Christianity, Islam and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West

by William Kilpatrick

For many Americans the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was the first time they had considered Islam. Were the terrorists motivated by the true dictates of their religion, or had they hijacked Islam as well as the planes in a political cause unrelated to the teachings of Muhammad?

Christianity, Islam, and Atheism argues that Islam is a religion of conquest and subjugation and that in spite of 9 /11 and thousands of other terrorist attacks throughout the world, many in the West still do not know or admit this because it conflicts with their multiculturalism and their belief in the equivalence of all cultures and religions.

To meet the challenge from Islam, Christians need to know more about the important differences between Islam and Christianity, yet many have been lulled into complacency by the misleading and largely unexamined assumption that the two religions are similar. The time that Christians spend in pursuing common ground is time that Islamic activists will use to press their radical agenda.

In addition to challenging both the multicultural and common-ground approaches, William Kilpatrick also exposes the role played by atheists and secularists in advancing Islam. Despite paying lip service to freedom, radical secularists serve as enablers of radical Islam. The civil liberties that the West enjoys are the fruit of Christian civilization, Kilpatrick argues, and only a reawakened Christianity can defend them against Islam's advance.

Genres: Religion, Islam, Cultural, Christianity, History, Nonfiction

330 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

William Kilpatrick is the author of several books, including Psychological Seduction and Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong. His articles on Islam have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, FrontPage Magazine, Jihad Watch, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Register, World, and other publications. Professor Kilpatrick, who taught for many years at Boston College, lectures frequently to audiences in the US and abroad.

Reviews

[John Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with how to rate this book and settled on 4 stars, though 3.5 is probably more accurate. Another recent reviewer was quite severe and though I disagree with their ultimate assessment, I understand and share some of their concerns. This is not an academic assessment and critique of of Islam and the Koran. It is a book intended for Christians, and assumes, probably reasonably, that many of them, if not most, are abjectly ignorant both on their faith and on Islam, not to mention the nature of the secular multicultural society that is undermining the West.

For Christians, it should be a no-brainer that Islam is based on a false text and a false prophet. The majority of Muslims may be sincere and peaceful, but they are all wrong.

As for the criticism that Kilpatrick takes single verses from the Koran out of context to prove his points, Kilpatrick does say that the Koran is a jumble (something I have read elsewhere) and that there really isn't much context in the Koran to begin with. If true, it is unfair to criticism Kilpatrick for the Koran's lack of context and structure. I haven't read the Koran yet, so I can't say with certainty, but I do know that there is no chronological structure to the Koran, the Suras have been put together in the order of their length.

Kilpatrick does have some very strong points, not least his central point is that Christians are being attacked (they are in a war whether or not they realize it) by two totalitarian ideologies - progressivism and Islamism. He does quote leaders of Islamic organizations that are typically viewed as moderate by the MSM on their ultimate goals of subjugating the West, including the United States, on his way to concluding that while there are certainly a lot of moderate Muslims, there is no such thing as moderate Islam. A qualifier: Kilpatrick acknowledges that Ahmadiyaa Islam qualifies as moderate (their beliefs include spiritual unity of mankind, symbolic rather than literal interpretation of the Koran, and tolerance for all), but the Ahmadiyaa are a small sect, frequently persecuted in Pakistan (where they are most numerous) and in Indonesia recently ordered to convert to orthodox Sunni Islam or face prison as heretics.

I also disagree with those critics who claim that Kilpatrick is calling for the Church to become more like Islam, except in the sense that Kilpatrick does call for the Church to reclaim its historic masculinity. Kilpatrick is not calling for new crusades to conquer and rule Islamic lands, but he is calling for cultural warfare against both the multicultural left that is undermining the foundations of the West and Islamism which seeks the West's submission. This may consist of nothing more than speaking up when either camp is pronouncing their false gospels, which obviously requires first learning about the enemy and Kilpatrick helpfully provides multiple recommendations for further reading.

I do share concerns about Kilpatrick's tone and the book could have used a better editor, but on balance, I recommend the book. But by all means, don't make this the only book you read on the subject.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhere deep down inside here there is an interesting book. The author does bring up some legitimate questions and concerns, and he does occasionally provide appropriate and meaningful courses of action. But any truth that the author may have been speaking gets overwhelmed by the objectionable attitude and style of the book. The writing has a talk-radio feel, and its rants are very repetitive. There is also an unnecessary defensiveness about Christianity to go along with its sweeping, bombastic criticisms of Islam. For a book with such grand claims against Islam, I would have hoped for a better and more thoughtful defense of the argument. Quoting other authors who write books just like this one is not a proof of one's claims. And having seen personally how easy it is for outsiders to misunderstand and twist the words of the Bible, I would hope for a researched and thoughtful analysis of what the Koran says. Instead, we get (in the very few places where he actually quotes the Koran) single, out-of-context verses.

The worst part is that the author's solution seems to be to turn the Christian church into something more like the Islam he is criticizing. He stops short of saying that we should wage actual war, but he does say that the church should masculinize, sing songs like Onward Christian Soldiers, and essentially create an army to do (cultural?) battle. Though the author is correct that the Bible does portray Jesus/God as strong and powerful, I don't recall any place where Jesus or Paul instructs the church to become an entity of worldly power. Perhaps he is right that (radical) Muslims are our enemy, but Jesus still calls us to love and pray for our enemies.

