Robert Spencer Show

genteel · #1 Jul 10, '12, 12:17 pm

First time Post
*Plays Trumpet Blast of Love*

Is it me or was this guest just Muslim Bashing the entire show?

pismopal · #2 Jul 10, '12, 3:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by genteel

First time Post
*Plays Trumpet Blast of Love*

Is it me or was this guest just Muslim Bashing the entire show?

If you are referring to THE, Robert Spencer..he is a noted author and lecturer and expert on Islam. In addition to being a Catholic he seems to be a neat person and I have never heard him bashing Muslims. He is not however, an admirer of the Koran or the religion of Islam. Just as an aside, neither am I.

Trebor135 · #3 Jul 10, '12, 4:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by genteel

First time Post
*Plays Trumpet Blast of Love*

Is it me or was this guest just Muslim Bashing the entire show?

Do you have a link where we can watch the program?

Catholics need to get involved in the debate arena with Muslims, not only talk polemically on friendly TV channels. The only Christians who've been doing so are Evangelical/Reformed Protestants like Nabeel Qureshi, David Wood, and Sam Shamoun.

Another Mary · #4 Jul 10, '12, 4:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebor135

Do you have a link where we can watch the program?

Go here and look for the July 6, 2012 program titled "Searching for Muhammad" and listen to it.

Even though I have read his latest book on the subject I learned even more from his appearance on CAL. .

He is extremely knowledgable.

bscastro · #5 Jul 16, '12, 9:46 am

I enjoyed the Robert Spencer show. I'm glad he wasn't "watering down" his opinions, although I guess I would like to hear the apologetics from the Muslim point of view. Mr. Spencer seemed very knowledgeable though and did one call from someone objectiving to some of his assertions to which he seemed to respond very well.

**Patrick Coffin** · #6 Jul 16, '12, 11:01 am

I was saddened when I learned I had to be out of town for his appearance, but I can tell you that Robert Spencer is unafraid to debate any Muslim apologist in any venue. The "Muslim bashing" dig is easy to throw around, but is unfounded. Here is an independent account of how Mr. Spencer conducts himself and speaks at public events written by a former bodyguard:

http://thestonybrookpatriot.blogspot...-part-one.html

The far Left and the Islamist minority within Islam have united in aiming their rage at Spencer. The problem for them is, he offers actual arguments, direct citations from the Qu-ran, and uncomfortable historical facts. He is also a family man, and a permanent deacon in the Melkite Rite. Few have his courage, not to mention his balanced articulation of Islamic terrorism. God bless and protect him.

Usbek de Perse · #7 Jul 16, '12, 12:05 pm

If this is the state of Catholic scholarship, we all (non-Catholics included) should be alarmed.

Patrick, it is sad that William Montgomery Watt is no longer living. He was one of the preeminent scholars of Islam and a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. You may read an interview with him here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Coffin

I was saddened when I learned I had to be out of town for his appearance, but I can tell you that Robert Spencer is unafraid to debate any Muslim apologist in any venue. The "Muslim bashing" dig is easy to throw around, but is unfounded. Here is an independent account of how Mr. Spencer conducts himself and speaks at public events written by a former bodyguard:

http://thestonybrookpatriot.blogspot...-part-one.html

The far Left and the Islamist minority within Islam have united in aiming their rage at Spencer. The problem for them is, he offers actual arguments, direct citations from the Qu-ran, and uncomfortable historical facts. He is also a family man, and a permanent deacon in the Melkite Rite. Few have his courage, not to mention his balanced articulation of Islamic terrorism. God bless and protect him.

**Patrick Coffin** · #8 Jul 16, '12, 12:27 pm

Forgive me in advance, Christian, for my direct reply. I'm sure Rev. Watt was a nice man. But this interview reveals a very confused one, even about basic Christian doctrine, I'm afraid. This is the kind of soft, pro-dhimmi attitude that plays perfectly into the terrorist mindset of some Muslims, more bluntly termed the ramblings of a useful idiot. Yes, some examples, and forum readers can draw their own conclusions:

"Set in such historical context the Prophet can be seen as a figure who testified on behalf of women’s rights."

