Sacred Freedom - Western Liberalist Ideologies in the Light of Islam

"Oliver has done an exceptional job of highlighting the flawed logic in use in religious arguments today on all sides of the issue of faith." "In this slim, well-written volume, Oliver presents an Islamist view of the world that should be read widely by people of all faiths for a greater understanding of Islam. Oliver has used passages from the Qur'aan to illustrate points of view that are poorly, if at all, understood by Westerners; his careful work has resulted in an excellent book, eminently readable and clear."		"Sacred Freedom: Western Liberalist Ideologies In The Light Of Islam by Haneef Oliver is about conflict between Western attitudes and Islamic thought as manifested in the illusive ideologies of the democratic constructs of Western philosophy. Introducing a fascinating examination of atheism, humanism, pluralism, democracy and secularism, Sacred Freedom thoroughly grasps the wisdom of the Islamic faith and its way of life through many quotes from the Koran, as well as an extensive progression through the pluralistic and material world of the west. A welcome addition to the reading lists for students of Islam, Philosophy, Sociology, Middle Eastern Politics and Culture, Sacred Freedom is a very strongly recommended and informative addition to academic and community library Islamic Studies reference collections."

"Sacred Freedom isolates a number of broad themes within what we can call the Western tradition, and then ques- tions them from an Islamic standpoint. The authority for Haneef Oliver's critique comes, as one would expect, from the Koran. Oliver correctly identi- fies passages from the Koran that appear to answer the points raised in his critique."		"I have read Sacred Freedom (in Arabic) and found it to be beneficial and effective in dealing with its subject matter, particularly for non-Arabic speakers. Answering the thoughts and beliefs of those he is addressing, the author manifests the realities of Islam while clarifying the error of those he is replying to."		"A work of contemplation... In his critical work Sacred Freedom, Haneef Oliver touches on various aspects of Western society which any fair-minded person would have to agree with... Overall, I found this to be a fascinating work which I'm sure will provoke discussion due to its many glittering ideas and thoughts."

Sacred Freedom contains a concise and frank examination of the legitimacy of atheism, humanism, pluralism, democracy and secularism as guiding ideologies for humankind. Discussing the consequences of a pluralistic worldview, Sacred Freedom questions whether the West has examined the realities of democracy before endeavouring to spread it by force around the world.

Are ideologies derived from Western historical experiences universally applicable? Has the West arrived at a balanced understanding of personal freedom? These are only some of the important questions raised in this unique book. Daring to probe the revered and unquestionable, Sacred Freedom gives readers the opportunity to explore these topics from a viewpoint they might otherwise not be exposed to.