Apocalyptic millenarian cults (documented by scholars such as Norman Cohn) have played an important part of Western Christianity’s history and culture. Do you see any similarities in todays movements which would indicate the emergence of such cults in the present day?
Let's suppose there is a resurgence of popularity in the church of England. Do you foresee that there will then be a major push to proselytize in the muslim/jewish/hindu communities in the UK? Or would the church avoid such things to avoid creating hostilities?
1.What makes an expert an expert in a particular topic in history?
2.How do you adjudicate between different versions of history as there is no experiment we can run in humanities like in hard sciences?
3a.What has he changed his mind about during his career?
3b.What are the key topics [on the WW2] that he is absolutely certain about and why? How would he defend those topics against “I am doing my own research” folks like Dave Smith?
4.More broadly, does he think that history is deterministic or, given the unpredictability of human choices and their interactions, essentially random?
Is Christianity’s resurgence in the West a response to Islam’s growing presence? If so, how do we protect Western freedoms and values—and why do governments ignore Islam’s ideological threat?
ISLAM stands for everything we in the West have fought against.
"Is Christianity’s resurgence in the West a response to Islam’s growing presence?"
That, and (mostly?) because The Secular (materialist/atheist) worldview has not products what it promised ie A Good Fulfilling Life. Instead we see as GK Chesterton famously said "When men stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything."
I don't really understand what you are saying; a clearer explanation would be helpful. My point is that Islam is the greatest threat to our social system and democracy. Ideology matters and government is totally ignoring it.
Its only a threat because its allowed to be. And Why is that? I'd put that at the feet of the secular materialist world view held be our 'Betters" Why isn't it a threat in (say) Hungry, Poland? Why didn't they allow so many Muslims in? Could it be, because they lived under a secular materialist world view for almost 50 years and saw what it was like.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Steve, I understand your point about secular materialism, but that doesn’t address my core concern.
The West was built on a Christian foundation—our laws, freedoms, and democratic institutions are deeply rooted in that heritage. That framework is what has allowed our societies to flourish.
Islamic ideology, by contrast, has never produced lasting peace, democracy, or prosperity anywhere it has been dominant. Its political and religious systems are fundamentally at odds with the freedoms we take for granted—freedom of speech, religion, equality under the law.
In the past decade, we’ve seen aggressive pushes by Islamic groups into the West, accompanied by rising social, political and economic tensions. This isn’t accidental; it stems from ideology. And it’s happening because too many in government refuse to acknowledge the nature of the problem, let alone address it.
If Christianity is indeed experiencing a resurgence in parts of the West, I believe it’s in part because people sense this threat and want to re-anchor themselves in the values that built our societies. The question is not just philosophical—it’s practical: How do we protect those values before they’re eroded beyond repair?
Ayaan Hirsi Ali on this podcast discussed how she is now a Christian and made a coherent arguement for it being the antidote to radical Islamism/preserving western values. Do you agree? In your view, how can atheists also be part of the answer to helping the west maintain it's values/history?
Could you see the "online safety bill" or its like, ever closing down statements of historical fact to fit a new reading of Western Civilisation and its standing, and if so, what might be an example?
In Tom's excellent book "In the Shadow of the Sword" the fascinating story of the emergence of Islam is explored.
Does Tom think serious and probing academic examination of this era is hampered by concerns of offending Muslims by questioning the truth of the Quran's own account?
Hi Tom, why do you think the western governments don’t bother listening to the warnings from Muslim countries like UAE or follow in their footsteps when it comes to radicalization? Do you think it should be important for our governments leaders to have a better understanding of militant Islam that is taking over and if so would it actually help or is it too late?
Tom’s book Dominion is all about the importance of Christianity in creating the modern West. Why does he think so many young people are now vehemently against the West? Does he view wokeism as a form of religion? What can be done to combat this trend?
Is the progression of enlightenment secularisation meant the western civilisation is now embracing paganism? Could the western foundations of Judeo-Christian values thrive under polytheism? How to see Islam in the mix?
Apocalyptic millenarian cults (documented by scholars such as Norman Cohn) have played an important part of Western Christianity’s history and culture. Do you see any similarities in todays movements which would indicate the emergence of such cults in the present day?
Hi Tom, how much do you think the lack of shame and personal responsibility ultimately leads to the downfall of nations?
