Following Muhammad
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Communications
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Nov 24, 2024
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Uploaded by afaq567
Basics:
"Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World" by Carl W. Ernst,
Year: 2006.
Argument/Purpose/Thesis:
Carl W. Ernst has written extensively on the subject of Islam with the goal of informing
Westerners and debunking common misconceptions about the religion that are held by people
from the West. The speaker asserts that the widespread misunderstanding of Islam and its
teachings may be traced back to biased reporting in the media and persecution of Muslims.
According to Ernst (2006), in order for Westerners to have a nuanced and nuanced knowledge of
Islam, they must perceive Muslims as persons whose identities transcend beyond their religion.
This is a requirement for a nuanced understanding of Islam. The person feels that if they stick to
these standards, they will have a greater understanding for Islam and the people who practise it.
Summary
Ernst hopes that through debunking myths and shedding light on the religion's history, his
readers will have a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of Islam and its adherents.
This book contributes to the conversation by detailing the rise of anti-Muslim intolerance in the
West. It is shown how colonialism and other historical events created these viewpoints. This
perspective is fueled by a more nuanced picture of Muslims that accounts for the religion's
variety, the influence of colonialism on how Islam is regarded, and the differing opinions of
religious leaders like Muhammad.
Analysis/Critique/Evaluation
Carl W. Ernst must produce a work addressing common Western misconceptions about Islam and
Muslims. Historical factors cited as possible contributors to these negative sentiments include
colonialism and religious divides. Anyone curious about Islam or Western portrayals of Islam
will find this an invaluable resource. Ernst's results have supplemented our explorations of
various potential reasons for anti-Muslim attitudes this semester. It is helpful because it fills in
some details about the issue's history that may need to be added to more recent sources. It also
brings up the need to respect the variety of Muslim beliefs and practices, which is more relevant
to debates about multiculturalism and religious pluralism. Ernst does an excellent job of
identifying where negative preconceptions originated in the past. However, he missed an
opportunity to explore how these prejudices continue to shape public policy and opinion. The
source must give more details on attempts to clarify these confusions and advance international
understanding. Ernst uses historical data and a review of Muhammad's standing in other faiths to
support his claim. He traces the development and spread of bias over time. However, the media,
political discussion, and education might all play a part in strengthening the case.
The last great work is "Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World" by
Carl W. Ernst, which explores the origins of Western prejudice against Islam. It helps by showing
how pervasive the effects of colonialism were and how important it is to have a balanced view of
Muslims. The source's overall effect may be strengthened by digging deeper into modern forms
of similar ideas, even though it offers a crucial historical background. Despite this, it is a seminal
book in the effort to change Westerners' impressions of Islam and Muslims.
References
Ernst, C. W. (2006).
Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the contemporary world
. Yoda
Press.
I, A. V. A. C. for G. (2011, March 30).
Jonathan Brown - Abiding Stereotypes About the Prophet
Muhammad in the Medieval and Modern West
. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/21703179
NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
. (2022). Npr.org.
https://www.npr.org/2014/10/19/356423265/many-views-of-muhammad-as-a-man-and-
as-a-prophet
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