A revealing critique in 1899 by young Winston Churchill of Islam:

    In 1899 young Winston Churchill wrote a well received history of this struggle called The River War. Let me share with you a few quotes from Churchill’s book. Concerning Islam he wrote: 

    “Besides the fanatical frenzy, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist where ever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. The fact that in Mahommedan law every woman must belong to a sole man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it.” 

Finally, Churchill says of Islam,

    “No greater retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism (Islam) is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step, and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”