An Imaginary Racism

Islamophobia and Guilt

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political
Cover of the book An Imaginary Racism by Pascal Bruckner, Wiley
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Pascal Bruckner ISBN: 9781509530663
Publisher: Wiley Publication: November 26, 2018
Imprint: Polity Language: English
Author: Pascal Bruckner
ISBN: 9781509530663
Publisher: Wiley
Publication: November 26, 2018
Imprint: Polity
Language: English

‘Islamophobia’ is a term that has existed since the nineteenth century. But in recent decades, argues Pascal Bruckner in his controversial new book, it has become a weapon used to silence criticism of Islam. The term allows those who brandish it in the name of Islam to ‘freeze’ the latter, making reform difficult. Whereas Christianity and Judaism have been rejuvenated over the centuries by external criticism, Islam has been shielded from critical examination and has remained impervious to change. This tendency is exacerbated by the hypocrisy of those Western defenders of Islam who, in the name of the principles of the Enlightenment, seek to muzzle its critics while at the same time demanding the right to chastise and criticize other religions. These developments, argues Bruckner, are counter-productive for Western democracies as they struggle with the twin challenges of immigration and terrorism. The return of religion in those democracies must not be equated with the defence of fanaticism, and the right to religious freedom must go hand in hand with freedom of expression, an openness to criticism, and a rejection of all forms of extremism.

There are already more than enough forms of racism; there is no need to imagine more. While all violence directed against Muslims is to be strongly condemned and punished, defining these acts as ‘Islamophobic’ rather than criminal does more to damage Islam and weaken the position of Muslims than to strengthen them.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

‘Islamophobia’ is a term that has existed since the nineteenth century. But in recent decades, argues Pascal Bruckner in his controversial new book, it has become a weapon used to silence criticism of Islam. The term allows those who brandish it in the name of Islam to ‘freeze’ the latter, making reform difficult. Whereas Christianity and Judaism have been rejuvenated over the centuries by external criticism, Islam has been shielded from critical examination and has remained impervious to change. This tendency is exacerbated by the hypocrisy of those Western defenders of Islam who, in the name of the principles of the Enlightenment, seek to muzzle its critics while at the same time demanding the right to chastise and criticize other religions. These developments, argues Bruckner, are counter-productive for Western democracies as they struggle with the twin challenges of immigration and terrorism. The return of religion in those democracies must not be equated with the defence of fanaticism, and the right to religious freedom must go hand in hand with freedom of expression, an openness to criticism, and a rejection of all forms of extremism.

There are already more than enough forms of racism; there is no need to imagine more. While all violence directed against Muslims is to be strongly condemned and punished, defining these acts as ‘Islamophobic’ rather than criminal does more to damage Islam and weaken the position of Muslims than to strengthen them.

More books from Wiley

Cover of the book Cosmetic Dermatology by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book How to Be Great at The Stuff You Hate by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book The Art of Software Testing by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Entangled by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Facebook, Surfen und Co. by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Flows and Chemical Reactions in Heterogeneous Mixtures by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Our Shrinking Planet by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book CSI by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Handbook of Human Resource Development by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Inside Concentration Camps by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Building Cross-Platform Apps using Titanium, Alloy, and Appcelerator Cloud Services by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Reading the Room by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book The Field Description of Metamorphic Rocks by Pascal Bruckner
Cover of the book Kabbalah For Dummies by Pascal Bruckner
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy