Explore the “Author’s Dilemma” with Don Peter. Discover why he blends high-stakes fiction with deep research in DOGMA. Uncover the hidden links between the Nazarenes and the Mu’min. Learn how stripping away religious labels promotes “Unity in Diversity” and reveals the shared truth behind early Christianity and early Islam.
The Creator’s Dilemma: Why I Mixed Fiction with Fact
Constructing a serious topic like DOGMA: Untold History of Early Christianity and Early Islam present a massive challenge. Most writers agree that non-fiction is difficult because it lacks flexibility. You must stick to the dry, academic path. However, I wanted to convey my message in a fluid and engaging way. I wanted the history to be easy to digest. Consequently, I chose to write a fiction thriller.
But here is the problem. My message is so profound and based on factual research that the book began to look like a serious historical-religious thesis. This created a strange disconnect for my readers. On one hand, fiction lovers often find the story awkward. They feel as though they are sitting in a lecture rather than reading a thriller.
On the other hand, serious researchers feel tempted by the topic. Yet, they often find the subject “corrupted” by fictional characters. They worry that the plot spoils the historical product.
The Search for the Core Audience
I found myself caught in the middle. Recently, I discussed this tension with a colleague. She asked me the most important question an author can face: “Who were you really speaking to at the core?”
When she asked who would immediately “get” the book, my answer was clear. I am not writing for everyone. I am writing for the people who live in the “borderlands” of faith. My primary targets are Westerners who have reverted to Islam. These individuals often feel a deep tension between their cultural roots and their new faith.
Additionally, I am writing for rational Jews, Muslims, and Christians. These are people who want to see that early Christianity and Islam were originally the same movement—before the “DOGMA” took over.
Removing the Labels: The Path to “The Way”
I wanted to show these readers that there is no such thing as “converting” in the way we usually think. We can continue living our lives and honoring our cultures. Labels are not the priority. As long as you believe in the One God and the Last Day, and you perform righteous deeds, you are on “The Way.”
We all face the same human problems. We deal with betrayal in business and conflict in marriage. We struggle with difficult coworkers or mental health issues. These problems do not care about your religious label. War and persecution do not stop to ask which church or mosque you attend.
Escaping the “Religious Ego”
During our conversation, I reflected on my own journey. I have been through the emotional stage of the “religious ego.” This is the feeling that “we are better than you.” It is a dangerous mindset. It makes us feel victorious only when the other side fails.
Eventually, I found these feelings repulsive and destructive. Years ago, I attended a seminar on promoting understanding. The speaker gave me a piece of advice that changed my life: “Avoid the differences! Seek something that we all agree upon!” I agreed with that speaker then, and I agree now. I support the idea of Unity in Diversity. There is no room for the “I’m better than you” mentality in true faith.
The Shared Minimum: Nazarenes and Mu’min
My research into early Christianity and early Islam confirmed this belief. The original message was simple: believe in the One God, expect the Last Day, and do righteous deeds. Why should we bother attacking what others believe?
The Nazarenes (early Christians) were no different from the Mu’min (early Muslims) in this core belief. They were walking the same path toward the same Creator. They shared a “Shared Minimum” of faith that bypassed the complex doctrines of later centuries.
Why the Fiction Matters
This brings us back to the “fictional characters” like Dr. Samuel Carter and Dr. Iqbal Malik. I realize now that the thriller elements are not just “decoration.” They are the bridge.
The Virtual Reality Simulator (VRS) in DOGMA allows readers to bypass their defensive walls. If I wrote a textbook, the “ego” would stand in the way. But through a story, we can witness the truth together. We can see the “field of diamonds” before it was covered by the labels of the last thousand years.
The Giants on Whose Shoulders I Stand
To uncover the truth, one must be willing to listen to many voices. My journey into the ancient past was not a lonely one. Instead, it was guided by a diverse group of scholars, researchers, and master storytellers. While space is limited, I must mention those who fundamentally reshaped my worldview.
The Search for the Historical Jesus
My fascination with the ancient world—from Egypt and Greece to the Persian Empire—began with Bruce Gore. His YouTube lectures are masterful. He explains the complexities of the Italian Peninsula and the surrounding regions so wonderfully that they become inspiring rather than dry.
Furthermore, the PBS Frontline documentary, From Jesus to Christ, was a turning point for me. Growing up, the narrative was always the same: a blonde-haired, blue-eyed divinity. However, this series shattered that image. It introduced me to the “human” and “historical” Jesus.
I owe a great debt to scholars like John Dominic Crossan and Professor Allen Callahan. They showed me a Jesus grounded in the social and political realities of 1st-century Judea. Similarly, Bart Ehrman provided a deeper understanding of how the early Christian texts were actually formed.
The Great Morphing of Doctrine
I also found immense insight in the work of Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, the authors of The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception and Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Their research into the Qumran scrolls reveals the “morphing” of a purely Jewish movement into a Gentile-Gnostic doctrine. This is the very transition that Dr. Samuel Carter explores in the Virtual Reality Simulator.
Deciphering the Early Islamic Message
When I turned my attention to early Islam, I sought out the most rigorous academic minds. I looked to Professor Paul Freedman (of Yale University) and the groundbreaking work of Fred Donner. Donner’s research into the “Believers’ Movement” (the Mu’min) was essential to the core philosophy of DOGMA.
However, perhaps the greatest linguistic contribution came from Aidid Safar, author of Mental Bondage. Safar argues that the root words of classical Arabic were distorted over time. He suggests that a priestly class of Persian scholars manipulated the language until the meanings shifted away from the intended message. By understanding the original Arabic root words, we can decipher the true essence of the Quranic text. This allows us to “read between the lines” of history.
The Art of the Historical Thriller
Finally, I had to learn how to tell a story. I owe the “fiction” side of my craft to the masters of the genre.
Dan Brown:
The Da Vinci Code showed me how to pace a historical mystery. He taught me how to keep readers turning pages while absorbing information.
Sidney Sheldon:
The Other Side of Midnight taught me how to weave complex human emotions through a gripping plot.
James Michener:
His epic novel Centennial inspired my understanding of how a historical novel can span generations and remain deeply engaging.
Conclusion: From Research to Revelation
The journey from the academic library to the thriller novel is long. However, it is necessary. By blending the research of scholars like Donner and Ehrman with the pacing of Dan Brown, I created something unique.
In DOGMA, I invite you to step into the Virtual Reality Simulator. You will see the transition from the Jewish followers of Jesus to the doctrinal shifts of the later Church. You will see how the Mu’min movement originally invited all “People of the Book” into a single community of believers.
Similarly, my upcoming release, God’s Viceroys, explores these themes of authority and divine representation. It challenges the reader to look past the modern labels. It asks us to return to the core: The One God, the Last Day, and Righteous Deeds.
Whether you are a “displaced seeker” or a rational researcher, these stories are for you. They are not just fiction. They are a bridge to a history that was almost forgotten. Let us walk “The Way” together, stripping away the dogma to find the truth that unites us all.
Author’s Note
Don Peter is an author and researcher based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. His novels, including THE EURASIANS and DOGMA, explore the intersection of history, environment, and faith. Look for the re-release of God’s Viceroys in June 2026.
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