What is the real history of Islam?

[Overly Serious]

I was going to post this in Art and Literature but it's more of a history question. I'm looking for good books or articles on the history of Islam from a totally non-faith perspective. Basically "the pre-existing moon-cult..." or "Judaism then migrated into..." sort of anthropological analysis stuff. Not the tiptoe around beliefs stuff. Recommendations for reading sought. But also, if we have people knowledgeable on the subject and willing to spare 15mins or so, Cliff Notes versions also very welcome.

I dipped my toe in the water with a bit of online searching but it's very hard to find something clear and from a purely critical (in the technical sense) perspective. These days people don't seem to like to discuss Islam as a superstition. Probably with all the beheading and stuff.

 

[Rungle]

take the bible
make me the prophet (allah)
make me have shittons of wifes and fuck children
call it I slam

 

[Ophelia Jones]

Step 1: Arab guy wants to fuck 9 year old girl
Step 2: Arab guy pretends to talk to god and be a prophet
Step 3: Islam.
Step 4: Jihad.
Step 5: Profit.

In all seriousness, I'm a history nerd so i know there is some really really nice Iranian poetry that came out of the Islam Golden Age. Algebra was introduced by some muslim mathematician and there was some advancement in medicine because of the many medieval hospitals were commissioned by the khalifs.

As someone who had to basically do the same kind of research, you're not gonna get your hands on an unbiased historian's perspective. Islam is bias towards itself ad has many sects, each hating each other. Read as many primary sources as you can (books written not by historians but people living during different periods of islam) and keep in mind how they may have been limited/pressured by islamic laws or khalifs. Hope this helps!

 

[The Magnificence]

Step 1: Arab guy wants to fuck 9 year old girl
Step 2: Arab guy pretends to talk to god and be a prophet
Step 3: Islam.
Step 4: Jihad.
Step 5: Profit.

It's shocking how many religions have 1-3 in common:

1. Dude wants to fuck kid(s)
2. Dude pretends to talk to god(s)
3. New religion

 

[ToroidalBoat]

1. Dude wants to fuck kid(s)
2. Dude pretends to talk to god(s)
3. New religion

Could that be said of "Chris Chan"?

 

[Solid Snek]

You could check out Tom Holland. He's got a fairly controversial take on Islam - basically, his argument is that Muhammed either didn't exist, or was relatively unimportant to early Muslims, who may not have even considered themselves to be "Muslim" at all. The early Islamic conquest, Holland theorizes, was more of a non-denominational, monotheistic revival movement that swept through the Eastern Roman Empire; it was only later, once the wars had settled down and the new Arab political order had stabilized, that the ruling Caliphate retconned what had happened, and codified Islam into what we know today.

Here's a thoughtful (and critical) review of his book, "In the Shadow of the Sword", which also includes a brief overview of more mainstream positions. If you'd rather listen to stuff, you can also find lectures and made-for-TV documentaries by Holland on Youtube (he's a dues-paid globalist, so the BBC allows him to say controversial things about Islam).

There's other "critical" takes on Islam - for example, some people think Petra, not Mecca, was the original Holy City - but Holland is probably the most credible, and certainly the most popular, source for this kind of stuff that I can think of offhand.

 

[The Magnificence]

Could that be said of "Chris Chan"?

...I was thinking of Mormons, but sure.

 

[Billy Beer]

Step 1: Be Mohammed and write a book
Step 2: ????
Step 3: Prophet.

 

[Poppavalyim Andropoff]

some people think Petra, not Mecca, was the original Holy City

 

[Adolf Hitler]

Be on the perifery of Hellenic Christianity and Judaism. Take their innovations of monotheism and statecraft and combine them to finally unify the arab tribes and mold them in an expansive civilisation, making yourself in a semi-deity. Use that status when it is convenient, for example to make some annoying guy shut the hell up and picking multiple wives.

 

[mate]

In The Shadow of The Sword by Tom Holland is the book you're looking for. A very detailed and controversial look at not just the founding of Islam but the forces at work in the region in the build up to it. I learned more about Zoroastrianism in that book than I ever expected to learn in my life. It brings up and tackles all of the huge mysteries of early Islam as well. Actually so good I may read it again after I finish the stuff I'm reading now.

The Great Arab Conquests by Kennedy is pretty good but it starts on the day of Muhammad's death, which is when stuff starts to get more historically concrete anyway. Why I Am Not A Muslim is obligatory as well. Has a surprising amount of historical stuff about the so-called Islamic Golden Age in there that really puts stuff in perspective.

 

[Weed Eater]

If anyone has the part 2 for this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[(((Obar Lazcano Kamz)))]

the history of islam and every other major religion is pedophilia