--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had been fascinated with Islam since…" description: "\"I had been fascinated with Islam since college - particularly how it could inspire such fervor in our modern age and move a significant number of its f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg" --- # I had been fascinated with Islam since college… ![“I had been fascinated with Islam since college - particularly how it could inspire such fervor in our modern age and move a significant number of its followers to horrific acts of violence. That invisible hand moved me to study more and more about Islam.” quote by Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg) > “I had been fascinated with Islam since college - particularly how it could inspire such fervor in our modern age and move a significant number of its followers to horrific acts of violence. That invisible hand moved me to study more and more about Islam.” [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on how Islam's appeal can motivate both devotion and extreme violence, prompting deeper study. **In simple terms:** Islam can inspire strong devotion and also violent actions, leading to further investigation. Key Takeaway Explore both positive and negative influences of faith. Themes religion radicalization curiosity Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - academic research - interfaith dialogue - counter‑terrorism training - media analysis Key Concepts faith dynamics psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - How does one differentiate between faith-inspired passion and extremist ideology? - What responsibilities do scholars have when studying sensitive topics? A Different Perspective The statement may overgeneralize a complex religion and its followers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts of violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-of-violence/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Fervor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fervor/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [I lead no party; I follow no leader. I have given the best part of my life to careful study of Islam, its law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/i-lead-no-party-i-follow-no-leader-i-have-given-the-best-part-of-my/) [Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/) > [Judge Afiuni has suffered enough. She has been subject to acts of violence and humiliations to undermine her human dignity. I am convinced that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/judge-afiuni-has-suffered-enough-she-has-been-subject-to-acts-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [During the summer of 2009, the debate on health care reform was emotional and intense. At its best, it represented the free exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/during-the-summer-of-2009-the-debate-on-health-care-reform-was/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [We have agreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and against the Palestinians wherever they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/we-have-agreed-with-prime-minister-ariel-sharon-to-cease-all-acts-of/) [Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/) > [It is a most curious experience for a man of seventy-two to be confronted with the greenhorn enthusiasms of his youth. Young people think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/it-is-a-most-curious-experience-for-a-man-of-seventy-two-to-be/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [If you suspect that my interest in the Bible is going to inspire me with sudden enthusiasm for Judaism and make me a convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-you-suspect-that-my-interest-in-the-bible-is-going-to-inspire-me/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/our-patriotic-fervor-was-the-result-of-the-old-and-widespread-belief/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [There is nothing in art, in philosophy, or in politics to match the fervor of mutual cooperation among discordant bands of fanatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dean-foster/there-is-nothing-in-art-in-philosophy-or-in-politics-to-match-the/) [Alan Dean Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dean-foster/) > [“Passion is wholehearted devotion; it is fervor and agony; it is temper and zeal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ross/passion-is-wholehearted-devotion-it-is-fervor-and-agony-it-is-temper/) [Rebecca Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ross/) > [Nothing can be fairer, or more noble, than the holy fervor of true zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/nothing-can-be-fairer-or-more-noble-than-the-holy-fervor-of-true-zeal/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind is closed, the leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/and-when-the-drums-of-war-have-reached-a-fever-pitch-and-the-blood/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [“They are boiling with the pressured energy of explosive forces confined in a small space, and with the fervor of all religious movements in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/they-are-boiling-with-the-pressured-energy-of-explosive-forces/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Fervor is the weapon of choice for the impotent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/fervor-is-the-weapon-of-choice-for-the-impotent/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/youth-should-be-radical-youth-should-demand-change-in-the-world-youth/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) ## More by Brad Thor > [“Harvath shrugged as his phone chimed. “That’s social media for you. There’s a reason the intelligence community loves it so much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/harvath-shrugged-as-his-phone-chimed-that-s-social-media-for-you/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [...all members of Congress should be required wear NASCAR uniforms. You know, the kind with the patches? That way we'd know who is sponsoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/all-members-of-congress-should-be-required-wear-nascar-uniforms-you/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“While the words are yet unspoken, you are master of them; when once they are spoken, they are master of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/while-the-words-are-yet-unspoken-you-are-master-of-them-when-once/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [My first novel, 'The Lions of Lucerne,' just poured out of me. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment. My biggest fear and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/my-first-novel-the-lions-of-lucerne-just-poured-out-of-me-it-was-an/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“He carried no electronics. No laptop, no cell phone, no walkie-talkie. He carried no ID. Beside his large-caliber Glock, spare magazines, and a knife,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/he-carried-no-electronics-no-laptop-no-cell-phone-no-walkie-talkie-he/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Her parties were some of the best in China. Celebrities, drugs, beautiful women—they had everything. And it was those parties that had propelled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/her-parties-were-some-of-the-best-in-china-celebrities-drugs/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > ['The Last Patriot' is set in the present day but is based upon the premise that the Prophet Mohammed had a final revelation, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/the-last-patriot-is-set-in-the-present-day-but-is-based-upon-the/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“yours, Rob,” she replied. “Damn it, Gretchen,” he said. “This is how it works. I can’t always give you all the information.” “Well you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/yours-rob-she-replied-damn-it-gretchen-he-said-this-is-how-it-works-i/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Muslim students would go through a bunch of feel-good exercises and leave with the impression that without Islamic contributions to science, there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/muslim-students-would-go-through-a-bunch-of-feel-good-exercises-and/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Bullshit. I don’t know how, but somehow you followed us.” “I will admit, Agent Harvath, that when you logged on to the web site…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/bullshit-i-don-t-know-how-but-somehow-you-followed-us-i-will-admit/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“The first thing Harvath removed was a sand-colored, modified Palafox 9mm SIG Sauer P226 pistol. It had bright green TRUGLO Tritium/Fiber-Optic Day/Night sights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/the-first-thing-harvath-removed-was-a-sand-colored-modified-palafox/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“As Ben Franklin was alleged to have said, those who would trade a little liberty for a little security deserve neither and will lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/as-ben-franklin-was-alleged-to-have-said-those-who-would-trade-a/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“whoever had written it. Placing the crime scene photo of Claire Marcourt’s body with the other two pictures, he remarked, “How about the local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/whoever-had-written-it-placing-the-crime-scene-photo-of-claire/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Cowles sat next to him. Upon his lap was a soft, leather briefcase. Inside, his left hand was wrapped around the butt of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/cowles-sat-next-to-him-upon-his-lap-was-a-soft-leather-briefcase/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Have a smile on your face for everyone you meet, and a plan to kill them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/have-a-smile-on-your-face-for-everyone-you-meet-and-a-plan-to-kill/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) [Explore all 107 Brad Thor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had been fascinated with Islam since college - particularly how it could inspire such fervor in our modern age and move a significant number of its followers to horrific acts of violence. That invisible hand moved me to study more and more about Islam.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brad Thor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-college-particularly-how-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-college-particularly-how-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/brad-thor-4616_about_i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-c_2336400.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had been fascinated with Islam since college - particularly how it could inspire such fervor in our modern…” — Brad Thor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brad Thor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had been fascinated with Islam...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-college-particularly-how-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/i-had-been-fascinated-with-islam-since-college-particularly-how-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```