The Mohammedan Heresy

I am spending some time studying The Great Heresies by Hilaire Belloc. My main interest is in learning more about the heresies that have afflicted the Church since the beginning - I've read about the early ecumenical councils, studied their decrees and read some basic commentary. What I find interesting about Belloc's book is the emphasis he places on understanding the historical and sociological grounds in which each heresy developed.

Of particular interest is his exploration of Islam. The economic conditions which contributed to the rise of Islam are not unlike the conditions faced in many parts of the world today, and may be contributing to the recent rise of the Islamic threat. Indeed, many of the concerns he expressed concerning the dangers posed by Mohammedanism appear prescient, even though said ideas were dismissed when he wrote his book, and even today are dismissed by those unwilling to risk offending others (at least non-Christian others) with a critical examination of religious beliefs and the subsequent behaviors of religious adherents.