Apparently said with a straight face. Muhammad had sexual intercourse with Aisha when she was nine years old. Married her at six. I'm sure she was thrilled about it. Using citations from the Qu'ran (which Rev. Watt does not hesitate to call "the word of God), Muslims today justify genital mutilation of young women, "honor" killing, and all manner of anti-women brutalization.

"I’m becoming very worried about the Old Testament because so much of it is unchristian."

Oh, dear.

"I think that the US should be much firmer with Israel and put a lot of pressure on them, though this is difficult because of the strong Jewish lobby."

Yes, it's the Jews' fault. That pesky strong Jewish lobby again.

Here is where I stop quoting your source, Christian. This level of well-meaning nonsense (and abject error) is more than I can take:

"I do, however, believe that Muhammad, like the earlier prophets, had genuine religious experiences. I believe that he really did receive something directly from God. As such, I believe that the Qur’an came from God, that it is Divinely inspired. Muhammad could not have caused the great upsurge in religion that he did without God’s blessing."

Breathtaking.

(I hope you understand that I have no interesting in debating you regarding the beliefs of such a logician.)

Be well.

Another Mary · #9 Jul 16, '12, 12:52 pm

I think it's important that Spencer is asking the question, Did Muhammed Exist?

There is so much inquiry into the existence of a historical Jesus, but the existence of the prophet Muhammed is taken for granted. By all means, dig into the documentation of Muhammed's life and show it to the world.

The most daring proposal I found in the book was that the Qur'an is actually based on earlier Christian (maybe gnostic) texts.

What's wrong with asking the questions? Even at the risk of the author's life!

Trebor135 · #10 Jul 16, '12, 1:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Coffin

I was saddened when I learned I had to be out of town for his appearance, but I can tell you that Robert Spencer is unafraid to debate any Muslim apologist in any venue.

Do you have any examples (with such figures as Shabir Ally, Jamal Badawi, and Bassam Zawadi)? The blog post you link to doesn't provide footage of the impromptu debate between Robert Spencer and Nadim Sanaa, which I am very interested in watching.

Quote:

The "Muslim bashing" dig is easy to throw around, but is unfounded.

I agree it can definitely be made in haste to shield Islam from criticism it deserves, but at times the accusation may have some merit to it. For instance, where Muhammad's marriage to A'isha is concerned, I've heard different Muslim replies to the effect that the latter wasn't as young as is widely claimed. For the sake of intellectual honesty, we have to take those rebuttals into account: Christians are obliged by our own religion to do everything possible to avoid spreading falsehoods about other religions.

Quote:

Here is an independent account of how Mr. Spencer conducts himself and speaks at public events written by a former bodyguard:

http://thestonybrookpatriot.blogspot...-part-one.html

Thanks, this was an interesting read.

Quote:

The far Left and the Islamist minority within Islam have united in aiming their rage at Spencer.

I affiliate with neither the "far Left" nor the "Islamist minority within Islam". Support for abortion and advocacy of Shari'ah, respectively, are not my cup of tea.

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The problem for them is, he offers actual arguments, direct citations from the Qu-ran, and uncomfortable historical facts.

Sure. All I'm asking for is apologetics (not polemics) and consistency. Spencer brings up some intriguing points about the first sixty years of Islam that I wasn't aware of before; I'm simply concerned that, if the same approach is taken with Christianity, we won't necessarily like all the results. In the first sixty years of Christianity, do we have non-Christian testimony to the trinity and the baptismal formula--in a place and time where literacy skills and writing instruments were more prevalent and more available, respectively, than in seventh-century Arabia?

Quote:

He is also a family man, and a permanent deacon in the Melkite Rite.

Congratulations to him on both counts.

Quote:

Few have his courage, not to mention his balanced articulation of Islamic terrorism.

I fully favour efforts to bring Muslims to the truth. Eastern Christians, of which I hope to become one, have all suffered immensely during the past fourteen centuries thanks to the heresy of Muhammad. I have no love lost for Islam, but I believe strongly in taking a scholarly approach.

