Churchills Prophetic words on Islam

Winston Churchill in his 1899 book, "The River War" describes his observations and thoughts on Muslims and Islam.

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.

These words ring very true in our modern experience of Islam do they not? It is a religion which appears to subjugate women wherever it takes hold. It spawns Jihadi warriors who are content to intentionally target the innocent. It has become so powerful a force in this country since the trouble over the "Satanic Verses" that our political class is afraid to allow debate over the nature of political Islam.

I am with Churchill on this one. Many and probably most individual Muslims are ordinary people who try to live decently. But they live a political religion; one which will countenance no "offense"; one whose holy text the Koran contains calls to violence against non-muslims. In its totality the religion of Islam is without doubt a most "retrograde force".