Dr James White is planning to write a book on Islam and he has already got the title in mind. Given White’s history of blunder and dishonesty with regards to Islam, can we really expect something other than a blunder-filled missionary tome?
A Scholarly Book on ISLAM by Dr James White?
As one commentator asked, can we really trust James White to give a truthful book about Islam? His answer said it all – “never in a million years”.
Now, folk who are unfamiliar with James White will be thinking why in the world is he so untrustworthy. Well, White has a history of blundering about Islam. Once called out for such blunders he either (dishonestly) maintains he is correct or remains silent and never corrects the blunder. Yep, White KNOWINGLY leaves his readers/viewers misinformed. How difficult is it to edit a video or an online article and correct it? Not difficult at all for those who have a regard for accuracy – White is lacking in this regard!
Dr James White has NOT READ the books he requires!!!
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Our James has NOT EVEN READ the books he plans to use for the writing of his book. Does that make sense? He has planned the title and the objectives, but has not read the books he will use. Odd.
You may be thinking "how do you know he has not read the books"? Well, he has not even purchased the books. In fact, he is asking people off the internet to purchase them for him!
Are you jerking our chain?
I’m serious. He wants YOU to buy him the books he will use to help write his book. Perhaps he will share the profits with us!
James White under the heading “Here's How You Can Help” writes “Human nature being what it is, there is a downside to my going into "book mode." It's pretty simple: we are a small ministry. We do not have fund raisers….”
“…. I use the Ministry Resource List to obtain the materials I need for these projects, and I have put a number of such resources on that list just recently, one of which is mighty expensive, but it would be incredibly helpful”
I popped over to his ministry resource list. There are six books he is wanting (I believe at least five are for this book). I have presented a screenshot and I have noticed one of them is yet to be released.
Profit sharing? Standard procedure? I don’t know!
He has decided the title and aims of the book without having read the relevant Islamic material. Is this standard procedure? I don’t know - it seems odd.
Is White simply going to quote mine from these books or is he actually going to read and understand them? If he actually studies them then surely it will be extremely difficult for him to write TWO books (one is unrelated to Islam) and READ and DIGEST all six books he wants us to purchase for him within a year (whilst travelling to London and Ireland as well as maintaining the podcasts). What type of standard of work are we expecting here? A concoction of internet polemics and quotes mined from books he has not digested? I don’t know.
Moreover if we purchase him these books will he share the profits and what will he do with the books after their use? I don’t know. [See the comment section for the full quote and decide for yourselves]
Dishonesty and inconsistency – history of James White
James White used a fabrication (from a CHRISTIAN missionary hit piece) and attributed the source to a MUSLIM scholarly work. Furthermore, James White has never acknowledged where he got the fabrication from – nor has he acknowledged the erroneous nature of the fabrication he used. How difficult is it to admit he (unknowingly) used a fabrication thinking it was a legitimate source? Not difficult at all to those who value intellectual honesty and accuracy.
I have personally rebuked him from this very blog. I rebuked him for using a “made up” translation of a Quranic Verse – YES, he decided against using a recognised translation from the NUMEROUS out there and used one made up by his pal (a chap who makes his own up to convince people Islam allows BESTIALITY!!!) - Just made up and totally fallacious!
Once called out for this our James White, to his audience, maintained he was correct by linking to the MADE UP (and proven wrong) translation by his pal. Dishonest, inconsistent and sad – how difficult would it have been to have a regard for accuracy and admitting the blunder and abjuring oneself? Not difficult at all. Note White has STILL NOT bothered correcting himself:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.com/2010/09/muslims-rebuke-dr-james-white.html
Furthermore, White was rebuked to linking to an article which carried ANOTHER made up translation – White labelled this as “excellent Quranic insights”. This highlights his utter lack of regard for truth and consistency. He has STILL NOT BOTHERED to correct the error:
Being mindful this is turning out to be a lengthier post than I would like I will try to truncate it and allow you, the reader, to research White’s blunders and dishonest episodes for yourselves.
