Islam and the West: Is there a clash of cultures? (1995) | THINK TANK

Original air date: October 19, 1995
The Islamic population of the world is over one billion people and growing. Through the centuries, Islamic and Western cultures have often been at odds even though their teachings share many of the same basic tenets.
Host:
Ben Wattenberg - senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Panelists:
Fouad Ajami - professor of Middle Eastern studies at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
John Esposito - professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University, author of The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality
Milton Viorst - senior scholar at the Middle East Institute, author of Sandcastles: The Arabs in Search of the Modern World
"Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg" was a discussion program that aired on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from 1994 to 2009, hosted by AEI Senior Fellow Ben Wattenberg. AEI offers uncut episodes of "Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg" as an academic resource that shows how American political thought has evolved on some issues and stayed the same on others.
"Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg" is licensed to AEI by Grace Creek Media, the successor of New River Media and BJW, Inc. "Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg" © Grace Creek Media
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[@donvonfilms2937]

Islamists view Islam as one whole group opposed to unbelievers, so they do not think of it as individual states against the West. They do not consider moderate Muslims as truly Muslim. You have to consider how your enemy thinks as well.

[@cj8951]

When the phrase ThinkTank actually meant something

[@7heavenlyvirtues]

In the land before time... lines...

[@horuka_0]

If this conversation was held on a podcast I would love to see it go on for 3 hours

[@loud_laughter]

Wow. Little has changed since 1999. Or even 1009!

[@Prometheus7272]

The more things change, the more they stay the same

[@annuitcptis3032]

You mean 2009?

[@davemartino5997]

@@annuitcptis3032Islam was founded in 7th century

[@songmaster9308]

It's a clash of 7th century Islamic extremists vs the modern world.

[@bombasticfantastic151]

7th century Islamic will win ☪️🏴☝️

[@michaelshannon9169]

Surreal seeing adults behaving adult in an adult debate. Not one fog horn.

[@FaFa-fl1kh]

We can say categorically today, 28 May 2020, that Huntington was right.

[@naughtyUphillboy]

even today in july 2023

[@Jacqueline_S]

Still the same now in June 2024 lol

[@XavierKatzone]

Huntington--like Enoch Powell--was prophetic. The rest of them represented here were as deluded then as they are now.

[@acousticphilosopher6420]

7 minutes in and inclined to agree.

[@samdis1890]

"Huntington's ideas" werent his to begin with

[@grayman7208]

"Islam and the West: Is there a clash of cultures?" yes, of course. any thinking person can clearly see that.

[@sv3931]

Great...spambots☝️

[@grayman7208]

@Tucker Malachi dumbass ... no one gives a shit.

[@soapboxer6711]

And yet, we would never have known the contributions made by the Greeks if their works had not been translated by the Muslims during their golden age. Meanwhile, a third of Europe died when they could have gotten some soap from Damascus.

[@grayman7208]

@@soapboxer6711 nonsense. we would have known it all if islam expansion did not destroy much of western culture during their "golden age." it certainly was not "golden" for anyone else.

[@soapboxer6711]

@@grayman7208 what I said is a matter of historical record, but a long time had passed before and since that point, enough time for Islam to have periods that resemble what you're talking about. Besides, all of that Abrahamic stuff is nonsense, not just Islam, and not all equally at the same time. If we were discussing this in the 1920s, we'd be talking about Catholic fascism instead of Islamo-fascisim.

[@MrWolfTickets]

Wow, 1995. Luckily, everything turned out great.

[@shawnaweesner3759]

If you are being sarcastic, which is how I read your comment, I’m loving it!

[@MossadDid911]

Mossad job

[@davemartino5997]

What ? Hope that was sarcasm

[@MrWolfTickets]

@@davemartino5997 yes, an attempt anyway :-)

[@lostcauselancer333]

@@MossadDid911 That reminds me of that tragedy.

[@GuerrillaSM]

Wow the professor of middle eastern studies' (don't wanna spell his name wrong) comments didn't age well AT ALL. CRAZY.

