Hi everyone
Yesterday, I browsed through the CEMB facebook page. As always, I found good links to look at. One in particular caught my eye; “Banned documentary, Islam: The Untold Story”. So I was very interested and googled it.
If you try googling it now, you might get what I got. The first video link is a troll link. (I had not seen Tom Holland either, and I thought the presenter would just be different to the maker).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZuNNkojDYgI didn’t realise this as I was watching it, but I did wonder “why would this be banned?”. About half way through, I realised I was watching the wrong documentary, especially after clicking to check the channel it was posted on. And it was suspicious that the stats and comments sections were closed down too.
After finishing this interesting documentary, I went ahead and googled the real one (and made sure I had the right one this time <_<).
There was a stark difference of course. It was funny that I watched them consecutively because it gave me some things to think about.
The first documentary focuses on Islam’s contributions to Europe, and it was nothing new to me because I had studied it at uni, but it was interesting enough for me to keep watching until the end. The presenter travelled through Europe, especially Spain and Italy, and showed architecture, arts, interviews with academics and surgeons, and then locals and so on. It was very positive but not wreaking of propaganda; so it was bearable, watching it as an atheist, it was similar to the non Islamic history classes I had on that topic.
Documentary two, the real one (
http://vimeo.com/49439561) was very different.
It was not “the opposite”, meaning while documentary one praised Islamic history and achievements, documentary two didn’t “bash” Islamic history, but in terms of a historical perspective, it questioned the very core of Islam and the location of Mecca.
Something rather interesting: no location details or mention of “Mecca” in the Quran, and the possibility that its location isn’t in Saudi.
I guess I had criticism of both, but that’s not important. Seeing them together, the juxtaposition got me wondering...
What is the future for Tom Holland’s “discovery”? In the documentary, the Muslim he interviewed told him not to act as a “saviour” and made reference to the British in India.
Are Muslims going to be split in the future, that is, those who accept history and keep their Islamic identity and those who are reluctant to accept any criticism (scientific or historic)? Eg:
-Location of Muslim holy sites
-Lack of information on important figures until about 100 years after his death (prophet)
The reason I ask this is that there is a growing movement among the Western Muslims to catch up with the modern world, and it is confusing the shit out of Muslim youth (Quran, allegorical or literal? Evolution evidence..)
In the documentary, the historian woman he interviewed refused to comment on the possible location of the Quran-described location of Mecca (referring to the fact that olive trees and figs did not grow in Saudi, but in Jerusalem).
Does anyone think she didn't comment because she is scared of the consequences of going there? (She didn't just say she doesn't know, but she kind of cut Tom Holland off- it could have just been a dramatic ploy though considering the narrative, what do you think?).
I have not previously looked at Tom Holland’s work until now. I understand he has a “controversial”(?) book out. I suspect he is hated by Muslims, but
what is the liberal/apologist view of him? I guess the main thing I am curious about is the future of such work. What will the impact be?
It is obviously an accident, those who tried to silence this film (who were the 1000 written complainers? was it Tom Holland posing, trying to cause controversy or actual raging Muslims trying to silence him?) only made it more famous.
I feel as though there is an academic dismantling of Islam going on and that is great news.
Would love to read your replies.
Topic: Islam: The Untold Story - Comments, Observations, Questions