Did James White lie in the Greg Stafford debate – he is accused of such
Did James White use deception in the Robert Price debate – he is accused of such
White maintains more disrespectful and misleading material - knowingly
Dr White ...Insufficient and unfounded arguments
NOTE: the reason why White has never acknowledged (nor corrected) the above blunders are due to his pride and his desire to appear reliable and learned regarding Islam. Sadly, many Christian evangelists want to present themselves as learned in Islam despite being incompetent in such a subject. Just look at the sad example of the now shamed Ergun Caner.
In my opinion, James White appears to be angling for a teaching job vis-à-vis Islam in Christian apologetics classes. White is terribly blunder-prone and intellectually dishonest. These classes would be better served by bringing in folk who have a regard for consistency, accuracy and integrity.
Unchristian behaviour plus dishonest and unruly friends/colleagues
Firstly, let’s start with James White. White and his colleague have been caught on RADIO insulting Russian and Mormon (Brigham Young’s wives) women based on appearance. They have even gained years of “entertainment” in doing so. White has never apologized for this outrageous bout of audio:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.com/2010/12/james-white-lewd-ridicule-of-mormon-and.html
Sam Shamoun – this is James’ teacher and close friend. Sam Shamoun is the most shamed of Christian apologists – even more so than Ergun Caner. Sam Shamoun, in 2008 presented the thighing hoax as fact despite it being made up by Arab Christians on the net – perhaps these were Sam’s colleagues and/or friends. We don’t know as Sam Shamoun has gone all silent on us
Moreover, Sam has put James in hot water as James has been borrowing from Sam. Sadly, this borrowing meant James wound up using MADE UP AND ERRONEOUS Quranic translations – White was absolutely oblivious to it, which just further impugns White’s scholarship. Shamoun presents low level lies such as “Islam allows sex with animal”. The moral of the story – choose HONEST friends.
NOTE: James White has been invited to rebuke and disassociate himself from Sam Shamoun’s unruly and uncouth behaviour. White declined. I guess that’s integrity and consistency for you. White rebukes the easy target (Ergun Caner) but the one closer to home get’s away with insult and lies.
White seems to be covering and protecting Shamoun. I guess it is a close relationship. Perhaps Shamoun is helping with the book - What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an – by James White
Here is Sam Shamoun abusing Muslims and Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.com/2010/11/sam-shamoun-obsessed-with-shabir-ally.html
Walid Shoebat – James White has gone on record denouncing old Walid [since this article White has gone on record to state he has never communicated with Shoebat and has even declined to appear on the same show as Shoebat and Kamal Saleem. In the conventional sense White is not colleagues with Shoebat or Saleem - he simple appears on the same missionary TV show as them. Perhaps he should let the director, Bassim Gorial, know as to their deceptive ways or stop appearing on the show altogether - it would do wonders for his credibility].
David Wood – Aside from claiming he was arrested because of “Sharia” and other dishonest outrages he has presented a sex hoax whilst claiming it to be a fact, this is the SAME hoax his friend Shamoun presented two years earlier. How sad.
Kamal Saleem – [as per Shoebat, see above] This one makes up his own Ahadith literature. Yes, he fabricates hadith amongst other lies and blunders.
Nabeel Qureshi – he knowingly uses fallacious translations of Ahadith literature. He has STILL not come clean and corrected himself. A sad indictment of James White’s inability is White’s featuring of Nabeel Qureshi’s dishonest work – White is STILL featuring such misleading work!
Pastor Joseph – this is James White’s friend and colleague on ABN. He presents lies such as Islam allows homosexuality amongst other outrages.
The old adage “A man is on the path of his friend” is quite telling and impugning.
Conclusion
James White is out of his league. The only relationship he should be having with a book concerning Islamic matters is that of a reader not as a writer. Sadly, the hunt for kudos and a few extra dollars is quite a self-deluding tool.
