“It is a good review (Robert Spencer seems to like it too). I am looking forward to Robert’s response. The intellectual level of this thread can be measured by an assumption that John never read Koran and response to Dave.
One who prefers a visit to a dentist to reading Koran HAVE READ Koran.
The notion of accusing John to be ignorant deserves contempt and nothing else.
To go into lengthy discussions with Dave is to be on level with him. None he posted here deserves a reply.”
To Pong, I do not believe that it is sinking to anyone’s level to try and engage in reasonable debate, even with people such as David. In fact, people such as David need to be engaged. Their points need to be questioned and where possible refuted. It may well be impossible to change their position, but one may sway another who has yet to decide. The undecided, as well as the decided, need to hear such refutations. This is precisely what Socrates does in the Platonic dialogues.
Also, you are very correct in stating that people, such as me, have made an “assumption” that Mr. Derbyshire has not read the Qur’an. I admit that I have not seen an explicit statement, “I have never read the Qur’an.” However, when an English language person uses the expression, “I would rather do this than that,” the speaker is not stating that he/she has done the former. Typically, but certainly not always, it means that he/she has not done the former. Unless you have seen Mr. Derbyshire state that he has read the Qur’an, you are making a far greater assumption when you imply that he has. And remember, he misspells the word as “Qu’ran”. When someone makes a mistake like this while blogging, it is not an issue. However when one writes a major book review for an important media resource such as this one, it is disheartening.
“My congratulations to John on the very first sensible review of Robert’s book. It has been done with integrity, respect and knowledge.”
I wholeheartedly agree with you that this review was written with integrity and respect. I am just not certain about the depth of his knowledge. By the way, do you agree or do you disagree that Mr. Derbyshire has confused Mary’s birth with that of her son? This is not the kind of mistake that a knowledgeable writer would make.
