Book Reviews

Thomas Blom Hansen, of Stanford University, and Srirupa Roy, of University of Göttingen, edited an anthology of thirteen essays that explores the “New Hindutva.” In this volume, world-leading academics, award-winning journalists, and independent filmmakers raise concerns over the violent ideology that defines contemporary Hindu nationalism. Saffron Republic: Hindu Nationalism and State Power in India (2020), by Cambridge University Press, discusses details of Hindutva repression that rarely make it to the mainstream media. The oppression of Muslims, Christians, Dalits, and Women in India by state apparatus has reached an all-time high. Anyone interested in South Asia, both the region and diaspora, will welcome this timely contribution.

The Intelligent Design (ID) debate is one of the raging debates in contemporary times. Two opposing camps have established themselves. There is the pro-ID who support creationism; there is the anti-ID who support evolution. The debate is reflected strongly in the theism vs. atheism debate in popular culture. In The Intelligent Design Debate And The Temptation of Scientism (Routledge, 2016), Erkki Vesa Rope Kojonen takes a step back from the often vitriolic passion of the debate and provides a calm and refreshing overview of the important details that get lost over the shouting of both sides. Kojonen’s book allows readers to see the ID debate in a new light that is unlike what popular culture portrays.

'The War on the Uyghurs' (Princeton University Press, 2020), by Sean R. Roberts, is key reading for those who seek to educate themselves on the complexities of the ethnoreligious genocide. We all have a moral obligation to help the Uyghurs; the first step is to educate ourselves on the complexities of China's crimes against humanity. The War on the Uyghurs is perfect on this score. Social media is being flooded by CCP activists and trolls who engage in misinformation, especially in labeling Uyghurs as terrorists. Sean R. Roberts has exposed a variety of such falsehoods; so, his book is important for those challenging CCP propaganda.

In Ibn Taymiyya’s Theological Ethics (Oxford University Press), Sophia Vasalou takes us on a fascinating journey through Ibn Taymiyya’s oeuvre. She marshals an impressive array of wide-ranging primary and secondary sources. She collects and collates the various strands in Ibn Taymiyya’s thought to give us a detailed picture of his ethics. This book review summarises her main arguments, highlights some of the book's shortcomings, and presents four ways how those who educate others about Islam can benefit.

The academic consensus is that Islamic philosophy puts great emphasis on rational proofs for God’s existence. In her book, Arguments for God’s Existence in Classical Islamic Thought, Hannah Erlwein seeks to overturn this consensus by a radical proposal. Her book is unlike anything else in the field.

A book review of Michael Behe's book, "Darwin Devolves: The New Science About DNA That Challenges Evolution". This review summarises Behe's key arguments, criticises some of his logical errors and explains how parents, students and those who seek to share Islam can use this book.

A book review of Mohammad Hassan Khalil's book, "Jihad, Radicalism, and New Atheism" published by Cambridge University Press. This review provides various insights for those interested in sharing Islam, specifically in the context of addressing misconceptions regarding Jihad.