Patrick Muntazir
ISBN: 9780974169910
Finimex Publishing
Reviewed By Dominique Sessons
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
To be honest, who among us hasn't fought the temptation to sleep through History Class or cringed at the prospect of having to learn dates, names, and other supposedly random trivia dating back thousands of years? Furthermore, when's the last time you watched Jeopardy and actually cared when such categories as "Middle Eastern History," "Religious Icons," or "Bible Facts" came up on the board?
In Peace Without Domination, author Patrick Muntazir provides the perfect solution for those who maintain a curiosity about religious history but still possess a lingering fear of what it would take to actually learn it. In clear, powerful language, Muntazir presents a wealth of facts, information, and historical references that shed much-needed light on many of the well-known - and not-so-well-known - individuals and events that have impacted the continued evolution of human civilization. In so doing, he avoids the didactic and often pedantic tone that other scholars tend to take, instead treating the reader to useful, practical examples and helpful anecdotes, conveying his points in straightforward, easily relatable fashion.
Furthermore, Muntazir removes the veil of façade from many of the wars, crusades, and other events throughout history previously (and popularly) thought to have been conducted for other purposes. In revealing the true motives behind some of the world's most famous - and infamous - figures, Peace Without Domination treats the reader to an eye-opening side of history that won't be found in standard textbooks.
An engaging, enlightening account of a world that has been anything but dull, Peace Without Domination belongs in the permanent personal libraries of readers all over the globe - regardless of whether they’re history lovers or not.
Official Apex Reviews
Interview: Patrick Muntazir (Peace Without Domination: Life, Not Death)
Apex Reviews: Patrick, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward
to learning more about your book.
The book is a comprehensive, eye-opening resource of important historical facts
and information. Did you perform extensive research in putting the volume
together?
Patrick Muntazir: Yes. It’s taken years to compile with considerable research utilizing different format.
AR: Please share with our readers precisely what a "theocracy" is
and why the practice of it has played such a significant role in the continued
evolution of world civilization.
PM: Theocracy is a government ruled by laws purportedly from God. It plays
a continued role in the evolution of world civilizations as, apparently, some
religions have received such laws via their scriptures for governance, without
an expiration period. If those scriptures are taken at face value, the
adherents have to live by those laws through a theocracy. Christianity has not
received any theocratic laws. However, the West did practice theocracy for a
short period, possibly in an attempt to copy others.
AR: Please share with us the significance of the "Spanish Flip".
PM: In the second half of our first millennia, Spain was conquered by the Moors who ruled it for seven centuries. The turning point, which I call the Spanish Flip, did not come till the sixteenth century when Spain was able to flip the tide with help from the north and defeat the Moors, eventually banishing three million through a treaty.
AR: Do you think it's truly possible to ever achieve peace without domination?
PM: Survival of the fittest theory is a scientific reality whereby the stronger survive. As a result, power seekers will attempt to prove their metal for domination and attempt to drive out the earlier powers - just as shown in animal documentaries. Thus we can only wonder, without giving up this scientifically established animal instinct, is it ever possible to achieve peace without domination?
AR: Our reviewer commented on how well you're able to present historical
facts and information in an interesting, compelling fashion. Who/what have been
your greatest writing influences?
PM: It was more a misconception that eventually led to my writing. Coming to developed nations, east or west, one can notice a misconception about religion, in particular about the dominant Western religion, blaming it for wars and bloodshed in the West. Over the years this prompted me to investigate and find out the facts. Also, many of the books I reference in the book further influenced me and also helped me in searching for the facts.
AR: What advice would you give to anyone who'd like to learn more about history but winces at the thought of taking the time and effort to learn it?
PM: Readers may be astonished to know that the origins of warfare in the West have nothing to do with religion, despite the vitriol blaming religion for western wars and bloodshed. I have never been a history enthusiast. A desire to seek the truth is what made me explore history from a biblical perspective. Thus, seek and even history will reveal the truth.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your publishing company, Finimex Publishing.
PM: Finimex Publishing, Inc. is based in New York and produces in-house titles that substantiate biblical reality through correlating events therein from a historical perspective. “Peace Without Domination: Life, Not Death” is its major title.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing plans?
PM: Over the coming years our titles may be "Eden syndrome" and "Circumcision the division."
AR: How can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
PM: Through our website www.fpibooks.com.
AR: Also, how can they contact you directly?
PM: Also through the website.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
PM: Knowing the origins, whether as a person, a tribe or a nation can help in determining the purpose, while reflecting on the future in a more though provoking way. Because, if there is a beginning, irrespective of its process, and there is an on going transition, there is got to be some conclusion. We should appreciate having the liberty to seek and find that out, though, without exercising domination.
AR: Thanks again, Patrick, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
PM: Thank you.