At FrontPage this morning is a Symposium on the question, “Is the Muslim account of Muhammad valid?” I’m participating, along with Bill Warner and self-styled Muslim reformers Edip Yuksel and Thomas Haidon. Haidon once again scolds me for my “tone” after I refuse to be abjectly and uncritically grateful for anything that presents itself as an attempt to reform Islam, no matter how much of a farrago or how tissue-paper-thin it will appear to the jihadists whose interpretation of Islam it is supposed to be reforming.
I think Tom Haidon is in earnest, but the energy that so many of these “reformers” expend on trying to reassure wary non-Muslims that all is well and Islam is peaceful, rather than on trying to plug obvious holes in their argument from an Islamic standpoint, so as to convince violent and supremacist Muslims that they should live in peace with non-Muslims as equals on an indefinite basis, is, I think, sufficiently revelatory of their true intentions.
Anyway, let me know what you think of the discussion.
UPDATE: In an addendum to the Symposium, Haidon has retracted the remark to which I referred above. I thank him for that. Also, Hugh tells me I should be sure to direct your attention to Edip Yuksel’s agitated reaction to criticisms from Bill Warner and me, and his invitation to us to accept Islam. I do think they are revelatory.