Interfaith relations Books

Book SynopsisIn this interfaith book Lucinda Mosher investigates different understandings of destiny, loss, death, and remembrance in America's many religions. Using stories and interviews with a variety of religious adherents and health professionals, the book wrestles with questions such as: how can our religion guide us in making decisions about certain kinds of medical treatment options? What religion-related issues would it be helpful for a healthcare provider to know? How do different religious traditions help manage our grief?In a globalized society religious traditions sit alongside each other as never before, and the need for religious literacy and multifaith chaplaincy is increasingly recognized. By looking at multireligious America, this book provides an essential exploration of different attitudes to death, helping members of all faith communities to become more literate with each other's religious traditions.Trade ReviewDr. Mosher provides insights into how the big questions of life and death are answered within the rich tapestry of American religious life. This book is a must-read for anyone working in the caring professions, whether physicians, nurses, counselors, chaplains, or therapists. America is becoming a more diverse place and this book is a valuable guide to navigating it. -- Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, TXThis book changed me as much as anything I have read in recent years. If you want to know more about the full humanity your new neighbors-and are willing to think more deeply about your own eventual demise as well-then you cannot have better companions than the ones Lucinda Mosher introduces you to in this book. -- Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Learning to Walk in the DarkIn the context of religious pluralism and the needs of healthcare professionals to increase their interfaith literacy, Mosher's book is a gift. Its thematic approach speaks to the heart of person-centered care, and is enriched by a mosaic of voices within and across faith perspectives which leads practitioners not into an acquisition of knowledge but a deep relational respect and wonder, that builds cultural competency from the inside out -- The Rev. Dr. Storm Swain, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Theology, United Lutheran SeminaryTable of ContentsPreface. 1. What We Are. 2. When We're Ailing. 3. Postponing Death, Extending Life. 4. Transition. 5. Recovery. Quick Information Guide to Religions. Suggestions for Further Reading. Glossary.

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Book SynopsisIn 1482, Abu Abdallah Muhammad XI became the twenty-third Muslim King of Granada. He would be the last. This is the first history of the ruler, known as Boabdil, whose disastrous reign and bitter defeat brought seven centuries of Moorish Spain to an end. It is an action-packed story of intrigue, treachery, cruelty, cunning, courtliness, bravery and tragedy. Basing her vivid account on original documents and sources, Elizabeth Drayson traces the origins and development of Islamic Spain. She describes the thirteenth-century founding of the Nasrid dynasty, the cultured and stable society it created, and the feuding which threatened it and had all but destroyed it by 1482, when Boabdil seized the throne. The new Sultan faced betrayals by his family, factions in the Alhambra palace, and ever more powerful onslaughts from the forces of Ferdinand and Isabella, monarchs of the newly united kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. By stratagem, diplomacy, courage and strength of will Boabdil prolonged his reign for ten years, but he never had much chance of survival. In 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella, magnificently attired in Moorish costume, entered Granada and took possession of the city. Boabdil went into exile. The Christian reconquest of Spain, that has reverberated so powerfully down the centuries, was complete.Trade ReviewA lively biography ... [Drayson's] account revels in the high drama and spectacular gore of Boabdil's story, which are in plentiful supply. -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *Charming and eye-opening ... Drayson does a splendid job of putting flesh on Boabdil's story -- Giles Tremlett * Guardian *Does justice to Boabdil's life and illuminates the lessons he offers. It is rare today to find a historian with a talent for brevity. In just 180 pages Drayson tells an enthralling and terribly sad story, while forcing the reader to reflect on the nature of heroism. -- Gerard DeGroot * Times *With elegant prose, her book clearly reconstructs the complicated politics of Granada and brings back to life a historical figure shrouded in mystery and legend. Her book is a pleasure to read and an excellent introduction to anyone wishing to delve into the twilight of Muslim Spain. -- Francis Soyer * BBC History Magazine *From her Cambridge vantage point, Dr Drayson retells this familiar but dramatic story. Her book is part history, part biography, and wholly readable...It would be a good book to read on a tren de alta velocidad speeding from Madrid to the south. -- Andrew Breeze * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisKaren