Archive - Peter Townsend's Newsletter

On Islam and Hate Speech

A Stunning Double Standard?

Jul 1 •

Islam: The ‘Hotel California' of Religions

The Law of Apostasy and Its Consequences

Jul 1 •

June 2025

A Stiff Drink with Allah's Blessing?

The Qur'an on Alcohol

Jun 30 •

The Curious Case of the Missing Caliphs

Why are Islam's earliest leaders absent from the historical record?

Jun 29 •

A Tale of Two (Arabian) Cities

Najran vs. Mecca in Ancient Sources

Jun 28 •

Muhammad, His Prophetic Claims, and His Aorta

The perplexing presence of hadiths that seems to declare Muhammad to be a false prophet

Jun 27 •

Rage Against the Line

The Sykes-Picot Agreement, Colonialism and Muslim Resistance

Jun 26

Islam Originated in Mecca? Not so fast!

The serious questions that should be asked about the origins of Islam

Jun 25 •

Killed for Having Pubic Hair

The 'Prophet' and Rough 'Justice'

Jun 23 •

The Qur'an and Hadiths on 'Honor Killing'

How 'One who learned wisdom from Allah' dealt with a rebellious child

Jun 22 •

The 'Out of Context' Canard

Does 'Context' Get the Qur'an Off the Hook?

Jun 21 •

'No Compulsion in Religion' - Not So Fast...

The Qur'an and Hadiths on Forced Conversion to Islam

Jun 20 •

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