Dennis Prager Interviews Andrew Bostom

From RAIR:

Dr. Bostom, a former associate professor of medicine at Brown University, an epidemiologist and author, is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on the historical relationship between Islam and the Jewish people. His extensive research has covered a wide range of topics, including Islamic theology, culture, and the treatment of Jews throughout history.

During the interview, Dennis Prager introduced Dr. Bostom as a remarkable scholar whose work on Islamic antisemitism has been instrumental in providing insights into this complex issue. He highlighted Dr. Bostom’s unique perspective as both an epidemiologist and a historian.

The conversation began with a discussion of Dr. Bostom’s transition from medicine to academia. Dr. Bostom explained that he retired early from his medical career due to concerns about developments in epidemiology during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed his distress over the vilification and mindless attacks he faced while speaking out against certain pandemic-related measures. As a result, he decided to leave academia but continues to engage in independent research.

Prager then touched upon the perception of epidemiologists and academia, which led Dr. Bostom to share his agreement with Prager’s skepticism. He emphasized the need for critical thinking and the importance of not surrendering to ideological conformity in academic settings.

The conversation shifted to the topic of Islamic antisemitism, the central focus of Dr. Bostom’s scholarly work. Dr. Bostom provided historical context by discussing the initial interactions between Muhammad and the Jewish community, highlighting that Muhammad’s early hope for Jewish acceptance of his prophethood quickly turned into conflict. This historical context was crucial in understanding the roots of Islamic antisemitism.