Rippin on "Mohammedan"

Faisal Joseph is asking Andrew Rippin questions about Islam. Roo Tonie isn't paying attention. I don't blame her; it's irrelevant.

FJ asked Rippin about the term "Mohammedan". Rippin explained that the phrase emerged from a Christian view -- just as Christianty was named at its central figure, Christ, Christians chose to call Mohammed's faith as Mohammedanism. It wasn't a disparaging phrase; it was mimicking how Christians describe themselves.

Rippin, in fact, pointed out that some Muslim groups call themselves Mohammedia.

I'm starting to wonder: did FJ and the sock puppets take Rippin through their questions before today? Or was his appearance as slap-dash as the rest of their case, some of which was hatched just yesterday?

Because if I were trying to paint the word "Mohammedan" as an insult, I'm not sure if I'd be pleased if my expert -- who surely is an expert on Islam as a religion -- would tell me it's not inherently offensive, and in fact is an appellation chosen by some Muslims themselves.