Armstrong is one of the world's leading commentators on religious affairs. She spent seven years as a Roman Catholic nun in the 1960s, but then left her teaching order in 1969 to read English at St Anne's College, Oxford. In 1982, she became a full time writer and broadcaster. She is a best-selling author of over 15 books. An accomplished writer and passionate campaigner for religious liberty, Armstrong has addressed members of the United States Congress and the Senate and has participated in the World Economic Forum.Trade ReviewThis is the most fascinating and learned survey of the biggest wild-goose chase in history - the quest for God. Karen Armstrong is a genius -- A.N. WilsonA splendidly readable book...the stage is set for the question: has God a future? -- Sister Wendy Beckett * Sunday Times *We are all watching a daily fight between the darkness and light. What we want, but may never get, is assurance that the light will prevail. Armstrong is too tough a thinker to offer us comfort there -- Anthony Burgess * Observer *Armstrong shows a reverent curiosity and a generosity of spirit, refreshing the understanding of what one knows and providing a clear introduction to the unfamiliar -- Rt Revd Robert Runcie * Daily Telegraph *Witty, informative and contemplative: Ms Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisAs a result of world events over the past few years, Islam has entered our consciousness in an unprecedented way. The Qur''an, guiding text for over one billion Muslims, is being looked to for answers to questions like: does the Qur''an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict, does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism, is its message spiritual or fanatical? Based on a profound study of the Sufi perspectives of the likes of Ibn ''Arabi, Rumi and Ghazali, The Other in the Light of the One is an attempt to answer the above questions and is an invitation to study the universality that is present in the Qur''an. Its aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur''an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue.For Muslims, The Other in the Light of the One offers a pioneering view of da''wa, in that it allows them the tangible means of putting into practice the many Qur''anic verses that commend discoursing with others on the basis of ''the finest, most beautiful manner.''

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated edition of the best-selling introduction to Islam written by one of the foremost scholars in the field. Ideals and Realities of Islam seeks to answer criticism brought against Islam by presenting the point of view of Islam. In six chapters dealing with the universal and the particular aspects of Islam, the Qur''an, the Prophet and the Prophetic tradition, the Sharia, Sufism, and Shi''ism, Seyyed Hossein Nasr outlines the essential aspects of the Islamic beliefs, making frequent references to other religions in general and Christianity in particular.Drawing mainly on the Qur''an and the hadith, but also on the works of some contemporary Western scholars, the author presents the Islamic spiritual and intellectual tradition in the light of contemporary modern thought. This edition includes a new introduction by the author and an updated annotated bibliography.

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Book SynopsisAntisemitism has been on the rise in recent years, with violent attacks, increased verbal insults, and an acceptability in some circles of what would hitherto have been condemned as outrageous antisemitic discourse. Yet despite the dramatic increase in debate and discussion around antisemitism, many of us remain confused. In this urgent and timely book, Rabbi Julia Neuberger uses contemporary examples, along with historical context, to unpack what constitutes antisemitism, building a powerful argument for why it is so crucial that we come to a shared understanding now.Trade ReviewIf you want to understand the recent rise in antisemitism, read this book. Read it now. An important book at a critical time -- THOMAS HARDINGPassionate, principled and necessary - a book for our times -- PHILIPPE SANDS

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and accessible introduction to Christianity's relationship with other world religions, addressing the questions of why the reality, and vitality, of other religions has become a challenge, and showing how Christianity is equipped to deal with religious plurality at both the doctrinal and social level. Timely and accessible, this book tackles the question of why the reality, and vitality, of other religions has become a challenge for Christianity Makes a decisive contribution to debates about the clash between Islam and the West, arguing that the major threat to religious freedoms come from secularism, and that Islam and Christianity both have the resources to develop a vibrant and pluralist public square; one informed by intellectual rigor and debate Considers the wider issue of how modernity has defined religion', and provides a substantial critique of secular ways of controlling religions Shows how Christianity is very welTrade Review“All in all, D’Costa should be