Factual corrections to Christian anti-Islamic polemic only patched a weakened doctrinal structure
Evidence
Islamic institutions were treated as selectively as the life of Muhammad. Relatively little was suggested that was competely absurd, like the more fantastic legends about the Prophet; in this category might be classed the idea of sexual promiscuity (including ten husbands for every woman) but such absurdities as this were rare. Yet the more sober accounts of Islam resemble the more sober biographies of the Prophet in that actual facts were manipulated by selection and omission, by exaggeration and invention and misapplication. The Latin treatment of a subject tended again and again to be unreasonable, even when the general outline of what was said was not significantly false. Sexual questions provide the best example. The undue emphasis that they were given is perhaps the strongest evidence for this of all, but there are particular points to note. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1357 (
#expands, via linked claim)
More consistent deformation comes with the actual life of Muhammad. The development of the Bahira legend is a case in point; the Muslim legend was wholly ignored, except, illogically, the bare assertion of a hermit who knew Muhammad, and whom the Christians give a new role. There was no reason why they should not create their own fantasies; what is significant is that they picked out of a series of Muslim statements just the one that suited them. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1353 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Vincent’s anti-Islamic method was data-driven rather than argumentative; Even factually accurate Christian accounts distorted Islam through selective emphasis — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1357; Christian thinking forced Islam into Christian analogical categories, misrepresenting it (+3 more)
Related
- Even factually accurate Christian accounts distorted Islam through selective emphasis (similarity 0.90)
- Polemical scholars adopted textual accuracy only as a tactical weapon against Islam (similarity 0.88)
- Christians selected from Muslim sources only details that served their polemic (similarity 0.87)
- Vincent’s anti-Islamic method was data-driven rather than argumentative (similarity 0.86)
- Medieval polemicists quietly dropped claims lacking cross-tradition confirmation (similarity 0.86)
- Medieval audiences preferred Islam accounts easier to ridicule over accurate ones (similarity 0.85)
- People chose distorted versions of Islam even when accurate information was at hand (similarity 0.85)
- Polemical distortions can still yield roughly accurate characterizations of an opponent’s scripture. (similarity 0.84)
- Medieval anti-Islamic polemic could work from accurate hadith rather than fabricated detail (similarity 0.84)
- Christian polemicists studied Muslim revelation accounts seriously rather than dismissing them (similarity 0.84)
- Mediaeval authors often deliberately chose the worst accounts of Muhammad. (similarity 0.84)
- Christian polemicists read Muslim sources as unwittingly confirming Christian legends (similarity 0.84)
- Medieval Christians chose distorted Islam stories even when accurate sources existed (similarity 0.84)
- Medieval anti-Islamic polemic worked through fact curation rather than argument (similarity 0.84)
- Medieval Christian polemicists attacked Islam with knowingly false evidence (similarity 0.83)
Broader Connections
- Even factually accurate Christian accounts distorted Islam through selective emphasis
#expands(0.85) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1357 - Polemical scholars adopted textual accuracy only as a tactical weapon against Islam
#expands(0.80) - Christians selected from Muslim sources only details that served their polemic
#corroborates(0.80) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1353 - Christian thinking forced Islam into Christian analogical categories, misrepresenting it
#complicates(0.75) - Medieval anti-Islamic polemic worked through fact curation rather than argument
#corroborates(0.75) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1302