Let's suppose there is a resurgence of popularity in the church of England. Do you foresee that there will then be a major push to proselytize in the muslim/jewish/hindu communities in the UK? Or would the church avoid such things to avoid creating hostilities?
What was it like playing spiderman?
Hahahaha
1.What makes an expert an expert in a particular topic in history?
2.How do you adjudicate between different versions of history as there is no experiment we can run in humanities like in hard sciences?
3a.What has he changed his mind about during his career?
3b.What are the key topics [on the WW2] that he is absolutely certain about and why? How would he defend those topics against “I am doing my own research” folks like Dave Smith?
4.More broadly, does he think that history is deterministic or, given the unpredictability of human choices and their interactions, essentially random?
Is Christianity’s resurgence in the West a response to Islam’s growing presence? If so, how do we protect Western freedoms and values—and why do governments ignore Islam’s ideological threat?
ISLAM stands for everything we in the West have fought against.
"Is Christianity’s resurgence in the West a response to Islam’s growing presence?"
That, and (mostly?) because The Secular (materialist/atheist) worldview has not products what it promised ie A Good Fulfilling Life. Instead we see as GK Chesterton famously said "When men stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything."
I don't really understand what you are saying; a clearer explanation would be helpful. My point is that Islam is the greatest threat to our social system and democracy. Ideology matters and government is totally ignoring it.
Its only a threat because its allowed to be. And Why is that? I'd put that at the feet of the secular materialist world view held be our 'Betters" Why isn't it a threat in (say) Hungry, Poland? Why didn't they allow so many Muslims in? Could it be, because they lived under a secular materialist world view for almost 50 years and saw what it was like.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul's Letter To The Ephesians
Steve, I understand your point about secular materialism, but that doesn’t address my core concern.
The West was built on a Christian foundation—our laws, freedoms, and democratic institutions are deeply rooted in that heritage. That framework is what has allowed our societies to flourish.
Islamic ideology, by contrast, has never produced lasting peace, democracy, or prosperity anywhere it has been dominant. Its political and religious systems are fundamentally at odds with the freedoms we take for granted—freedom of speech, religion, equality under the law.
In the past decade, we’ve seen aggressive pushes by Islamic groups into the West, accompanied by rising social, political and economic tensions. This isn’t accidental; it stems from ideology. And it’s happening because too many in government refuse to acknowledge the nature of the problem, let alone address it.
If Christianity is indeed experiencing a resurgence in parts of the West, I believe it’s in part because people sense this threat and want to re-anchor themselves in the values that built our societies. The question is not just philosophical—it’s practical: How do we protect those values before they’re eroded beyond repair?
I don't really understand what you are saying
Simply Put, they promised Heaven, but delivered (well) Hell.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali on this podcast discussed how she is now a Christian and made a coherent arguement for it being the antidote to radical Islamism/preserving western values. Do you agree? In your view, how can atheists also be part of the answer to helping the west maintain it's values/history?
Could you see the "online safety bill" or its like, ever closing down statements of historical fact to fit a new reading of Western Civilisation and its standing, and if so, what might be an example?
In Tom's excellent book "In the Shadow of the Sword" the fascinating story of the emergence of Islam is explored.
Does Tom think serious and probing academic examination of this era is hampered by concerns of offending Muslims by questioning the truth of the Quran's own account?
What cultural or historical signs help us distinguish between meaningful societal change and moments when fringe ideas simply gain outsized influence?
Why would you get engaged to Zendaya? What's wrong with you!
Hi Tom, why do you think the western governments don’t bother listening to the warnings from Muslim countries like UAE or follow in their footsteps when it comes to radicalization? Do you think it should be important for our governments leaders to have a better understanding of militant Islam that is taking over and if so would it actually help or is it too late?
What's required in the character traits of an historian to engage hostile audiences with their most controversial academic insights?
(Enjoyed In The Shadow of The Sword, by the way.)
Tom’s book Dominion is all about the importance of Christianity in creating the modern West. Why does he think so many young people are now vehemently against the West? Does he view wokeism as a form of religion? What can be done to combat this trend?
Is the progression of enlightenment secularisation meant the western civilisation is now embracing paganism? Could the western foundations of Judeo-Christian values thrive under polytheism? How to see Islam in the mix?