commended for writing an excellent book. This work is a wonderful contribution to the conversation regarding Christianity and non-Christian religions. I highly recommend it for all persons interested in the theology of religions, as well as any Christian looking for new ways to understand the possibility of salvation for non-Christians.” (The International Journal of Public Theology, 1 December 2012) "I warmly encourage readers in each to take it up and read." (One in Christ, July 2010) "[D'Costa] finds convincing substantiation for his position in biblical, patristic, and medieval Christian doctrine." (CHOICE, September 2009)"For a generation which is reasserting its Catholic identity, this thesis may serve a valuable purpose, calming the anxieties of those who, admirable, have managed to maintain an interest in the salvation of non-Christians yet are as hard put to win converts as their more pluralist co-religionists." (The Way, January 2010) "His gazetteer of these regions at the edge of the eschatological map is fascinating. The closing pages are as perceptive a meditation on what the dereliction of the cross can and cannot mean as we might expect to find in a first-rate book devoted entirely to that subject." (Chruch Times, December 2009) Table of ContentsPreface ix Part I: Charting the Territory: Theology of Religions 1 1 Early Map Making 3 Introduction 3 Pluralism 9 Inclusivism 19 Exclusivism 25 2 Changing the Angle: Recent Maps 34 Some Criticisms of the Threefold Typology 34 Comparative Theology 37 Postmodern Postliberalism 45 Part II: The Making and Meaning of Religions 55 3 Modernity’s Story 57 Introduction 57 Modernity’s Story about Religions 58 4 An Alternative: The Secular Construction of the Sacred Modernity as the Establishment of a New Ruling 74 Religion 74 Conclusion 102 Part III: Religions in the Public Square 103 5 Whose Religion and Which Public Square? 105 The Public Square 105 A Taxonomy of Secular Modernity and Postmodernity 107 6 Christian and Muslim Public Squares 128 Roman Catholicism, Modernity and Religious Plurality 128 Islam, Reasoned Debate, and Religious Plurality 136 Part IV: Christ’s Descent into Hell 159 7 Old Doctrines for New Jobs 161 Introduction 161 “The Descent”: Introduction to the “Circles of Hell” 165 The Limbo of the Just and the Unevangelized 167 8 Further into the Inferno 188 Purgatory and the Non-Christian 188 The Children’s Limbo 194 The Descent into Hell 201 Bibliography 212 Subject Index 225 Index of Works 233

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Book SynopsisGiven the turbulence in the international order in recent years, one of the central concerns among observers of world politics is the question of China''s ultimate goals. As China emerges as a superpower that rivals the United States, American policymakers grappling with this century''s greatest geopolitical challenge are looking for answers to a series of critical questions. Does China have expansive ambitions? Does it have a grand strategy to achieve them? If so, what is it and what should the United States do about it? In The Long Game, Rush Doshi draws from a rich base of Chinese primary sources, including decades worth of party documents, leaked materials, and memoirs by party leaders, to demonstrate that China is in fact playing a long, methodical game to replace America as a regional and global hegemon. He traces the basic evolution of Chinese strategy, showing how it evolved in response to changes in US policy and its position in the world order. After charting these shifts over time, Doshi offers a comprehensive yet asymmetric plan for an effective US response to this challenge: one that undermines China''s ambitions without competing dollar-for-dollar, ship-for-ship, or loan-for-loan. Ironically, the approach mirrors China''s own current strategy of subtly weakening Chinese leverage in the region and elsewhere while expanding US leverage over China.A bold assessment of what the Chinese government''s true foreign policy objectives are, The Long Game offers valuable insight to the most important rivalry in world politics.Trade ReviewHighly Recommended * M. G. Roskin, CHOICE *The most important book on China in years * John Pomfret, Washington Post *One of the "Best Books of 2021 * Financial Times *"[Doshi has] meticulously laid bare the Party's methodical advance toward global supremacy. China watchers craving a broad understanding of the Party's geopolitical thought and actions won't be disappointed. * David Wilezol, Wall Street Journal *As the US and China slip towards a new cold war, Doshi argues that Beijing is pursuing a long-term plan to displace the US as the world's most powerful nation. The verdict may sound sensationalist, but it is carefully argued and backed by deep research and primary sources. * Gideon Rachman, Financial Times *[Doshi] makes his own case powerfully, with reference to an impressive array of highly authoritative Chinese texts * The Economist *Of all the books to appear on this subject in 2021, this will be the one most closely read....Unlike many other Western writers on Chinese strategy, Doshi draws on a deep knowledge of the CCP's voluminous internal and public deliberations. * Niall Ferguson, The Times Literary Supplement *What does China tell itself about itself? This isn't a rhetorical question. Rush Doshi's The Long Game is a high wattage black light that helps us explore and make sense of China's strategic ambitions to understand their grand strategy * General CQ Brown, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force *Rush Doshi's landmark new book fills in key gaps in the United States' understanding of China's strategy and what it means for U.S. policy. * The Council on Foreign Relations *[A] valuable book...