[@Tounushi]

>1995 "I don't think that Islamic civilization is likely to be a threat to the West at any time for the forseeable future." In 2019 we know far better.

[@AtheismF7W]

Irony being America starting wars and the middle east, Ones it can't win and it can't leave. America will lose in the long term, bleed to death. I'll miss you liberty.

[@trailblazing2576]

Islam and civilization are two totally opposite meanings

[@samdis1890]

@@trailblazing2576 what do u mean by that?

[@samdis1890]

@Jan Luca Basile Gambino what civilization did islam destroy?

[@shahsaud2625]

@Jan Luca Basile Gambino laughs in Baghdad, golden age , andalus

[@mikecain6947]

Conflict started long before the crusades.

[@AjGalloway95]

The intro and ending production is classiccccc

[@MrAOdom1966]

Ben Wattenberg, your Think Tank has sprung a huge leak

[@pekka1900]

John Esposito looks a lot like Jordan Peterson. :D

[@madameclark3453]

How many Muslim countries have equal rights for woman? 🙅🏻‍♀️

[@lockywolf__2181]

Women can't have equal rights to men. Men don't need maternity leave.

[@zakariamattu8613]

Turkey, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Senegal I mean I can go on but u get it

[@khaulam100]

How many Christian/Jewish or non Muslim countries give equal rights to women? The religion Islam gives equal and than some more rights of privilege to women. How well a country contributes towards administering and embodying those rights is upto those countries irrespective of what religion they follow. Because if we were to take the religious aspect, islam gives more rights and importance to women than any other religion out there. But the correlation that because a country doesn't give equal rights such as Saudi Arabia to women doesn't mean that the "religion" doesn't.

[@lovelyhomeboy2782]

@@yusufshaikh9768 well the islamic law is not very practical because if was muslim countries would problably be more succesful

[@noellealyagout1669]

@@lovelyhomeboy2782 please try not to base your opinion on assumptions but rather, research the subject honestly 👍🏻 If you did, you would know that it is not the Islamic system that is at fault but the less than correct application of it if it by governments and Muslims themselves.

[@DavidCraig-go1zv]

I have to agree with it being about lemons. It's all about power. Period. That includes being divided on a God that no one holds title to. We are all imperfect, in a perfect heaven. Lust for power, or denying power to others is the key.

[@nachochitiu6953]

A more in-depth alternative on this topic is David Wood. Feel free to look him up.

[@insidiousmaximus]

islam, you slam, everybody slams when it comes to the jam

[@acajudi100]

I respect all religions, and I am a USA Muslim.

[@dd11111]

Cool, good for you. But the very fact that you have to say this, shows there are some serious problems going on in western society.

[@davemartino5997]

Most Islam doesn’t like Christianity whatsoever

[@JohnSmith-ry7wh]

Why? I only respect the truth ☦️

[@JohnGeometresMaximos]

It is illegal for muslims to respect non-muslims.

[@naughtyUphillboy]

Only untill you & your likes are in minority.

[@Tsaniko]

Well what Sam hunt said is more or less true.

[@psyskeptic9979]

timestamp?

[@JalalKhan-oo9ez]

nice theme tunes back then

[@mad00insane]

Money + politic Clash with everything

[@ethanz3837]

This host is as smart as it gets, from what I’ve seen

[@justinmartin4662]

This more of a question about what people think and will do, not religion. The religions are clear, if people followed them without question there would be no peace, peace would be impossible until one religion was enslaved or exterminated, the scripture is clear. But most people in the modern world have cherry picked the religions to the point they are pretty much something new entirely, so, it really doesn’t have much to do with religion. When religion is really a factor is when we get groups like ISIS who do actually make attempts to follow their scripture without excuse.

[@justinmartin4662]

The Bible is also clear on the subject, if there is another people who worship another god you are to kill everyone, including the animals/livestock and then burn everything to the ground…. On one hand I’m glad people aren’t really Christians, because the Bible is clear that I would be put to death for being an atheist, but at least I would have more respect for them, instead of the fake, lip service hypocrites they are now.

