Confessions of an Islamophobe
By Robert Spencer
Bombardier BooksReviewed by Jack Kettler
Robert Spencer’s bio:
Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch, and the author of eighteen books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) and The Truth About Muhammad. His latest book is Confessions of an Islamophobe.
Mr. Spencer has directed seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community. He has discussed jihad, Islam, and terrorism at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry. He is a consultant with the Center for Security Policy and vice president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative.
What others are saying about Robert Spencer:
“One of the West’s most perceptive analysts of Islam.” - Geert Wilders
“Robert Spencer incarnates intellectual courage when, all over the world, governments, intellectuals, churches, universities and media crawl under a hegemonic Universal Caliphate’s New Order. His achievement in the battle for the survival of free speech and dignity of man will remain as a fundamental monument to the love of, and the self-sacrifice for, liberty.” - Bat Ye’or
“Robert Spencer is indefatigable. He is keeping up the good fight long after many have already given up. I do not know what we would do without him. I appreciate all the intelligence and courage it takes to keep going despite the appeasement of the West.” - Ibn Warraq
“A top American analyst of Islam…. A serious scholar…I learn from him.” - Daniel Pipes
“No one has upset the Islamphobia cabal more than Robert Spencer. First, he knows more about Islamic doctrine than they do. Next, he has outed all the tricks they use in their taqiyyah bag to disinform the public. Finally, and most importantly, Robert will not be cowed. Please read this important book and make sure you share it with as many people as possible.” - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
My thoughts on Spencer and this new book:
As a Protestant, I consider Robert Spencer, a member of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Eastern Catholic Antiochian Greek Catholic counterpart of the ancient Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch to be an outstandingly fair scholar. Whatever criticisms of Robert Spencer you find on the Internet, you should read them with skepticism. For example, one web site has this: “a self-proclaimed expert on radical Islam.” After reading his bio and the short list in this review of those who in endorse his books you can conclude this accusation is complete rubbish.
This book follows his recent The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Free Speech (and Its Enemies). Mr. Spencer continues in the same tradition as his last book by distinguishing himself as a champion of religious and civil liberties. While, continuing in the same theme as his last book, this new book is not a rehash or rewrite of his last work. It builds powerfully upon and continues to make the case for academic, religious and civil freedom.
It cannot be stated forcefully enough; this new book is a powerful defense of free speech! In this new work “Confessions…,” Spencer admits in one sense that he is an Islamophobe. He means by this that he is genuinely concerned about Islamic supremacy and its embrace of violence against critics of Islam and what this means for those who cherish Western freedoms. In another sense, Spencer refuses and rightly so, to admit to the made-up charge of Islamophobia. He has never advocated for violence against any person or religious group.
In fact, in reality, Mr. Spencer could be described a promoter of freedom for non-Sharia practicing Muslims, that make up the majority of Muslims living in the West. What about Sharia practicing Muslims? When dealing with Sharia practicing Muslims, you are up against an intolerant political ideology. The KKK for example, had a religious element to it combined with an intolerant political ideology.
A look at Spencer’s bio again:
Mr. Spencer has directed seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community.
Now because of political correctness, Mr. Spencer is considered a pariah in many circles. He has had numerous speaking engagements cancelled. He has been banned from entering the country of England, while at the same time jihadist preachers of hate are let in freely. After speaking in Iceland, he was poisoned and hospitalized after the press whipped people into a frenzy over Spencer’s alleged Islamophobia. Islamophobia is someone who has an irrational hatred and fear of Islam. This charge when made against Mr. Spencer is slanderous.
In a speech in Stuttgart, Germany, Robert Spencer warned the hysterical German national Muslim supporting audience:
“You are fighting for your own enslavement. And it will come. It will come to you. You are fighting for an ideology that denies the freedom of speech, and one day you will wish you had the freedom of speech that you are trying to fight against today. You are fronting for an ideology that denies the freedom of conscience and will kill you if you disagree, which is exactly what you want to do already. You are fighting on behalf of an ideology that denies equality of rights for women and all the women among you will one day be enslaved, if you get what you want. You are fighting for the destruction of all the freedoms that you enjoy…And so, in closing, I have to say: Shame on you.” (231, 232) (This is an abridgement of the speech).
Why is fighting the false charge of Islamophobia important?
By giving in and being silenced, this will advance the cause of Islamic supremacy and lead to the loss of more freedoms we now enjoy. Political Sharia Islamic supremacy is a revolutionary ideology. Its goal is to subvert constitutional freedoms in the Bill of Rights and in particular, the 1st Amendment. Sharia law forbids anyone to speak ill of the prophet of Islam under penalty of death. This is already happening on a large scale, as critics of Islam like Spencer’s lectures are cancelled routinely. Numerus, threats on his life and actual attempts on his life have been made. All for the so-called crime of criticizing elements of Islam. Is it irrational to have fear over a Islamic bombings, or the using of motor vehicles and guns to kill those named as infidels by jihadists?
Rather than celebrate freedom, many Western women leaders are becoming Sharia compliant and donning head scarfs. * This will not satisfy Muslim demands. The Muslims perceive this as weakness and will exploit it with more demands. Wearing crosses will become dangerous and subject to physical attacks. Rapes will increase as punishment for women wearing provocative clothing. Dogs will be banned along with pork. Christmas festivities will be cancelled, so as not to offend Muslims. These things are happening all over Europe today. Leaders in the West are in denial, they hear no evil, they see no evil and they will not speak the truth about Islamic supremacy.
To sum up Spencer’s new book, it can be said that freedom of speech and assembly are being sacrificed on the altar of political correct totalitarianism, all in the name of tolerance.
“…tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.” - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
* Western women leaders are becoming Sharia compliant and donning head scarfs, while women in Iran are bravely taking theirs off at great personal risk.
In ending this review, those who have given in to political correctness and are willing to surrender Western freedoms brought to you by the Judeo/Christian world view, I will end with Mr. Spencer’s words: “And so, in closing, I have to say: Shame on you.”
Mr. Kettler has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of the book The Religion That Started in a Hat. Available at: www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com
For more study:
Learn more at Robert Spencer’s web site: https://www.jihadwatch.org/