Quote:

God bless and protect him.

Amen.

NB: My comments above should not be taken to imply that I believe Spencer to be a con-artist; I was speaking in generalities regarding intellectual honesty and the like.

**Patrick Coffin** · #11 Jul 16, '12, 1:52 pm

I'd say you can do your own google web searching for any filmed debates. The TV debates with Muslim apologists on network television may not have migrated to the net, fyi.

As for your point about subjecting the historical foundations of Jesus, I have to smile, her here's why: His existence has undergone immeasurably more intense scrutiny by history scholars of all varieties, not excluding those hostile to the faith, than anything that of the claims about Muhammad. The verification of Jesus' life, death and resurrection -- after having been subject the 2000 years of scholarly examination -- like a divine Ever Ready battery, keeps on ticking.

One man's polemics is another man's plain spoken apologetics and education.

Peace,

Patrick

SgtSchultz · #12 Jul 16, '12, 2:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pismopal

If you are referring to THE, Robert Spencer..he is a noted author and lecturer and expert on Islam. In addition to being a Catholic he seems to be a neat person and I have never heard him bashing Muslims. He is not however, an admirer of the Koran or the religion of Islam. Just as an aside, neither am I.

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch fame is Catholic? I never new that! There's one more reason for me to admire Catholicism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebor135

Catholics need to get involved in the debate arena with Muslims, not only talk polemically on friendly TV channels. The only Christians who've been doing so are Evangelical/Reformed Protestants like Nabeel Qureshi, David Wood, and Sam Shamoun.

These men are incredibly intelligent, highly educated, articulate, and clever. David Wood, in particular, has made some incredibly compelling cases for why Islam is a false religion. He's even used the Koran itself to show how God is the one who killed Mohammed, in the most embarrassing and humiliating way, while taking Jesus directly to heaven. (If Christ was "just another prophet", why would God take him directly to heaven? If Mohammed was such a great prophet, why would he die the way he did?")

Then again, Spencer would argue that Mohammed, as portrayed in the Islamic religion, never really existed. I haven't had a chance to read that latest book of his yet, though, but I'm sure it's well thought-out and is bang-on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Mary

I think it's important that Spencer is asking the question, Did Muhammed Exist?

There is so much inquiry into the existence of a historical Jesus, but the existence of the prophet Muhammed is taken for granted. By all means, dig into the documentation of Muhammed's life and show it to the world.

The most daring proposal I found in the book was that the Qur'an is actually based on earlier Christian (maybe gnostic) texts.

What's wrong with asking the questions? Even at the risk of the author's life!

That's the book I mentioned above, albeit not by title. It's on my reading list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Coffin

"Muhammad could not have caused the great upsurge in religion that he did without God’s blessing."

Did this Rev Watt, a self-professed Christian, ever consider the fact that Mohammed was able to do what he did (assuming Mohammed even existed at all, which he probably didn't) because of the influence and patronage of Satan? Hitler, Mao, and Stalin accomplished a lot too, but they were most definitely not blessed or directed by God.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Coffin

As for your point about subjecting the historical foundations of Jesus, I have to smile, her here's why: His existence has undergone immeasurably more intense scrutiny by history scholars of all varieties, not excluding those hostile to the faith, than anything that of the claims about Muhammad. The verification of Jesus' life, death and resurrection -- after having been subject the 2000 years of scholarly examination -- like a divine Ever Ready battery, keeps on ticking.

This.

Leigh01 · #13 Jul 17, '12, 12:53 pm

When this Robert Spencer Show stars, I sit near my TV. and feeling good and excited to watch it.It`s great robert spencer show

april32010 · #14 Aug 4, '12, 10:31 pm

very,very surprised this isn't a hot thread

**Dale_M** · #15 Aug 4, '12, 10:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by april32010

very,very surprised this isn't a hot thread

Posting anonymous criticisms about a public figure who is known to read those comments doesn't seem fair. It could be that the readers of the Radio forum are more polite than the readers of some of the other forums here at CAF.