[@orion5445]

Actually it's opposite. ISIS is the way they are bc of extremist and radical views of the Quran. It is haraam for a Muslim to basically be extreme in anything they do. People have the misconception hat ISIS practice to the letter which they do but on a REALLY high level. I follow Islam to the letter as best I could. That doesn't make me any less of a Muslim. Islam also have things that you can only do if you have the means but it's won't be compulsory. Like a women who is pregnant or a really sick person doesn't have to fast. You have to make the pilgrimage to Makkah at least ONCE in your life but ONLY and I mean ONLY if you can afford it. Islam is fair and everyone is equal within Islam (bc we worship the same God) and out of Islam (bc we are all human beings). I hope this clear things up. If you disagree I don't mind debating with you only if you wish to do so.

[@thelegend-zp4iz]

ISIs have killed more muslims than non-muslims so in other words ISIs are against the muslims. The clash between Islam and the west will come sooner rather than later. Muslims are oppressed in many ways and they will decide to react as a nation.

[@davemartino5997]

Islam is a cancer

[@mosesmusa19]

You must have no basis in Islamic scripture

[@eliasandrikopoulos]

Wow! I have never seen a video with a larger chorus of false predictions. Oracles, they are not.😎

[@fasteddie4107]

Very true. Esposito was proven to be an Islamic apologist, despite 9/11. All of them were off base.

[@xealit]

"Islam and the West: Is there a clash of cultures?" -- was there the battle of Tours? In fact, it seems there is a chance for a bit of irony here. It would be good to check, but maybe the usage of the very term "the West" for Europe originated from opposition to Islam that conquered the East, in particular the Eastern half of the Roman Empire. If that's so, then the title is absolutely awesome.

[@xealit]

Ibrahim Somali firstly, give examples of “most of Muslim world”. For example Turkey was never conquered, though it was easy to do so, in ww1 and other times. The west conquered Muslim countries, like Algeria, to stop the slave trade and piratery there. And it happened only in 19th century - surely it had to be done earlier. Finally, as I clearly point out in my comment, Muslim world conquered half of the world plus Persia starting in 8 century until now. So if you do not like conquests, then Muslims and Arabs in particular are the first people you shouldn’t like.

[@BallyBoy95]

Not to forget, the Battle of Vienna.

[@sorrybro4890]

@@xealit wow that’s why most of the world speaks European Languages

[@sorrybro4890]

@@BallyBoy95 don’t forget lepanto

[@shahsaud2625]

@@xealit the west conquered Algeria to stop the slave trade but took African slaves itself 😂

[@naughtyUphillboy]

In 1995 it was question, in 2023 it is confirmed.

[@annuitcptis3032]

All these discussions about the effect of religion in societes never take into account the reality of a spiritual warfare that wages its battle in the minds of people. Talking about religious effects, ignoring the spiritual and individual effects on each person is like a dog chasing its own tail.

[@iainbaker6916]

Clash? How could they not? When two expansionist cultures that have diametrically opposite views on fundamental principles they are bound to come into conflict, especially if they have to mix in the same place at the same time.

[@locky7347]

Yeah but you're islamophobic so I don't need to listen to you Also the west is the real patriarchy, did you know Muhammed was the first femenist?

[@Erik_Thygesen]

@@locky7347 Did you know that Hitler actually used the exact same concept that Mohamed did when he forced the jews to wear a star and have jews be pushed off the pavement as second rate people? It was very effective for genocide as it was demonstrated against the jews in Mecca.

[@psyskeptic9979]

The west in these recent decades is not so much expansionist, it is more that the expansion of that culture recently has been voluntarily adopted because it is attractive to ordinary people. Even in what some see as the worst of the West, such as the second Iraq war, the intention was never expansion of territory.

[@edgerrodgers2638]

@@psyskeptic9979 your not too bright huh

[@davemartino5997]

@@edgerrodgers2638 says the guy who brings no counter arguments whatsoever.

[@caymangeorge1851]

Man those comments about Egypt and Hamas didn't hold up.