Our advice to James is to clean up his act and spend time studying, correcting his previous blunders and double checking his previous work - even Catholics (Catholicism is an area James knows much better than Islam) are calling him out on past inconsistencies and blunders. Time better served, James.
Senior Muslim scholars are wary of TV shows which put scholars in a position to give edicts via phone-in shows. The reason behind the warning is to guard against error. Contrast this prudency with James White’s recklessness - he is writing a book despite being unqualified and error-prone.
We shall not recommend his book to anyone. Obviously, some Muslim apologists may purchase it in order to sift for errors but those who are interested in learning should be mindful where you take your education from. Here is a suggestion to his followers, rather than relying on the unreliable why not sift through material yourself and do your OWN research. Just a suggestion…
Thus knowledge constitutes your deen (religion), so be wary of whom you take your religion from – Ibn Sirin [Ibn Hibban credited this statement to other scholars too]
PS If you have any errors or bouts of dishonesty you would like to highlight related to James White you can always leave a comment or drop an email.
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
10 comments:
Quotes taken from James White's chunk of text:
It's been quite a while since I went into "book mode," but 2011 will take me back to the keyboard for, Lord willing, two books. One is still under development (pray that the co-author I have contacted will join me in the project!) but the other is all set to begin work: What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an will be my contribution to the effort to educate, motivate, and edify the Body of Christ in the area of Islamic evangelism and apologetics. It will not simply be a review of the Qur'an per se, but I will use key texts from the Qur'an (having provided a hopefully helpful introduction and outline) as the framework upon which to build a presentation of the key issues (not all possible issues, not even the most "exciting" issues---but the issues that actually matter eternally) that separate Christianity and Islam and give rise to the primary areas of discussion when Christians and Muslims talk. As I have in my previous books, I will seek to present the issues plainly and clearly and understandably, all the while doing so in such a way as to educate and train the believer, increasing their confidence so as to lead to a growth in evangelism and outreach. Much of the fear that exists in the hearts and minds of Christians about speaking to that Muslim about the faith arises from ignorance fueled by a constant focus in the media upon the most radicalized forms of Islam. My prayer is that the believers who read this book will be emboldened to proclaim the Lordship of Christ to every Muslim.
Here's How You Can Help
Human nature being what it is, there is a downside to my going into "book mode." It's pretty simple: we are a small ministry. We do not have fund raisers. We do not send out fund raising letters, we don't have folks cold-calling contributors, and we rarely mention finances on The Dividing Line. But we are supported by regular folks who see the need for this work, and every once in a while we need to provide a reminder of this (as we constantly and thankfully have new folks discovering our work). When I am traveling and doing debates on a wide range of topics, this obviously helps the ministry in the sense of exposure and hence support. But when I am sitting in my office reading books, making notes, and writing chapters of a book that won't see the light of day for months into the future---well, let's face it, human nature is human nature, and we all know the saying, "What have you done for me lately?" So the biggest thing anyone can do to assist in "book writing in 2011" would be to let us know you will stand with us with regular support to keep the ministry moving forward, the DL airing regularly, etc.
Next, I use the Ministry Resource List to obtain the materials I need for these projects, and I have put a number of such resources on that list just recently, one of which is mighty expensive, but it would be incredibly helpful. The handful of folks who have kept an eye on that list over the past two years and have helped me out by providing those tangible resources have no idea how encouraging that is, and even more so, how necessary. I know a number of folks have commented on how they enjoy knowing that a particular book or electronic item they purchased was going to be used in a particular project, in preparation for a particular debate, etc. I am just thankful for the assistance and fellowship!
James White: I will seek to present the issues plainly and clearly and understandably, all the while doing so in such a way as to EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE BELIEVER, INCREASING THEIR CONFIDENCE SO AS TO LEAD TO A GROWTH IN EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH.
In other words, James White's book is not so much about scholarship as it is about missionary propaganda. Clearly biased.