[Doshi] quotes extensively from the often obscure writings and speeches of Chinese leaders and thinkers. * Andrew Nathan, Foreign Affairs *Brilliant, bracing and empirically rich...It may well turn out to be the one single book that distills both the Chinese approach to the world and the broad contours of Sino-American competition. * The Indian Express *Rush Doshi's account of China's global strategy in The Long Game is a welcome draft of cold air. * Claremont Review of Books *60 pages of painstaking footnotes, many of them quoting internal statements by Communist Party leaders and intellectuals, make it rather compelling. * Pete Sweeney, Reuters *One of the Top Political Books of 2021 * The Hill *The Long Game brings what's been largely missing from debate on US-China relations: historically informed insight into the nature of China's Leninist system and strategy. * Kevin Rudd, President of the Asia Society and former Prime Minister of Australia *The Long Game is essential in understanding China's approach to the evolving US-China relationship and global order. Unique in scope and unmatched in substance, Rush Doshi's masterfully researched work describes clearly the economic, political, and military contours of China's strategic approach. The observations, analysis, and recommendations of this superb work must be foundational to any China playbook-business, political, or military. * Admiral Gary Roughead, U.S. Navy (Retired) *Using primary sources and crisp analysis, Rush Doshi decodes Beijing's grand strategy of the last three decades. In the process, he exposes the threadbare assumptions that caused countless American policymakers, intelligence analysts, and scholars to misjudge the intentions and capacities of China's rulers. Wishful thinkers, isolationists, and accommodationists will marshal no credible counterarguments to the central findings of this superb book. * Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor *What does China want?' Rush Doshi makes such a cogent case, based on a wealth of Chinese textual and behavioral evidence, that China's consistent strategy has been to displace the United States that he persuades me to re-examine my view that China's aims are open-ended and malleable. His compelling book should become an instant classic in the China field and required reading for everyone trying to figure out America's own best strategy toward China. * Susan Shirk, Professor and Chair of the 21st Century China Center, University of California-San Diego *A must-read for anyone wrestling with the China Challenge. Doshi's careful analysis of Chinese language documents make a powerful case that China is pursuing a coherent grand strategy to overturn the US-led international order. * Graham Allison, Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School *Doshi has brilliantly limned a new framework for understanding both the global ambition and the strategic challenges posed by Xi Jinping and his 'wolf warrior diplomacy.' If you're looking for the one book that best illuminates the historical logic of his unrepentant 'China Dream,' The Long Game isit. * Orville Schell, Director, Center on US-China Policy, the Asia Society *Based on a careful reading of a vast array of Chinese sources, Rush Doshi presents a novel and compelling account of the evolution of Beijing's grand strategy. Doshi argues persuasively that shifts in China's behavior are driven by the Communist Party's collective assessment of trends in the global balance of power rather than by the personalities or preferences of individual leaders. The implications are not reassuring: China's increasingly open and aggressive attempts to displace the US and transform the international system began before Xi Jinping took power and will likely persist after he is gone. This important and insightful book should be required reading for scholars and policymakers alike. * Aaron L. Friedberg, Professor or Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University *The debate over whether China has a strategy to displace American leadership in Asia is over. Now comes the first authoritative account of what that strategy is. Using a vast array of original sources, Rush Doshi does unprecedented forensic work on the origins of Chinese grand strategy and itsprospects for success. * Michael J. Green, author of By More than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia-Pacific since 1783 *If you doubt that China has been pursuing a long-term, comprehensive strategy to achieve global primacy, read Rush Doshi's book. In this brilliant, definitive work, Doshi details the vaulting ambition of Beijing's agenda. Everyone interested in the future of American power