[@7heavenlyvirtues]

It’s the never ending story 🤦‍♀️

[@nomdeplume69]

Islam and think in the same sentence

[@mred3525]

Is that Jordan Peterson's dad?

[@williamcreech1505]

They do not want to look at facts

[@nejamuddinhokue5518]

"Learning from the Muslim Europe become the leader of Morden Civilization..." [Historical Role of Islam by M.N.Roy (1887-1954)]

[@sleeexs]

What a joke loo

[@naughtyUphillboy]

[@mmarciniak]

…6 years later………..

[@craigoutdoors30]

Before it's time.

[@ghirardellichocolate201]

They still like their brains. That meant that many do not return normal. How do you have chronic Omega three deficiency?

[@davemartino5997]

Why don’t you enlighten us then?

[@defenstrator4660]

In six years the answer became pretty clear.

[@stevennowachek2657]

This aged well

[@naughtyUphillboy]

[@aviramvijh]

Lol. Of course there is....ask the only people who have survived to tell the tale (India). So funny that they don't see Islam as a moonlit but the west is! Either they both are or neither is.

[@donq2957]

I eat vegan fried chicken and gravy and I'm muslim.

[@Egilhelmson]

So you are stupid (vegan) as well as an Infidel? :-) .

[@DaboooogA]

A fascinating pre-9/11 perspective

[@BuffaloSoldier1965.]

Ah, the chin scratching arrogance of the chattering classes; so self assured...and wrong

[@austinballard3818]

These guys found out how much of a threat Islam is about six years after this interview

[@ghirardellichocolate201]

Hypoallergenic lipsticks? Ever tried one?

[@GreyWolfLeaderTW]

It's pretty clear none of these men (except likely the Muslim, but given the Islamic principle of Taqiyyah, he's untrustworthy) understand how religion and religious belief affects the view of legitimate and illegitimate governments, let alone the Islamic principle of the Caliphate (one-world Islamic government/religion) or that there are Western religions and regions in the West, like my own Latter-Day Saint faith in the Intermountain West of the US, which run on a theocratic or semi-theocratic model. Theodemocracy is sometimes used to describe the curious merger of American Founding-Era Enlightenment Political Philosophy and Restorationist Christian doctrine by which Latter-Day Saints run the government and laws of the State of Utah and localities in other states where LDS/Mormon populations are the majority. It manifests itself in strange and prominent ways, like the Utah laws governing the sale of alcohol, requiring the presence and use of what are called Zion Curtains segregating alcohol consumers (typically non-LDS) from non-consumers (typically LDS) in restaurants in the state.

[@shahsaud2625]

There's no Islamic principle of taqqia

[@hamedalrashed722]

What unites us is way more than our differences and even our differences are blessings to all

[@Phoenix-rising]

🤮

[@rifanbudi34]

Islam promotes tolerance لَّا يَنۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (Sahih International) Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. -Surah Al-Mumtahanah, verse 8 Islam promotes kindness ۚإِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good. -Surah Al-A'raf, verse 56 NOT EVERY MUSLIM IMPLEMENT ISLAM PROPERLY. Terrorist who tell they are muslim don't implement islam properly. To have better understanding about Islam please take closer look at quran and hadith. People can't simply conclude that Islam is cruel , agressive etc just by looking dozens of quran verses or hadith or by looking terrorist action. *Those are more than 6000 quran verses and more than 500000 hadith* . *If you want to know better about Islam, please learn all of those quran verses and hadith carefully. USE* *OBJECTIVE THINKING, NOT HATE.* This may take many years. Thanks

[@bobbmarly4355]

NOT

[@aurelius_varro]

Islam has a hierarchy of how canon each verse is as a solution to internal contradictions, because there are verses on war as well, not only on peace

[@mokiloke]

Oh do you guys have a surprise coming up. Avoid flying for the next 10 years.

