In this book, Hirsi Ali essentially argues that Islam needs to undergo a process of Reformation, similar to what has happened with Christianity several centuries ago. She argues that Islam essentially is a religion that hasn't changed much from the 7th century, and several reforms need to be triggered to bring the religion from the 7th to the 21st century. Releasing these statements, however, takes a lot of courage, since Islam doesn't really permit dissent, and the religion dictates that those who do are put to death.
She writes very powerful arguments stating that the West should stop bending over backwards to the intolerant Islamic views in the disguise of multiculturalism. And I do agree she has a very great point. Just because I am liberal doesn't mean that I am tolerant of all ways of life. If the belief you want to impose threatens basic human rights, then my tolerance stops there.
This book is very fact-based, and every claim and evidence she cites is backed by actual incidents that have happened in the recent past. I won't repeat her theses here, but I definitely can say that this book is a powerful one, and together with her other writings, has shaped my views toward Islam in particular, and religion in general.
See, I find so many similarities with Islam and Jehovah's Witnesses, the cult I grew up in and eventually escaped from. Sure, the Witnesses don't send suicide bombers, and they don't execute family members in the way honour killings are done in the Islamic world, but nevertheless they shun apostates, treating them as if they were already dead. Blood may not have been spilled, but the substance is the same.
Like Islam, the Witnesses also reject dissent. They also look at critical thinking unfavourably. They discourage members from examining the teachings, because after all, they look at the Bible as the ultimate source of truth. As I was reading this book, I saw numerous parallels with the way Witnesses approach the world. No wonder there aren't many Witnesses involved in scientific breakthroughs, because like Islam, the Witnesses put primacy in the Afterlife, so why would you even spend your energy making your current life better? Heck, I recall my parents thought that driving a tuktuk was a great career for me.
In any case, this book is definitely a great read, and something I would recommend to everyone, no matter what religious background you might have. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews here.