and world order should read it now-or weep later. * Hal Brands, Johns Hopkins University and American Enterprise Institute *Table of ContentsChapter 1 - "A Coherent Body of Thought and Action": Defining Grand Strategy Chapter 2 - "The Party Leads Everything": Grand Strategy and the Communist Party Chapter 3 - "New Cold Wars Have Begun": The Traumatic Trifecta and the US Threat Chapter 4 - "Hiding Capabilities and Biding Time": Blunting as China's First Displacement Strategy Chapter 5 - "A Change in the Balance of Power": The Financial Crisis and US Decline Chapter 6 - "Actively Accomplish Something": Building as China's Second Strategy of Displacement Chapter 7 - "A Suit that No Longer Fits": The Global Order and China's Ambitions Chapter 8 - "Towards the World's Center Stage": Global Expansion as China's Third Displacement Strategy Chapter 9 - "An Asymmetric Response": Dealing with Chinese Strategies of Displacement

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringIs religion a force for war, or a force for peace? Some of the most terrible wars in history have been caused and motivated by religion. Much of the violence that fills our screens today springs from the same source. Yet some of the bravest pacifists have also been deeply religious people, and many of the laws and institutions that work to soften or prevent war have deep religious roots. This Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the history of religion and war, and a framework for analysing it. Ranging from the warrior gods of Ancient Greece and Rome, and the ethical drama of the Mahabharata, through the Islamic wars of conquest and the Crusades, to present day conflicts in Sri Lanka and the Balkans, it considers the entanglement of war and religion. Yet from Just War theory and the restraints on war-making imposed by Islamic jurisprudence, through the Pax Christi of the middle ages, to the non-violence of Gandhi and Bacha Khan; there is also a story to be told of peace and religion as well. Jolyon Mitchell and Joshua Rey consider both sides of the age long drama of war and religion, challenging assumptions at the most fundamental level. Throughout, they encourage a more sophisticated and well-grounded view on these issues that have had such weight in the past, and continue to shape our present and future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewWar and Religion is written in a clear, accessible style that offers concise, informative details. It would be a useful introductory text for undergraduate students in political science and war and religious studies, as well as the core program. * Arab Studies Quarterly *Mitchell and Rey offer a panoramic narrative of the historical and contemporary relationship between war and religion. Though brief (as expected of a title in the "Very Short Introductions" series), the book covers a lot of ground. Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students; general readers. * M. S. Hill, Liberty University, CHOICE *Table of ContentsList of illustrations Acknowledgements 1: Remembering wars 2: Waging holy wars 3: Sanctifying secular wars 4: Softening the horrors of war 5: Invoking peace 6: Questioning religion and war References Further Reading

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Book SynopsisThe far right is on the rise across Europe, pushing a battle scenario in which Islam clashes with Christianity as much as Christianity clashes with Islam. From the margins to the mainstream, far-right protesters and far-right politicians call for the defence of Europe's Christian culture. The far right claims Christianity. This book investigates contemporary far-right claims to Christianity. Ulrich Schmiedel and Hannah Strømmen examine the theologies that emerge in the far right across Europe, concentrating on Norway, Germany and Great Britain. They explore how churches in these three countries have been complicit, complacent or critical of the far right, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally. Ultimately, Schmiedel and Strømmen encourage a creative and collaborative theological response. To counter the far right, Christianity needs to be practiced in an open and open-ended way which calls Christians into contact with Muslims.Trade Review"I cannot think of a more insightful book about the rise of the Islamophobic far right. Taking the UK, Germany and Norway as case studies, the authors show that laying claim to Christianity is at the heart of today’s ‘new racism’. Writing as Christians, they combine a powerful critique of the way the church has responded to the far right with a challenge to fellow Christians: claim Christianity back. You do not, however, have to be either a Christian or a theologian to benefit from reading this timely and illuminating book." -- Brian Klug, St Benet’s Hall, Oxford“Politics abhors a religious vacuum and so, over recent years, in an atmosphere of alleged secular neutrality, the far-right have used Christianity to legitimise their agenda. It is easy to condemn or dismiss this; much harder to understand and respond to it. But that is what Hannah Strømmen and Ulrich Schmiedel attempt here. Discomforting in some places, provocative in others, intelligent and well-researched