…the United States created the foundation on which great research universities could be built. Those core values included…organized skepticism (the willingness to entertain the most radical of ideas, but subject the claims to truth and fact to the most rigorous scrutiny)…
Jonathan R. Cole, John Mitchell Mason Professor of the University at Columbia University[1]
The Mission Statement of Rice University (Houston, TX) states that it is “a leading research university.”[2] Unfortunately, Rice University seems to be lacking in the core value of “organized skepticism.” Here is why.
Dr. Craig Considine is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Rice University. In July 2020, Considine’s new book, The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View, was published. Unfortunately, Considine’s book not only misrepresented “the life and impact” of Muhammad, but it was based on Considine’s version of Fantasy Islam, which was created to fit his narrative. Consequently, I wrote a three-part article about Considine’s book that was published by Jihad Watch on December 1st – 3rd: “The Fantasy Islam of Rice University’s Craig Considine.”[3]
On December 3, Dr. Carl Goldberg emailed Craig Considine the links to my three-part article and asked for Considine’s response to my article.
From December 3-5, either Dr. Goldberg or I emailed the following Rice University personnel the links to my three-part article pointing out how Considine’s book created a fantasy version of Islam to fit Considine’s narrative:
David Leebron, Rice University President
Reginald DesRoches, Rice University Provost
Linda L. Thrane, Vice President for Public Affairs
Doug Miller, Director of News and Media relations
Jeff Falk, Director of National Media Relations
Amy McCaig, Senior Media Relations Specialist
Arie Wilson Passwaters, Editor, Rice News
Editor, Rice Thresher (Student Newspaper)
As of December 16, neither of us have received any replies.
But this was not Rice University’s only involvement with Fantasy Islam.
On November 9-10, 2020, Dr. Zahra Jamal, Associate Director at the Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance, Rice University, was the main presenter in an online presentation for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: “Engaging and Building Partnerships with Muslim Americans.”
Jamal had created her own version of Fantasy Islam and gave that version in her presentation. As a result of that presentation, I wrote the following article that appeared in Jihad Watch on November 17, 2020: “The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy meets Fantasy Islam.”[4]
On December 5, I sent this email to Dr. Jamal:
Dr. Jamal,
I am writing with regard to your November 9-10, 2020 online presentation for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: “Engaging and Building Partnerships with Muslim Americans.”
Below is a link to my recent article pointing out how inaccurately you presented Islam. I concluded my article by noting:
At the ILEA website we find this
Here at ILEA, we are excited to serve the people of Iowa as we bring excellence in training, testing, and standards to peace officers, telecommunicators, and jailers across the state.
Unfortunately, with this particular class the “excellence in training” about Islam was replaced with Dr. Zahra Jamal’s Fantasy Islam.
“The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy meets Fantasy Islam”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/11/the-iowa-law-enforcement-academy-meets-fantasy-islam
I look forward to your reply.
I copied this email to the following Rice University personnel:
David Leebron, Rice University President
Reginald DesRoches, Rice University Provost
Linda L. Thrane, Vice President for Public Affairs
Dr. Paula Sanders, Director Boniuk Institute
Dr. Gayle Pagnoni, Program Director Boniuk Institute
Doug Miller, Director of News and Media relations
Jeff Falk, Director of National Media Relations
Amy McCaig, Senior Media Relations Specialist
Arie Wilson Passwaters, Editor, Rice News
Editor, Rice Thresher (Student Newspaper)
As of December 16, I have not received any replies.
Conclusion
At the beginning of this article, I quoted from Columbia University Professor Jonathan Cole that a core value for a research university is “organized skepticism,” which Cole defined as
the willingness to entertain the most radical of ideas, but subject the claims to truth and fact to the most rigorous scrutiny…
Craig Considine and Zahra Jamal have certainly entertained “the most radical of ideas” by creating their respective versions of Fantasy Islam, but there appears to have been no “organized skepticism” about this from within the ranks of Rice University.
Rice University apparently has no problem when its professors make up their own “truths and facts” about Islam, even though those “truths and facts” fly in the face of the commands of Allah in the Koran, the teachings and example of Muhammad, and the writings over the centuries by authoritative Muslim scholars. If this is allowable for the professors, then shouldn’t Rice University students be allowed to similarly create their own “truths and facts,” without having to face “organized skepticism”?
With this approach, Rice University could go from being just another “leading research university” to becoming the preeminent Fantasy Research university in the United States!
Dr. Stephen M. Kirby is the author of six books about Islam. His latest book is Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials.
[1] Jonathan R. Cole, “The Triumph of America’s Research University,” The Atlantic, September 20, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/09/the-triumph-of-americas-research-university/500798/.
[2] https://www.rice.edu/mission-values
[3] Stephen M. Kirby, “The Fantasy Islam of Rice University’s Craig Considine,” Jihad Watch:
Part 1 – December 1, 2020
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/12/the-fantasy-islam-of-rice-universitys-craig-considine-part-1
Part 2 – December 2, 2020
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/12/the-fantasy-islam-of-rice-universitys-craig-considine-part-2
Part 3 – December 3, 2020
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/12/the-fantasy-islam-of-rice-universitys-craig-considine-part-3
[4] Stephen M. Kirby, “The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy meets Fantasy Islam,” Jihad Watch, November 17, 2020, https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/11/the-iowa-law-enforcement-academy-meets-fantasy-islam.
mortimer says
Considine and all the profs at Rice University are afraid to debate the merits of the case, and so, they are hiding from the harsh light of publicity.
No intellectual integrity there.
Cowards.
patriot eagle says
Motrimer, I think Rice U is having internal damage control meetings. And some may be buying Qurans right now. We hope so. I think we should recommend it. Every professor should be compared to original sources and contemporary MEMRI video clips on what Muslims tell other Muslims. Time will tell.
