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"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!

Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as

hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The

effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly

systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of

property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

"A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement;

the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law

every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as

a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of

slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among

men.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of

the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being

moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has

already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at

every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the

strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly

struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the

civilization of ancient Rome."

Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages

248-50, London: Longmans, Green Co., 1899).

This is a very interesting piece Lon, and written so many years ago. The content is accurate as far as this 'non-academic' can tell. Thank you for posting.

I am a Winston Churchill fan and have several of his writings...he was a witty , clever yet troubled man.

Good old Winnie, spoke his mind and be damned.

Sir Winston Churchill Quotes - The Quotations Page..........i live by Churchill. Quotes and Stories - The Churchill Centre

Damn. Just think of what he'd have to say about them if he was alive today!!!

Good stuff, Lon. Thanks for posting that.

It's always amazed me that the Arab world - before all this - was known for its civilisation - including the world's first university, the beginning of medical science.

AussiePam wrote: It's always amazed me that the Arab world - before all this - was known for its civilisation - including the world's first university, the beginning of medical science.


War and invasion can both make and break a civilisation. I think you could make a reasonable case that the mongol invasion that helped destroy arab power gave western europe it's chance to develop it's own distinct civilisation free to pick the bits it wanted from the cultures around them. Subsequent warfare with the turks and moors encouraged a talent and love for warfare and sense of self we've never lost. If you want better weapons it does tend to encourage scientific experimentation. It's no accident the best metallurgists were in spain and italy.

Who gave what to whom? A lot of greek and roman texts were destroyed by the early church as pagan scribbling-how much of that knowledge was preserved in the middle east and built on and how much was original. most people tend to assume that people just stayed at home and didn't travel very much or know of other cultures and share knowledge. Just look at the trade routes around the world.

Roman and Greek medicine was quite advanced in some ways.