All what we hope is that James White would check his facts before copy and paste from Sam Shamoun's Articles.
With the name of Allah, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
What can I add? Yahya, Ibn and 1MoreMuslim have said it all!
Hahahaha! I have a theme song for James White....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXQltR7vUQ "A Few Dollars More"...... Notice in his last dividing line he doesn't want to debate Bryson in his Church because there is not enough room =not enough people to charge $$$$$$ ???
I wrote a review of the debate. I thought it might be nice for my readers. White had enough on his hands just in debating Ehrman. But isn't it nice that he also had time to spend two blogs and one internet webcast (his Dividing Line program) going after me, judging my motives and attacking my character? He called me a "bigot" and a "liar." Not once does he deal with my criticisms of him in the debate. That was the best he could do, go after me. And he actually does understand that this strategy will be good enough with the people who listen to him. It works. What does that say about them? They like that about him, that he goes immediately for motives ("bigot") and character ("liar"). Just the fact that he has so much spin control in play to spend this kind of time on my blog review tells you a little about his state of mind. I do not know what his followers see in him to exhibit so much allegiance.
He comes across like a snake oil salesman, a wandering minstrel. He's got his truck and products, just a little more hi-tech. He possesses the necessary hubris to shamelessly self-promote, it seems, without any compunction. Except he deals with Scripture and against deniers of the faith. It's an activity that we can applaud, but by a person who behaves with a smugness strangely contradictory to the task.
http://kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com/2009/02/liar-liarjames-white-and-aom.html
'..We do not have fund raisers. We do not send out fund raising letters, we don't have folks cold-calling contributors, and we rarely mention finances on The Dividing Line..'
Translated : We are not ashamed to ask you for your $$. Buy this book , I will be laughing all the way to the bank.
In the end , its all about $$ .... dR White .... pls take note.
this james guy could not even defend bible from nadir ahmed. james got pwnd by sami zaatari and shadid lewes chewed this dude up 2.
he lost his debates against br shabir and was even owned badly after one of them. abdullah andalasi is 2 good for him. why hes now writing books at home. he got owned nadir ahmed is calling him again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6qk83XTLVk
Yahya,
James White admitted he declined an invitation from ABN to share the stage with Walid Sheobat and Kamal Saleem on a ABN show in December 2010.
1moremuslim.
Brother, thanks alot. I've never seen him on the same showqwith either Shoebat/Saleem.
This is interesting. InshaAllah I will make an addition to this post so poeple are aware that White is not colleagues with Shoebat and Saleem in a conventionally understood way. White simply appears on the same missionary channel.
Hmm...What if? An Update on the Disappearance of Caner's Endorsement of Siljander's Book
03/04/2011 - James White
I was thinking after posting the information about Caner's endorsement disappearing from the Siljander website...what if this had nothing to do with Caner? What if someone contacted Mark Siljander, provided him with the mountain of documentation proving that everything Cal Thomas said about Caner, as recorded in the book, is bogus (born and raised in Turkey, came here to convert us, blah blah blah), and he realized he did not need that kind of publicity? I jumped to the conclusion that the "endorsement pull" came from Caner's side (given that it would be downright simplistic to post videos of Caner blasting everything Siljander says about Islam, jihad, etc. In fact, let's do that right now:
Notice the string of falsehoods: madrassas in Istanbul and Cairo (he didn't mention Beirut in this one), coming here when he was 14 (he was 2.5 and he knew it when he said it), and the lie that he knew nothing about America (tough to back that one up when you grow up in Ohio)---of course, we could give him a pass on saying he knew nothing about America when he actually did come here. Most 2.5 year olds are not overly culturally literate. But note that his view of jihad is the exact view of jihad Siljander attacks and decries and identifies as the main part of the problem in his book!). But what if the pull came from Siljander's side? An interesting possibility.
In any case, I would like to ask either Mark Siljander or Ergun Caner to explain the disappearance of the endorsement
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