberals, need to reassess the way we handle criticism of Islam.

19 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Finally someone who really tells us what is going on in the world.

Excellent book and reflective of a life seeking truth.
No longer can we be silent.
Nazi Germany's had a silent majority that allowed the atrocities of that regime. Silence and doing nothing is not the answers.
All in the world need this book.
Education is power. This woman is powerful and a blessing to us.

17 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Fantastic Book

I love it when authors read their own work. Ayaan Hirsi Ali has a brilliant mind and unique insights and hearing her recount her own thoughts and harrowing experiences is endlessly fascinating.

15 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

A Sobering Read

The message of this book is essential for all of our politicians and liberals. Anyone that wants to understand why the Muslim religion is growing and how they continue to attract so many angry willing and educated participants will walk away with those questions answered. Our "tolerance" is working against us.

13 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Islam the roots of the actual terror!

What did you love best about Heretic?

Ayaan Hirsi Ali opens a new approach of the three ways to view Islam gives us an insight of how Muslims today. The minority she identifies as Medina favouring a static view of Islam has brought the entire world under pressure. Her view on revising Islam is an opening and hopeful path to a modern and better world. I strongly believe that her testimony will open discussion and in the end increase tolerance within the Islamic world. her interpretation has modified my way of considering Islam but at the same time helped me believe that without compliance but through a steady path of reform and education ,we can hope in a peaceful future, where all religions including agnostics can live without extremists. the horrors we are seeing today in the Islamic world are the product of ignorance and power games where if Islam does not reform itself may win. we all need to help this change become true......Great book and an act of courage knowing the risks it took to Ayaan to wright it!

13 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Essential reading for all !!

Susan has lived Islam and certainly understands the issues better than most. She is extremely well informed and well read.

She asks only that we have a rational discourse about the issues of Islam in a open way, like we in the west historically do. Forget worrying about being PC, let's be seekers of the truth.

As a liberal, this book has certainly opened my eyes. Intuitively it has bothered me that a religion of love can have so much violence done in its name

Ayaan answers my questions convincingly.

Christianity and Judaism went through their Reformation many hundreds of years ago. It's time for Islam to move from the 7th century into the 21st.

I don't want to discuss these issues with anyone who has not read this book. You can disagree with Ayaan, but you at least need to be exposed to her perspective. It has the ring of truth to me

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Detailed assertions

The author has raised issues that I could not articulate but certainly agree with and support her position. Well done

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Fantastic

Do yourself a favour and get this book. A fast track to understanding Islamic fundamentalism.

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile