Islam : A Guide for Jews and Christians

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended!
Review: F. E. Peters should be respected as a writer and thinker willing to journey across perilous ground. He has spent most of his life and career writing and teaching about the three great Middle Eastern religions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Trying to be objective about three religions that often have been locked in mortal rivalry is hardly a safe route to the destination of political correctness. Perhaps the most valuable thing about Peters' book is that it is essentially non-polemical: it does not appear to reflect any particular religious point of view. Certainly, it is very well researched. Peters sheds a wealth of light on conflicts that are central to the events unfolding on the world stage, although he focuses more on historical development than on contemporary issues. While the degree to which objective analysis can accurately or successfully explain the conflicting passions of contrasting religious faiths remains questionable, Peters deserves credit for this impressive achievement. In part due to the critical nature of the issues that he addresses, we give his work a high recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: F E Peters gives a very biased view and wrong impression
Review: FE Peters Islam a guide for jews and Christian is a very wrong book for the first time reaeders about Islam. Peters' views are not very different from Rev. Pat Roberston about Islam but when you hear about Islam from Pat atleast you can expect what you will hear whereas Peters is deceiving and trying to present his book as a scholarly comparison of Islam, Judaism and Christianity where in fact is he trying his best best to put down Islam and create doubts about Prophet Mohammed and his followers . Peters is obviously anti Islam and his knowledge seems to be very pedantic. Peters has even attempted to say that probably Mohammed was was not a decendendant of Ishmail (and thus Prophet Mohammedd cannot be related to Abraham). Peters knowledge about different sects of Ismlam seems to be very superficial. Peters Starts his book by saying that only one way to approach Islam is to open and read the pages from Quran. Dear Mr. Peters you are only partially correct. Quran is a cryptic book it is beyond the comprehension of an ordinary human mind. One of the sects of Islam beleives that the best way to interpret and understand Quran is to follow the life of Prophet Mohammed and his progeny.

Rating:
Summary: An unbiased, scholarly look at Islam.
Review: For some time I had been trying to find an unbiased treatment of Islam, seeking answers to my many questions regarding the teaching of the Prophet and the history of Islam. Mr. Peters, a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Religion at the University of New York, has in this volume answered many of my questions and allowed me to develop an understanding of Islamic faith, teaching and history.

Mr. Peters introduces Islam to the Western reader through discussions of it's major facets. In writing of the Quran Peters points out the many similarities with Christian scripture, such as the Genesis story, the Flood, the Virgin Birth, etc. as well as major differences. He then goes on to discuss the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the importance of Mecca and the political history of Islam including the differences between Shiite and Sunni communities. Mr. Peters discusses each of these features of Islam in relation to the traditions of Judaism and Christianity, thus providing an easy context for Western readers.

While my research of Islam will continue in an effort to better understand the differences between followers of Islam and my own religion, Mr. Peters has gone a long way to helping dispell my ignorance. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in studying religion or the Middle East.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent study in comparative religion focused on Islam.
Review: This is an excellent book that will educate you on the foundation of Islam. It describes the colorful life of its prophet, Muhammad. He was unique in many ways. He was a warrior and army chief commander. He did not promote denial of earthly pleasures, as he is known to have had 13 wives and many concubines. His revelations captured in the Quran recommends that one be limited to four wives. These facts leave you baffled regarding the Muslims current views on the West as being so depraved and amoral.

The book provides an excellent study in comparative religion between the three monotheist religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is striking how similar these three religions are. It actually is difficult to differentiate them. Their respective differences rely on a set of technicalities that only a professor in theology would capture and remember. One exception to this is one difference anyone can readily get. Islam was polygamist. Meanwhile, the other two religions were and still are monogamist. This difference must have had an impact on women's status within Muslim societies.

This book is a work of history, it is not a treaty in political science. Thus, it does not explain the current situation where Islam is exerting itself through violent means (terrorism), intolerance for any other religion, and hatred of the West. It also does not explain the current violent tension between the Shiites and Sunnis, even though it clearly outlines their differences. Shiites believe the leader of Islam should be part of Muhammad's blood lineage, while Sunnis believe Islam leaders should be elected.

To further your understanding of Islam from both a historical and political science perspective, I recommend the many books written on this subject by Bernard Lewis.

Rating:
Summary: Clinic review of Islam
Review: This is not a bad book about Islam. However, it describes Islam in a very clinical fashion. There is no passion. Reading books about religion that have no passion makes it difficult to understand the beliefs of the religion as viewed from the believers. Having read the book I have a better understanding of the basic tenants; but, it was like reading a clinical review of love. Something was missing.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Unfortunately, and with all due respect, I believe this book to be unintentionally biased to a fault. Presumably accurate, the book dissects and describes the history and chief tenets of Islam, with its literal inconsistencies and contradictions. This can't be all there is. While the book does help to explain how Islam can inspire violent Islamic extremists, it sadly, and unfortunately, fails to address how Islam succeeds in inspiring the many many more nonviolent faithful.