throughout, The Claim to Christianity is a serious contribution to the growing literature on our new age of religion and politics.” -- Nick Spencer, Senior Fellow, TheosStrømmen and Schmiedel develop important insights into populism on the left and right in contemporary political discourses of religion. While many close readings of political and religious statements stay at the level of analysis, this book is practice-oriented. Both critical and constructive, it is a timely response to the political catastrophes created by struggles over the meaning and identity of Christianity. Theologians, political scientists, religious activists, and policy makers will benefit from reading it. -- Fatima Tofighi, University of Religions (Qom, Iran)"This book looks set to cause a storm in our churches in Britain, advocating a new liberation theology which confronts the new, and ancient, racism against Islam, Muslims, and many of our other old prejudices such as Antisemitism and prejudice against travellers. It sets up a challenge to churches – that they cannot seek to be neutral moderators of unpleasant politics, but must rather engage with and encourage personal relationships which seek to break down racist propaganda and hatreds." -- Bonnie Evans-Hills, priest in charge of St Margaret’s Church, Leven, Scottish Episcopal Church, Churches Together in Britain & Ireland Interfaith Advisory Group, and co-author of Engaging Islam from a Christian Perspective

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when a Muslim, born and brought up in a Muslim family in an Islamic country, converts to Christianity? In this unique book, Brother Andrew describes the personal, cultural, spiritual and life-threatening challenges that they face.Most of the book is written as a thrilling novel, tracing the intertwined lives of a small group of believers in an unnamed Islamic country. The story becomes all the more fascinating as we realise that the stories are all based on the actual experiences of real people Andrew meets on a regular basis. SECRET BELIEVERS is the most topical, eye-opening Christian book of 2007.Trade ReviewThe most topical, eye-opening Christian book of 2007! * UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) *

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Book SynopsisThe Christians that lived around the Arabian Peninsula during Muhammad's lifetime are shrouded in mystery. Some of the stories of the Prophet's interactions with them are based on legends and myths, while others are more authentic and plausible. But who exactly were these Christians? Why did Muhammad interact with them as he reportedly did? And what lessons can today's Christians and Muslims learn from these encounters? Scholar Craig Considine, one of the most powerful global voices speaking in admiration of the prophet of Islam, provides answers to these questions. Through a careful study of works by historians and theologians, he highlights an idea central to Muhammad's vision: an inclusive Ummah, or Muslim nation, rooted in citizenship rights, interfaith dialogue, and freedom of conscience, religion and speech. In this unprecedented sociological analysis of one of history's most influential human beings, Considine offers groundbreaking insight that could redefine Christian and Muslim relations.Trade Review‘A path-breaking work.’ -- The Muslim World Book Review'A historical meditation on the fascinating complexity of Christian belief systems in Arabia which would have been encountered by Muhammad. This is a valuable text on the ancient co-existence of faiths, which, while honouring each other, weren't afraid to draw lines in the sand about their differences.' -- Barnaby Rogerson, author of 'The Prophet Muhammad: A Biography''An important exploration of monotheism during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime in seventh-century multicultural Arabia, citing the many surprising crossovers between Islam, Judaism and Christianity which deserve to be better known.' -- Diana Darke, author of 'Stealing from the Saracens' and 'The Merchant of Syria''At the birth of Islam, there was a spirit of Abrahamic ecumenism--only a vague memory for some Muslims today, and totally unknown to most non-Muslims. Considine skilfully highlights that lost spirit, reminding us that religious freedom and pluralism were not alien to the world-changing mission of Prophet Muhammad.' -- Mustafa Akyol, Opinion Writer, 'The New York Times', and Senior Fellow, Cato Institute'Based on impeccable scholarship, Considine makes the compelling case that the divine message received by Prophet Mohammad came amid real-life encounters. The interactions between Muslims and Christians bring a message of unconditional regard and gracious hospitality, as relevant now as it was then.' -- Reverend Dirk Ficca, Senior Advisor, A World of Neighbours, Church of Sweden'In this highly accessible account of seventh-century Christian-Muslim relations, Considine takes us on a journey to the multi-ethnic, inter-faith Ummah of Prophet Muhammad, where freedom of religion existed for Christians and Jews. These historical lessons resonate today. A unique and timely work.' -- Josef Meri, Historian in Interfaith Relations in the Middle East, Hamad Bin Khalifa University

