Reply #37: I am merely quoting Durant. Can't do a history treatise in a DU post. Thought Durant was...

[arendt]

a solid enough reference for this purpose. Apparently, you disagree.

If the "wrong turning in Islam is of more recent origin", then how do you explain that Islam managed to completely miss the Enlightenment? That the Ottoman Empire was the "sick man of Europe" for 200 years?

No, Islam was seriously screwed by the time of the 16th century - the Turkish emperors were largely bug-house nuts. Their military technology was increasingly outclassed because their science had long since gone down the tubes.

I have no problem with Sufi mysticism. I will go Google more about al-Ghazali, but I tend to trust Durant.

arendt