[William F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well documented account of how atheism and Multiculturalism is leading to the decline of the western civilization. The loss of a Judo Christian foundation of faith will leave a void that Islam will fill.

The enlightenment (starting in the 17th century) was based on religious values and to be sustained the Christian faith base must be continued. Human dignity and gender equality are among the many ideals of the western enlightenment. The author explains how the faith values of the Judo Christian society are not the same as the Islamic societies.

Atheism’s struggle to remove religious ideas and components from the society has weakened the West’s ability to understand itself. This lack of knowledge has limited our ability to unite on education, government, healthcare etc..

Multiculturalism was based on the Western Christian acknowledgment of equality and our mission to renounce sin. The movement has broken away from its roots and has become a “religious movement”.

Both Atheism and Multiculturalism has denied the existence of sin. Having no bounders of behavior the society weakens. Families dissolve, a desire to give the next generation a purpose is gone, and with it a wish to have children to share your culture with.

This faith void will be filled by a Judo Christian revival or by the more rigid social order of Islam.

[Scott Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Kilpatrick explores the danger the West faces from Islam. He demonstrates how Secularisms attack on Christianity is removing the last bulwark against Islamisation of the West.

Particularly interesting was the chapter on the Koran. Kilpatrick believes the Koran to be an obvious fake, and the portrayal of Jesus to be an obvious polemic against the historical Jesus as portrated by the earlier Christian gospels.

A key quote that stuck in my mind was this one. "Even a poor imitation of Christ (which is all that most Christians can muster) is preferable to an excellent imitation of Muhammad." This concept is expanded in a powerful chapter entitled "What would Muhammad Do?" where he compares Christ with Muhammad.

Kilpatrick believes Islam has weak foundations, and we need to hit back at those. We need to attack Muhummad, by exposing him (using the Koran, the sira, and the hadith for the scoundrel he was. We also need to show the Koran up for the fake it is. (Muhummad's revelations were so often in his own interests, allowing him to do what he wanted.)

So much more to this book that makes it worth reading again.

[Tom Wascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Struggle for the Soul of the West" is an appropriate title. The author tells the story of Islam from the standpoint of a war-either violent jihad terrorism or subtle jihad as the Muslims attempt to use the multiculturalism trend in modern America and Europe to defeat Christianity. The author has a solid knowledge of the Koran and of various books about the Koran. He emphasizes that Islam means "submission" and the Muslims will not be satisfied till the whole world is Muslim either by conquest or conversion. Contributing to Islams potential conquest, the author sites the rise of secularism in Europe and America and the fall in Christian values.

[Richard Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part Current Events, part Politics, part Theology, and part Apologetics, this is a pretty good survey of the issues confronting the West. I have read several works from various authors on the topics Kilpatrick addresses, so I can't say I really learned much that is new. Still, it would be quite helpful for someone wants to begin thinking through these important matters.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A must read in order to get an accurate, truthful, balanced view of Islam, its beliefs, motives, and goals.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite eye opener!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit dated, but a lot of information is still relevant. I read this to try to get some insight as to why liberals seem to ignore all of the illiberal characteristics of Islam. The author's contention is that Islam and liberals are allies because of their common enemy Christianity. That could be part of it, but seems to me there is likely more to the story. Not that it really matters, because the demographic trends seem unstoppable.

[Santeri Marjokorpi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kilpatrick väittää, että islam ei ole rauhan uskonto kuten usein väitetään, vaan se pyrkii valloittamaan koko maailman. Radikaali-islamia ja maltillista islamia ei ole hänen mukaansa helppo erottaa, sillä molemmilla on sama päämäärä. Kumpikin islamin muoto on poliittista ja selkeässä ristiriidassa länsimaisten arvojen kanssa. Lännessä monikulttuurisuus ja ateistinen sekularismi pelaavat molemmat islamin pussiin ja edistävät sen leviämistä. Nämä aatteet tekevät sen, koska eivät tunne islamia, vaan kuvittelevat sen liberaaliksi rauhanuskonnoksi, jollaisia länsimaiset uskonnot yleensä ovat. Kilpatrickin mukaan islam on perustamisesta lähtien ollut totalitaristinen ideologia, joka pyrkii alistamaan valtaansa ei-islamilaisen maailman ja sille ei kannata siksi tehdä myönnytyksiä niin kuin lännessä on monesti sen edessä tehty.

Parasta antia kirjassa oli kristinuskon ja islamin opillinen vertailu etenkin Raamatun ja Koraanin ostalta. Siitä oppi monta uutta asiaa islamista. Tätä kirjaa ei voi syyttää liiasta poliittisesta korrektiudesta, mutta ajatuksia herättelevä se oli joka tapauksessa.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it, but once Kilpatrick begins to make his thesis clear (for their own good and the good of everyone else, Muslims should stop being Muslim), it was a well-supported, articulate presentation without being overly polemical. While Kilpatrick is also unsparing in his criticism of Christians, he presents essentially a Christian perspective on many of the world's problems. I have read many such books and this one is among the best of its genre. It makes a good accompaniment to similar books (such as those by Robert Spencer) or a counterpoint to opposing views (such as those presented by John Esposito). Whether or not the reader agrees with Kilpatrick's conclusions, it is worth reading.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introductory book on the threat of Islam in North America. It will certainly make you think differently.