Dr Kirby, most excellent, wielding the sword of truth. Keep up the pressure.
David Cook says
Mortimer, your posts citing evidence for slavery and racism in islam are entirely factual and accurate; as a matter of fact I could (and have) contributed a number more myself. But such a broad attack upon Islamic studies at Rice University is not warranted. I am David Cook, in the Religion department, and I can attest that apologist interpretations of Islam can and do get challenged all the time. Every semester i offer courses that look critically at the Qur’an, and cover issues of racism, slavery, jihad, and many other topics. Just this last semester my Qur’an class spent almost 2 full lessons going over Q4:34. The students are open and engaged, and we debated out the issues.
As for being cowards, Mortimer, I would suggest that you don’t throw that accusation around so lightly. Personally, I have traveled over 165 countries, and had many close encounters with death. I have personally always made it clear when talking with and debating Muslims that I am a Christian and will not be converting, even though frequently in pressured and dangerous situations.
Dan Brubaker, my grad, referenced below, also has gone out of his way to research in difficult locations. Don’t be too quick to judge.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Professor Cook.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cook_(historian)
william carr says
As I have said many times the only people who will tell you the truth about Islam are ex Muslims.
Muslims and those who look favourably on Islam and do not wish to know the truth, will never speak honestly and factually about Islam. World leaders would do well to cultivate ex Muslims and get their opinions about their former faith
Bikinis not Burkas says
I think they are hiding from reality.
mortimer says
What sponsors are funding Rice University and how much comes from Muslims?
Mount Zion says
Good point.
petervburrows says
Yes, indeed. To offer a course in “apologist Interpretations of Islam,” is akin to offering courses in Phrenology, Eugenics, Astrology, Ufology, etc. The freedom to offer such courses is OK by me, but not on my dime.
mortimer says
Craig Considine’s ‘fantasy Islam’ should be held up to the most RIGOROUS STANDARDS OF EXAMINATION against the facts of his purported case.
If Considine cannot DEFEND his thesis of ‘BENIGN ISLAM’ in debate, then he should WITHDRAW it.
mortimer says
Pretty much all of the following ‘Amazon’ claims for Considine’s book are easy to refute: 1) foundational Islam was not pluralistic but destroyed all religious communities except for Jews and Christians who severely oppressed 2) foundational Islam was not ‘civic’, but an imperial monoculture which oppressed ‘dhimmis’ 3) foundational Islam was highly racist and initiated the largest slave trade in history causing the deaths of 125 million black Africans 4) Islam is the biggest oppressor of women’s rights today wherever it is the state ideology 5) the Golden Rule is not in the Koran. 6) Considine is no ‘prominent scholar’. He is a shameless propagandist for fantasy Islam.
“In this overview of Muhammad’s life and legacy, prominent scholar Craig Considine provides a sociological analysis of Muhammad’s teachings and example. Considine shows how the Prophet embraced religious pluralism, envisioned a civic nation, stood for anti-racism, advocated for seeking knowledge, initiated women’s rights, and followed the Golden Rule.”
https://www.amazon.com/Humanity-Muhammad-Christian-View/dp/1682065294
Total flummery.
Frank says
Isn’t Rice the university from which Dan Brubaker-author of a book on corrections in the Quran and host of the Youtube Channel ‘Variant Quran,’ gained his PhD? Sheikh Yasir Qadhi complained that Rice doesn’t have a proper Islamic studies programme!
gravenimage says
Yep.
https://rice.academia.edu/DanielBrubaker
Brubaker has likely only escaped condemnation–and violence–from pious Muslims because he has referred to these as “corrections” and not changes–even though this is clearly what they are.
As for Sheikh Yasir Qadhi, this thug decided to come to the US to whitewash Islam to Americans after 9/11. Just disgusting.
https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Houston-native-brings-cultural-insight-to-1913587.php
He also has it both ways–saying that Jihad terror is not Islamic, but also claiming that such terror is the fault of the ‘filthy Infidels’ because of the supposed injustice of trying to prevent Jihad terror. How many times have we heard that the cause of Jihad terror is any attempts to defend against it?
Joseph T Major says
All they have to do is say “Islamophobic”.
Nothing more needs to be said.
The label saves their examining the details, and gratifies themselves as being pluralistic, tolerant, and understanding.
See how easy it is?
patriot eagle says
Rice U needs to read Dr Kirby’s books and check out David Wood for a quick look. Rice U needs to know that Americans are learning about historical and contemporary Islam. One can never know Islam from a Muslim’s smooth words. One must listen to what Muslims tell each other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZxH4QYLRQY
Dr Kirby is holding Rice U to higher education standards which is purports to be a standard-bearer. Truth and falsehood both can draw red lines as we are reminded by this Palestinian imam.
https://www.memri.org/tv/palestinian-scholar-issam-amira-memri-clip-him-praising-paty-murder-israeli-police-interrogated
Dr. Craig Considine is whitewashing Islam for Western ears and calling it what it is not.
And read Robert Spencer’s books as well.
We will not learn true Islam from Muslims. We must go to the sources they study and memorize because they have plans for us and we should know what those plans are. Do not fail for their deception.
gravenimage says
Rice University Sacrifices Academic Standards on the Altar of Fantasy Islam
…………………..
Yes–this whitewash of Islam is appalling, and goes far beyond Considine himself. I wish Rice was the only such example.
OLD GUY says
That alter is probably in the form of Rices endowment account. Between Muslims and Chinese many of our Universities receive huge cash contributions to their endowment funds along with fully cash paid tuition and expenses for these foreign student/spies. MONEY is the root of all EVIL.