Michael Austin

Professor-turned-administrator and political commentator. Author of six books including "That's Not What They Meant! Reclaiming the Founding Fathers from the American Right" (Prometheus Books).

Standing Up for Secularism

In Saudi Arabia this week, doctors advised that the next phase of the punishment of liberal blogger Raif Badawi be postponed until he has healed from the first. Badawi has

By Michael Austin

January 25, 2015

Two Myths of "Muslim Violence"

We are all familiar with the rough outlines of the narrative: Followers of Islam commit terrorist acts in numbers far out of proportion to their representation in the human family.

By Michael Austin

January 18, 2015

Two Myths of "Muslim Violence"

We are all familiar with the rough outlines of the narrative: Followers of Islam commit terrorist acts in numbers far out of proportion to their representation in the human family.

By Michael Austin

January 18, 2015

Bible, Koran, or Bhagavad Gita: Match The Quote with the Sacred Text

I have been surprised this week by how many of my friends and acquaintances are actually Islamic studies experts. Since the Charlie Hebdo shootings, I have talked -- online or

By Michael Austin

January 13, 2015

Bible, Koran, or Bhagavad Gita: Match The Quote with the Sacred Text

I have been surprised this week by how many of my friends and acquaintances are actually Islamic studies experts. Since the Charlie Hebdo shootings, I have talked -- online or

By Michael Austin

January 13, 2015

Satire and Mockery in a Free Society

Malice never was his aim, He lash'd the vice but spar'd the name. No individual could resent, Where thousands equally were meant. His satyr points at

By Michael Austin

January 11, 2015

Satire and Mockery in a Free Society

Malice never was his aim, He lash'd the vice but spar'd the name. No individual could resent, Where thousands equally were meant. His satyr points at

By Michael Austin

January 11, 2015

How to Win a War of Ideas

Judging from the comments on my most recent post, a non-trivial number of IVN Facebook followers believe that the United States should lead the way in eradicating Islam from the

By Michael Austin

January 9, 2015

How to Win a War of Ideas

Judging from the comments on my most recent post, a non-trivial number of IVN Facebook followers believe that the United States should lead the way in eradicating Islam from the

By Michael Austin

January 9, 2015

Let’s Not Give Terrorists the Holy War They Want

This week’s attack on the Paris newspaper Charlie Hebdo by violent Islamicists was a great tragedy and an unspeakable outrage. It was a vile, evil action by people who

By Michael Austin

January 8, 2015

Let’s Not Give Terrorists the Holy War They Want

This week’s attack on the Paris newspaper Charlie Hebdo by violent Islamicists was a great tragedy and an unspeakable outrage. It was a vile, evil action by people who

By Michael Austin

January 8, 2015

“The Actual Vision”: A Poet’s Wish for the Day After Christmas

Well, so that is that. Now we must dismantle the tree, Putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes -- Some have got broken -- and carrying them up to

By Michael Austin

December 26, 2014

“The Actual Vision”: A Poet’s Wish for the Day After Christmas