Great storytelling and an Insightful take on the battle to define Islam, within Islam I didn't know what to expect from Professor Betty. this time Years ago I had read with great pleasure his epic novel "Thomas" about the legend of the Biblical doubting Thomas leading a mission to India. It is an exhaustively researched piece of historical fiction, and quite the page turner, yet packed with lots of religious and philosophical themes. "The War for Islam," however, takes place in the future, and it's not clear what a war for Islam is. Betty assumes that within Islam there are two incompatible visions of what the religion is: to some, Islam is a religion of peace; to others, it is a religion of conquest. These competing visions comprise the essential conflict around which the tale is spun. In the future a 100 years or so from now, the world has been deeply traumatized and radically transformed by the religion of conquest. The situation is dire and the Christian West is paralyzed, leaving the task of defeating the religion of conquest to those who follow the religion of peace. How the battle is enjoined, and ultimately won, is the central point of the story, and this story is told by relating the relationship of a Christian Professor of Religious Studies to two Muslim women. These three characters are worth getting to know, and I grew attached to each of them, empathizing with them in their sorrows and triumphs, both personal and political. Betty is able to engage you philosophically and politically with his vision of the battle within Islam, but also emotionally with his engaging, endearing, and well-wrought characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I highly recommend it. ~ Michael Einhaus, Amazon.com Review

Stafford Betty's book "The War for Islam" is fast moving, easy reading, and presents an interesting and disturbing scenario for the future of civilization in the next hundred years. It's a little over the top religiously for my taste, but that was necessary by the nature of the story. A little religious philosophy and history is woven through the dialogue at times, along with words that may be unfamiliar to western readers. Their definitions can easily be found in a dictionary or on the internet. Members of the Caliphate, thinking they are doing Allah's will, are spreading terror around the world in an attempt to create Islamic theocracies and a better world according to their interpretation of the Qur'an. Silas, our hero in the book, and his two loves, Saira and Layla, work heroically to bring a semblance of peace to the world through non-violent means. I agree with another reviewer who wrote: "Even the minor characters, the quirky billionaire friend, the Japanese prime minister who united the two Koreas, the “Crusher” we meet in the Sudan chapter, Saira’s child who uncovers the plot to blow up Gracie Mansion in New York—all really come alive." The story is good enough to make into an exciting movie. ~ "Lizzie", Amazon.com review

The War for Islam is a fine novel. Not one but several world stories on world stages, intimate and intense; our heroes have convincing lives, and we feel drawn to them. Leading a holy life is not easy for any of us, but reading a novel by a professor of theology is an unusual start, especially if one breaks off, now and then, to repeat, “Abba” for several minutes, as the Mayor of New York City was advised in the year 2127, when calm was at a premium. It was not a good time to be countering terrorism, as inflicted by the extremist Islamic group, the United Caliphate, which defied all attempts at control. But there was hope, as envisioned and acted on by two young Islamic women, who maintained that the Quran had been misinterpreted. Both of them were in love with the NYC mayor, a Christian and an ex-theological professor, who shared their hopes and plans. With the plot in the hands of Professor Stafford Betty a real theological professor, known for his books on parapsychology and the Afterlife, their hopes prospered. For readers a great result. Professor Betty is a dramatist with a flair for description. As a creative futurist he has much to share with us. Highly recommended ~ Alan Sanderson, Amazon.com review

Very interesting indeed. The War for Islam is set in the future where the world is holding on by a thread as there is a struggle between peace and violent opposition. Fanatics are killing innocent people around the globe. It is well-written and captivating. ~ Ily Renfroe (Media), NetGalley

Does the world survive the Caliphate, secularism, and what remains of Christian fundamentalism in 2125? Since many people prefer not to know what’s ahead, I dare not add to this review of the book beyond saying that the characters really come alive and there are surprising resolutions. The book provides profound insights into the major cultural problem of our time. ~ Michael Tymn, Blog

In The War for Islam, we are catapulted seventy years into the future and the dreams of establishing a caliphate are well on the way to being achieved and the evil ideology is beginning to insidiously affect more and more people. However, very few are willing to stand up against this spread of fear and hatred. Christian Silas and two brave and brilliant Muslim women decide to counter this hatred through peaceful demonstration and other non-violent means and they cross continents and countries in an effort to share their message of peace and love. The author makes some interesting and thought-provoking points about religion and theology. It is a compelling and fascinating read. I will be looking out for more from Betty in the future. ~ Lou @readers_retreat , NetGalley

It is refreshing to see two strong Muslim women centre stage as we follow their lives dedicated to achieving a peaceful outcome. Some interesting thought-provoking points are made regarding the similarities between religions, but Betty shows that it is violence in the name of religion, not religious violence which is the evil force. ~ Jill Burrows, NetGalley

There’s no doubt that I enjoyed reading this ‘what if’' novel set seventy years in the future. The radical Muslim Caliphate is taking control of most of the world and citizens are too frightened or indoctrinated to stand up against their violence. All except Silas, a Christian academic and newspaper columnist and his two brave Muslim loves, Saira and Layla. Together, they challenge the Caliphate with speeches, peaceful demonstrations and newspaper articles, as well as living a life of religious tolerance themselves. By the end of their lives they have made a difference. One or two of the references to UK jarred a bit with me, but Stafford Betty certainly has something to say to the world today. ~ jane ayres, NetGalley

A truly enlightening book contained in a beautiful love story. It is exceptional to read a book of fiction that is this enjoyable and enlightening. I was moved by the story of love and educated and enlightened by the content. ~ Fred Magenheimer, Amazon.com review

This book blends bona fide religious scholarship with cutting-edge creative writing. Stafford Betty invites us to take a more intimate look at how Islam is experienced in America from political, social and spiritual perspectives. ~ Terri Daniel, Death and Awareness Educator. M.A. in Theology, Personal Correspondence

Two courageous Muslim women and a nonconformist Christian are the heroes in this stirring and important novel. Stafford Betty, like Gandhi, Tutu, King, and others, reminds us that the way to a peaceful world is the way of love and compassion, but at the price of sacrificial death. ~ Tim Vivian, Professor of Religious Studies and Islam Specialist, California State University, Bakersfield

The War For Islam projects the struggle between the two sides of Islam, extremist and moderate, onto a troubled and violent world a hundred years in the future. Its heroes are two Muslim women and a Christian man struggling to free the world from a counterfeit religion intent on world domination. Written by a professor of world religions, the novel spans the globe, from Japan to Sudan, from Belgium to India, and works brilliantly at both the geopolitical and personal levels. Betty has undertaken a uniquely ambitious project. His novel raises profoundly important questions and delights the reader along the way. ~ Norman Prigge, Ph.D., retired Associate Professor of Philosophy