Saturday, March 17, 2007

REVIEW: Marvin Yakos, PhD - Jesus, Jews, and Jihad

Jesus, Jews, and Jihad (JJJ) was written by ...
MARVIN YAKOS, who was born in Austria. Due to communist persecution, his parents brought him to America when he was two months old. While still a teenager, he embarked on a passionate quest to find spiritual truth. He studied spirituality, philosophy and religions worldwide and subsequently earned a doctorate in English. In the 60s and 70s he traveled extensively, and while living in India he became well-acquainted with ancient Vedic teachings and Islam. His search for truth ultimately led him to know Jesus Christ as his Savior. [From the back cover]
JJJ is non-fiction and is published by Xulon Press (a Christian self-publisher who provides affordable print-on-demand publishing for authors).

JJJ is a well-written and well-documented work; unfortunately the title is misleading (I will not presume to suggest an alternate). The book appears to be an evangelistic treatise to reach Muslims but that is NOT what the title implies … a troubling matter from page one.

This fact however does not detract from the overall quality of Marvin Yakos’ offering; but the absence of chapter numbering on the first page of each chapter did.

Chapter 22 (beginning on p. 213) is the place to learn everything you need to know about Jihad; combined with chapter 4 (beginning on 59 … one of the better chapters) one is provided a wealth of insight into the militant and hate-filled worldview of fundamentalist Jihadists.

On the other hand, p. 202 appears to be an oversimplified solution to the Muslim problem.
“The bondage of Islam can be overcome very easily with Jesus.”
I’m sorry but this must be couched in clearly stated biblical principle in order to be understood, in spite of the fact that it is true.

On page 62 Yakos provides what he sees as the long-range Islamic strategy Wahhabiism the engine of Mohammedan extremism today:
1. Withdrawal from region
2. Control of the oil resources of the region
3. Annihilation of Israel
Though, from time to time, the author seems apologetic to Mohammedans he doesn’t pull any punches when he lays the blame for our current situation at the feet of Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy (p.61). Carter was arguably the worst president ever.

The message of JJJ is a warning to the West:
“Lest we fall victim to our own ignorance, we must discern the actual intent of our enemy. Freedom demands it. Truth demands it even more. Above all, we must seek truth in this hour, with all our hearts.” [From the inside title page.]
It was refreshing to see Yakos cut to the chase:
“These Wahhabi-Muslim followers have the inspiration, determination, training, and access to weapons of mass destruction [let’s hear a collective gasp] to cause the collapse of Israel and America.” (p. 64)
If you don’t believe by this point read chapter eight (beginning on page 93), a truly chilling chapter.

Yakos has published three other books, The Roaring Lion of the East, Deliverance from Drugs, and Prevent Life Decay. Following twenty years of study into Islam's core foundations; Yakos warns Westerners concerning what they need to know about the avowed enemy of all infidels (non-believers). [From the back cover with liberties.]

A diligent reader will discover the author has succeeded in communicating his warning; though the people who need to read this book probably will not. And that is sad.

How did this book measure up when compared with similar books? There are too many secular books available on the subject; and it’s difficult to discern which might have a Judeo-Christian world-view like Yakos. I would have a hard time believing JJJ wouldn’t rank in the top three in either genre.

One thing a reader cannot say is that he failed to support his positions with both Scripture and Koranic material. JJJ used Scripture more than I’d like to see in a book of this sort (and that is a big criticism coming from me).

I could easily recommend the book to the lay people of my church; it might even pass muster as a text for a comparative religions class, or an elective Bible study.

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