One of the most controversial claims today is that Islam is a religion of tolerance. From both a theological and historical standpoint, that claim is difficult to defend. No Islamic nation currently practices full religious freedom, and throughout history Christian communities have faced persecution under Islamic rule. Scholars widely acknowledge that Islam expanded through conquest, and the Qur’an itself includes passages calling for violence against unbelievers. Today, Dr. Doug Hopkins joins the show to continue this important conversation.

Islam, as a system, is not ultimately compatible with Western civilization. In traditional Islam, submission to Allah extends into every sphere of life, including civil authority, which naturally moves toward governance and Sharia Law. Christianity, however, sees itself as belonging to a Kingdom not of this world. Our calling isn’t to rule nations but to bear faithful witness to Christ. This episode continues our conversation on Islam, Allah, and Muhammad.

For four consecutive years, thousands of Muslims have gathered in Times Square for public prayer during Ramadan. This year, they declared that they would not stop proclaiming Islam until it reaches every home. The scene is striking—in many ways, ironic. New York City, the place where Islamist terrorists brought down the Twin Towers, now has its first Muslim mayor. On today’s episode, we walk through the origins of the Muslim faith and the five pillars of Islam.