I just finished my book club book before our discussion Friday morning. The book was entitled "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I would highly recommend it.
Ayaan was born in Somolia and grew up in Saudi Arabia and Kenya in a devout Muslim home. She experienced and witnessed extreme violence and oppression against women all done in the name of religion. She has escaped to become a Dutch citizen now living in America and has fought for women's rights, especially Muslim women's rights. She as also since left the Muslim faith.
Her insider view of Muslim society is sobering. She cannot agree with the common statement declaring that "Islam is a religion of peace" and considers acceptance of that statement to be evidence of ignorance of what is happening around the world and what the Koran commands. Needless to say, she has been, and probably still is, being hunted.
The story of her life is intreging and the lessons learned are powerful. While she leaves all religion behind, it is interesting to consider whether the freedoms she so values and credits to the political system of the West are really to be credited to the Christian underpinnings of the West.
It will be an interesting discussion on Friday. And it is very interesting that she is one of the speakers at the January series at Calvin College this year. I may need to show up for that one!
