Rating: 
Summary: Can Tara Marshall and I have read the same book?
Review: Can Tara Marshall and I have read the same book? It is full of references to moderate Muslims who hated the kind of extremism of bin Laden and his kind - Catherwood quotes the King of Jordan (a descendant of Mohammed) and President Khatami of Iran as being totally opposed to the kind of Islam we saw on 9/11. She also confuses "right wing" theology with "right wing" politics - Catherwood is certainly theologically conservative/evangelical but I did not detect any signs of political conservatism in this book (indeed he is unhappy with what he calls mindless Western materialism, which does not suggest anything politically conservative to me). I rather agree with the anonymous reviewer from West Palm Beach that this book is very balanced, careful and measured in its approach. As for Bernard Lewis, Catherwood quotes him as saying that the first 3 centuries of Christianity were of persecution and martyrdom, whereas the first 3 centuries of Islam saw the establishment of an empire from Spain in the West to the borders of India in the East. Since this is factually true, what objection to Bernard Lewis can there be? Not only that but Catherwood distinguishes between Palestinian nationalism (of the sort supported by Said, who was a Palestinian Christian, and not a Muslim) and that of extremist Islam which is entirely Islamic. I therefore think that this is one of the best and most balanced of recent books on this subject.
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Summary: Take What is Valuable, Leave the Rest...
Review: Catherwood has hit the mark with this book. This is the most succinct and balanced survey of Islam and Christianity that I have found. He shows how our world today is simply a continuation of a conflict that began over 1400 years. Catherwood writes for the layman, and his delivery is compassionate, balanced, and fair. He points out the mistakes of Christianity and Islam both with honesty. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand better the historical roots of what is happening today. There are no simple answers, but Catherwood does help us understand 'why they hate us.' (Much of this is rooted in the decline of Islamic culture, the ascendency of the West, and WHO is perceived as responsible for this situation...)As a non-practicing Christian, I, like some other reviewers, felt uncomfortable with some of Catherwood's conclusions which stem from his intense Christian beliefs, e.g. Islam is a false religion, and the ultimate solution is bringing the gospel to Muslims. My reactions stem from my American heritage where all Evangelical Christians seem to be right-wing republicans who scare me. Catherwood helps me realize that, unlike the polarized USA environment, Evangelical Christians can be from many different political persuasions in England, his home. Catherwood labels his personal beliefs for what they are, and they in no way diminish his scholarly analysis of the problem we must live with. While I may not share his religious views, I admire his gentle confidence which stems from them. My mind is not so closed as to wonder if perhaps he has something to offer in this area as well. In total, I recommend you take what is valuable (and there is very much in this book) and leave the rest.
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Summary: This book is balanced, for Christians of all stripes
Review: Christians of all stripes can read and enjoy this fascinating book. I think Evangelicals will obviously be its main readership, but Catholics, Fundamentalists, even Southern Baptists will enjoy its fascinating, considered, moderate and very balanced interpretation of the world of Islam. For that matter Jewish readers would appreciate it - even Palestinian Christians will get a lot from it, and maybe even moderate Muslims, such as Sufis (the author clearly likes the great Sufi-influenced Pakistani writer Akbar Ahmend, whom he holds up as an example of moderate Islam).
Rating:
Summary: I agree with those who found this a balanced book
Review: I agree with those who found this a balanced and helpful book. It certainly does mention Muslims who are fanatical but it also mentions those who are moderate. As for the reader who found it chilling I too wonder, as has one of the other reviewers, whether or not he and I have read the same book! I did not find it at all chilling, since the author is clearly an optimist. It is excellent in particular on the subject of Islamic rage - it is not an exegesis of Islam per se, but a fascinating historical account of how the faith developed and why some Muslims today feel a profound sense of rage against the West. It is thoroughly to be recommended.
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Summary: Simply outstanding
Review: I bought 6 copies of this book for our bookclub. We have all been raised in Christian families, but none of us actively practice any religion. We chose the book because we are all interested in religion and wished to learn more about Islam and the Qu'ran. Not one of us managed to finish the book. It needs to be clear that this book is written by an Evangelical Christian for Christians. "...Muslims around the world are not so much the enemy as they are people in urgent need of salvation in Jesus Christ." Oh dear, I'm very sorry I wasted my money.
Rating: 
Summary: One-sided nonsense
Review: I bought 6 of these books for our book club. We are mainly from Christian families, but do not practice any religion. The book was chosen because it claimed to be unbiased, and we had a united interest to learn more about Islam and the Qu'ran. Not one of us has been able to complete the book. Anyone wishing to buy this book needs to understand, that it is written by a Christian for Christians. "...Muslims around the world are not so much the enemy as they are people in urgent need of salvation in Jesus Christ." Oh dear, I'm very sorry I wasted my money.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastically good book
Review: Nonesense! This book is BRILLIANT! It allows fully for m oderate Muslims and moderate, non-sword-wielding Christians! The reviewer below must be amazingingly prejudiced not to like a book as carefully and judicially balanced as this one. No foaming at the mouth extremist will like this book, but anyone with a moderate, balanced world view will enjoy it enormously, as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting point of view
Review: The author is British, and I admit that I can empathize with someone writing a book in a home on the outskirts of Cambridge. He's a Christian, and he starts by trying to explain the significance of the Crusades. He admits that the Crusaders were brutal and the Crusades were counterproductive. But why would a few Crusades, several hundred years ago, account for so much Islamic rage against the West today? Catherwood explains that they don't. Instead, he says the answer lies in Western colonization in the past century or so.
As a Pagan, I find the transition of Christianity from a popular religion to a State religion a great tragedy. Once having the power of a state, Christianity was able to field armies to annihilate Pagans. But Catherwood has a different perspective. He points out that before Christianity was a state religion, it spread like wildfire. Once it was a state religion, serious evangelism beyond Europe's borders pretty much stopped for a thousand years. To put it mildly, I had never thought of it that way before.
The author gives a good summary of Islam. He encourages us to realize that Muslims have a wide variety of beliefs and attitudes. And he warns us not to look only at the extremists (or, as he admits that Karen Armstrong does, look only at the most moderate Muslims). Catherwood then gets to political Islam. Here, he points out that many Islamic leaders have no national responsibilities. That can make them more reckless.
Still, the author has to come to terms with what political Islam has been doing. And here, he runs into a problem. While terrorist attacks are surely evil, just where can he draw the line? After all, as a Christian, he sees non-Christians as wrong, in some non-trivial sense of the word. I think this makes his case weaker when he faults extremist Muslims for attacking Western values, or for accepting arbitrary propaganda, or simply for demanding to be treated as special and demanding that non-Muslims be dhimmis.
It's an interesting book, and I enjoyed reading it.
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Summary: Balanced two sided genius
Review: This book is balanced, two sided, genius. It is simply the best book that there is on Islam from a careful and considered Christian point of view - and it takes someone religious to understand other religions. I have bought over 100 copies of this book and I don't think anyone I sold it to has any regrets! It is perfect reading for book groups and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! This book is vital reading
Review: WOW! I agree with the two reviews so far - this book is vital reading. It is especially important these days, since religion seems to have come back as a key player in international affairs, and this book recognises that fact, something that both religious and non-religious authors have been saying now for some time. That is why, although the book is clearly written for a Christian audience, it is one that readers who are not religious can also read with profit - especially as the author is clearly sympathetic to moderate Muslim points of view, such as Akbar Ahmed and other key moderate Muslim thinkers and writers.
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