The greatest conflict of the past century has not been between Communism and Democracy. It has not been between Liberalism and Conservatism. It has not been between Socialism and Capitalism. It has not been between Rich and Poor, Proletariat and Bourgeoisie, Industrialism and Agrarianism, Nationalism and Colonialism, Management and Labor, First World and Third World, East and West, North and South, Allied and Axis, or NATO and Soviet. All of these conflicts have been important, of course. All of them helped to define the modern era significantly. None of them should be in any way underestimated.
But while every one of these conflicts has pitted ardent foes against one another and as a result, has actually altered the course and character of recent history, none of them could be characterized as the most convulsive conflict of the past century. The most convulsive conflict of past century--and indeed, the most convulsive conflict of the past millennia--has undoubtedly been between Islam and Civilization; it has been between Islam and Freedom; it has been between Islam and Order; it has been between Islam and Progress; it has been between Islam and Hope. While every other conflict pitting men and nations against one another has inevitably waxed and waned, this furious struggle has remained all too constant. The tension between Islam and every aspiration and yearning of man intrudes on every issue, every discipline, every epoch, and every locale--a fact that is more evident today than perhaps ever before.
The recent hubbub over the Pope's much-maligned comments served only to underscore this reality once again.
Despite all this, most people today actually know very little about Islam. Certainly, most Christians know only the most rudimentary facts about this extraordinarily potent adversary, this extreme cultural threat to everything they hold to be good and right and true. The conflict between Islam and the rest of the world may dominate the headlines, define our foreign policy, and give new urgency to the day-to-day mission of our churches, but why that is the case is still not very well understood.
It is for that reason that my good friends at Vision Forum asked me to spend some time developing a Christian Worldview perspective of the conflict at their recent History of the World Mega-Conference. To purchase my Islam and the Modern World lecture--as well as the other audio recordings from the conference just visit the Vision Forum webiste.
5 comments:
After the Mohammed cartoon controversy, which resulted in the deaths of at least 139 people, I remember reading a quote by someone who was "concerned that this would cause Europeans to be wary of Muslims." I wanted to ask him why they should not be wary of Muslims!
Many people continue to insist that the vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving and that it is a violent fringe element causing the problems. Unfortunately, it appears more and more clear that the peaceful ones are the fringe element.
Jason: Yes, I did write Blood of the Moon. It has gone through two editions, but is now out of print--though two publishers have asked me to do yet another edition. I think I just might. I know Bob Morey and have always appreciated his good work.
Rob: I couldn't agree more. I just pray that God would provoke a new passion for evangelism and missions among the Muslim people--especially those who live and work right in our neighborhoods.
I greatly enjoyed your lectures at the VF History Conference. Your talk on Byzantium and Rome is one of my favorites out of the whole conference. Thank you so much for your insight in this and so many other areas.
I'm having the opportunity to observe some first-hand Islam here in Egypt. Egyptians as a rule are very laid back, far more so to my knowledge than any other Islamic people. Nevertheless, there have been demonstrations even here in the wake of the pope's comments.
A large portion of the people in the subway read or chant from their pocket Qu'rans. What a joy it would be to see a similar percentage of people reading the Word unashamedly in our public transportation.
Dr. Grant,
A group of homeschoolers is doing your American History course this year, and we just finished listening to the Conquistadors lesson today. We were wondering about how you really seemed to make Cortez out to be a bit of a hero, a spiritual visionary of sorts, in the lecture, but didn't provide any sources or references to where you came up with this. I'd like to believe it, but everything I've ever heard about Cortez is really negative. So, we were wondering if there was something like Columbus's Book of Prophecies that is an original source that you developed this idea from, or if it was just your take on him.
Thanks so much!
Jacqui
P.S. The reason I'm asking is because I just finished reading Henty's "By Right of Conquest" and the picture of Cortez you painted and that done by Henty are totally opposite.
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