[@sarmadali3895]

Philip Hitti, "During all the first part of the middle ages, no other people made as important a contribution to human progress as did the Arabs." “It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: ‘God Alone is Great’… “ - Sarojini Naidu “The legislation of Quran will spread all over the world, because it agrees with the mind, logic and wisdom.” - Leo Tolstoy

[@robertbentley3589]

Really?. Democracy? Without fifty percent of the population? I'm referring to women. Piffle.

[@shahsaud2625]

@@robertbentley3589 explain

[@dd11111]

Equality, religious or otherwise is not democracy. Democracy is "rule by the many" by virtue of having a king you cannot have a democracy. Unless you have a representative democracy, where in said king will be little more than a figurehead or just a wealthy man. Also, I'm calling bullshit that ANY king REGARDLESS of geographic location or religious beliefs would EVER let a peasant kneel beside them. I would more expect them to have said pessant exocuted for breathing the same air as them.

[@orion5445]

@@dd11111 Actually when you pray you are supposed to stand next to each other obviously the person leading everyone in prayer would be in front. So a king (if he's not leading prayers) have to stand next to any and everyone.

[@dd11111]

@@orion5445 Would he? Do you think that the king would be standing next to impoverished commoners who can only just feed their children while he wears his spun gold cloak and his jewel incrusted crown? Do you REALLY think that he would put himself in danger of being robbed of all his finery or kidnapped and ransomed? OR DO YOU THINK that he might be standing next to his guards, and his friends, and his collegues who have no financial woes and so no reason to rob him. Don't let yourslef be blinded by wishful thinking. The reality is that the super rich will always be a target for the super poor. They know that, thats why they live in gated communities and have private guards. To Keep The Peasants Away. Just because a book, no matter how important, says that you are equal. Does not mean that in reality and/or practice that you really are.

[@bobbmarly4355]

Of course there is a clash. They want to rule the world.

[@harrisashraf9372]

fucking racist

[@shahsaud2625]

Who's bombing countries for democracy again ?

[@bobbmarly4355]

@@shahsaud2625 Either with bombs or disease or threats who in the world of governments isn't doing something to someone somewhere? I just wish folks all folks would leave eachother alone.

[@bobbmarly4355]

I agree with that.

[@bobbmarly4355]

@Based Domge You will what?

[@snehashispanda4808]

Surah 3:151: “We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve (all non-Muslims) ...” Surah 2:191: “And kill them (non-Muslims) wherever you find them ... kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers (non-Muslims).”

[@cocoo456]

Read more or at the very least include the whole surah it is unhealthy for mankind to quote out of context. The Quran is direction for mankind. Do better you have a brain and you are better than this I hope💓

[@KD400_]

U have to understand that the Quran is in arabic so the english translation is different I'm not denying these verses don't exist but u should not take it out of context.

[@mosesmusa19]

That’s not even what the suras say dude

[@mosesmusa19]

Maybe you just tried to google this instead of reading the Quran, clearly

[@virginiatierney408]

The power of. Islam is all those people believe in God for real. Jesus is wonderful but conflating him with God srambles the brain and causes mental illness.

[@spontaneousbootay]

What is god?

[@polcherdiamwongsrikul121]

Poorly created culture

[@framestomind7548]

Slam is nt even a religion, and Mohamed is a fictional character.. and here sit intellectuals mumbling nonsense of how fantastic it is

[@naughtyUphillboy]

😁😆😅👍

[@zed8155]

RIP SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC He saw this coming and his thank you was assassinated by the west... Now deal with it.

[@xeniarizvi3219]

Missouri State Representative Rick Stream fired off a bizarre e-mail to his House GOP colleagues this week that discusses the dangers of Islam...citing an 1899 quote from former British prime minister Winston Churchill. "Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world," writes Stream, quoting Churchill in a widely distributed e-mail that was forwarded to Daily RFT by way of a displeased recipient. "No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith."A man can have 4 wives, but if a wife should look at another man, Allah is fucked on the spot. Nusrat Rizvi, Palm Beach Fl. PS, On 911, I saw 2 planes crash into WTC with thousands of people jumping to the grounds. These are not humans and must be eradicated asap.