Islam and Arabs in early American thought
Subtitle: roots of orientalism in America
By: Fuad Shaʻban.
Contributors: Duke University. Islamic and Arabian Development Studies.
Publisher: Acorn Press
Published: 1991
Place of publication: Durham, N.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 244
Subjects: Islam -- Public opinion.; Public opinion -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Islam -- Relations -- Christianity.; Christianity and other religions -- Islam.; Middle East -- Foreign public opinion, American.; Middle East -- Study and teaching -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
Description: This book chronicles the dreams, illusions and aspirations of American missionaries, world travellers and national leaders, from colonial times forward, as they sought to establish "an American Israel" in the Holy Land. In their dispositions the reader can glimpse the battleground for Christian Americans and Middle Eastern Moslems in succeeding centuries. The author brings insights from his own religious roots to complement his grasp of the American phenomena which produced Orientalism. He traces the fundamentalist movements and national philosophies which influenced Americans to view themselves as the "Chosen People" and to extend their missionary resolves to the policy of "Manifest Destiny." Thus the future of American-Arab relations in the Middle East was set upon antithetical paths.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-236) and index.
"Published in association with Duke University Islamic and Arabian Development Studies."