“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, 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 wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some 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. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the faith: all know how to die but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism 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 science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

― Winston Churchill, The River War

Winston Churchill wrote “The River War” and published it in two volumes in 1899. It covers the British campaign in the Sudan, particularly focusing on the reconquest of the Sudanese territory from the forces of the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad.

Churchill’s admiration for the Mahdist forces, led by Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, was evident in his depiction of their courage and determination. He acknowledged the fervent religious zeal that inspired the Mahdist warriors to resist British imperialism. Churchill recognized the potency of the Islamic faith as a motivating force, especially in the face of foreign intervention.

At the same time, Churchill was critical of certain aspects of Islamic governance and culture, particularly what he perceived as its resistance to modernization and its authoritarianism. He viewed the imposition of strict Islamic law under the Mahdi’s rule as oppressive and detrimental to both individual and societal progress.

While Churchill’s perspectives on Islam, imperialism, and warfare reflect the attitudes prevalent in late 19th-century colonialist Britain, many activist agitators hold that his views do not align with contemporary values and understanding, but since Islam remains unreformed, its theocratical views are still practiced; one can consider Islam to be a clear and present danger to Western Civilization and a tool for modern-day authoritarianism.

Some appeasers argue that Islam, like any religion, can undergo reform and adaptation to modern contexts. At the same time, the fundamental Islamists believe that the fundamentals of Islam are immutable and, therefore, resistant to significant reform. In this case, the religion’s more violent and authoritarian practices are anathema to modern society.