European study of Islam originated in fear, not curiosity.

Evidence

Despite numerous sources suggesting that Islamophobia is becoming both increasingly prevalent and societally acceptable in the contemporary world, there remains a lack of textual sources that consider either the phenomenon itself, or its manifestations and consequences. There is no authoritative text that attempts to understand or contextualise what might be seen to be one of the most dangerous prejudices in the contemporary climate. — Chris Allen, Islamophobia, 0 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

As the military and political threat of the Ottoman Empire diminished, a space was opened for the study of Islam and even the Middle East that was not rooted in religious hostility. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a greater interest in the study of Arabic and Islam developed. Some European universities sponsored Arabic studies, and a host of histories, dictionaries, and textbooks about Islam and Arab peoples emerged. The pieces were in place for a more nuanced picture of Islam. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 160 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

John is one of the first significant theologians to possess a fairly accurate knowledge of Islam based on firsthand familiarity with Islam’s sacred texts. He correctly recalls important Islamic beliefs, such as the oneness of God, Jesus as the Word of God and a prophet, Jesus’ miraculous birth, the denial of Jesus’ crucifixion, the Qur’an as God’s revelation to humanity, and so forth. A greater knowledge of Islam, however, does not make him a more benevolent interpreter of Islam. John’s agenda is not to provide an impartial description of Islam but to assist Christians who, as dhimmis, need help in their efforts to survive the pervasive claims of Islam and to resist the impulse to convert. The more Christians can see Islam as a perversion of the Christian gospel, the better equipped they will be to maintain steadfastness in the faith. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 132 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: European understanding of Islam was ignorant but complex until the early eighteenth century; Ottoman decline opened non-hostile European study of Islam — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 160; Accurate knowledge of Islam did not soften early Christian hostility toward it — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 132 (+3 more)

Related

• European understanding of Islam was ignorant but complex until the early eighteenth century (similarity 0.93)
• Ottoman decline opened non-hostile European study of Islam (similarity 0.91)
• European study of Islam originates in fear, not curiosity, and that hostility persists today. (similarity 0.89)
• Europe’s historical fear of Islam derived from its military expansion reaching multiple continents (similarity 0.86)
• The fear of Islam intensified amid Ottoman decline and colonial expansion (similarity 0.85)
• Ottoman advances drove European study of Islam through fear (similarity 0.85)
• Western hostility to Islam shifted from theological to political rationales across the centuries (similarity 0.85)
• Accurate knowledge of Islam did not soften early Christian hostility toward it (similarity 0.85)
• Before the Enlightenment, educated Europeans regarded Islam with curiosity rather than contempt (similarity 0.85)
• Even sympathetic European scholarship ignored Islam’s living devotional spirituality (similarity 0.83)
• Reformation-era Christian scholars rarely studied Islam seriously (similarity 0.83)
• Islamophobia grows despite a glaring absence of authoritative scholarly texts (similarity 0.83)
• European scholarship on Islam turned disinterested only once Islam ceased threatening Europe. (similarity 0.83)
• No era since the Middle Ages has discussed Islam outside prejudice and politics (similarity 0.83)
• Early Christian writings about Islam existed before any real contact with Muslims. (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Ottoman decline opened non-hostile European study of Islam #contradicts (0.85) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 160
• Islamophobia grows despite a glaring absence of authoritative scholarly texts #contradicts (0.85) — Chris Allen, Islamophobia, 0
• Accurate knowledge of Islam did not soften early Christian hostility toward it #contradicts (0.78) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 132
• Academic study of Islam only began with Orientalism’s language training #contradicts (0.75)