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Book SynopsisDespite predictions of continuing secularisation, the twenty-first century has witnessed a surge of religious extremism and violence in the name of God.In this powerful and timely book, Jonathan Sacks explores the roots of violence and its relationship to religion, focusing on the historic tensions between the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.Drawing on arguments from evolutionary psychology, game theory, history, philosophy, ethics and theology, Sacks shows how a tendency to violence can subvert even the most compassionate of religions. Through a close reading of key biblical texts at the heart of the Abrahamic faiths, Sacks then challenges those who claim that religion is intrinsically a cause of violence, and argues that theology must become part of the solution if it is not to remain at the heart of the problem.This book is a rebuke to all those who kill in the name of the God of life, wage war in the name of the God of peace, hate Trade ReviewThe former Chief Rabbi, Lord (Jonathan) Sacks, is one of the most interesting thinkers, writers and speakers about today. His interventions into the public debate rarely fail to encourage thought, knowledge and indeed wisdom. I suspect that this latest book will contribute a significant amount to the ferocious debates around religion and violence in our world today. There is a huge amount in the new book, including much to find agreement with as well as some things I am sure some readers will want to push back on. -- Douglas Murray * The Spectator *Rabbi Sacks has eloquently set out the theological case for confronting religious violence in his book Not in God's Name. * Standpoint Magazine *Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's Not in God's Name is a masterpiece that should be read by all of us. The book is an essential and brilliant dissertation. * Jewish Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE HISTORICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWNAS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4''Fabulous, timely, a marvellous achievement'' Spectator''A richly resonant work which recasts our understanding of the Elizabethan era'' Daily TelegraphIn 1570, after plots and assassination attempts against her, Elizabeth I was excommunicated by the Pope. It was the beginning of cultural, economic and political exchanges with the Islamic world of a depth not again experienced until the modern age. England signed treaties with the Ottoman Porte, received ambassadors from Morocco and shipped munitions to Marrakech in the hope of establishing an accord which would keep the common enemy of Catholic Spain at bay. This awareness of the Islamic world found its way into many of the great English cultural productions of the day - especially, of course, Shakespeare''s Othello and The Merchant of Venice. This Orient Isle Trade ReviewI adored this book, it resonated deeply with me. -- Elif Shafak * Radio 3 (Free Thinking) *A little-known story that Brotton chronicles with scholarship, assurance, and not a little charm. -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Jerry Brotton's sparkling new book sets out just how extensive and complex England's relationship with the Arab and Muslim world once was, and tentatively connects the threads of that engagement to our own times. -- David Shariatmadari * Guardian *A vivid, significant work of scholarship. -- Kate Maltby * The Times *There is much in these pages to delight and provoke... This Orient Isle is a richly resonant work which not only recasts our understanding of the Elizabethan era but also reveals Islam, crucially, as "part of the national story of England". -- Jeremy Seal * Telegraph *Jerry Brotton's fabulous new book [reveals] just how deep and entangled the roots of the Islamic and Christian faiths were in the early modern period. ... a timely intervention and a marvellous achievement. -- Marcus Nevitt * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisBased the author's Carlyle lectures, Useful Enemies explores the theme of Western ideas of Islam and the Ottoman empire across three centuries.Trade ReviewNoel Malcolm has provided a masterpiece in the history of ideas... * Ritchie Robertson, The Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2019 *The author is one of the great scholars of our time ... Malcolm has here uncovered an entirely new field of inquiry, ranging from Machiavelli to Montesquieu, and embracing many less familiar but fascinating thinkers en route... * Daniel Johnson, Mosaic, Best Books of 2019 *A timely look at how the perceived threat of Islam shaped early modern Europe... This is a potentially polarising topic, ripe for ill-informed claims and tendentious commentary. Malcolm is one of the handful of people capable of taking it on with scholarly rigour and clarity... Anyone who wants to understand how we got to where we are today should read this book. * Tim Laing Smith, The Daily Telegraph *[A] wise and beautifully judged book... * Christopher de Bellaigue, The Guardian *With its breadth and perspicacity, this book will be the standard history for decades to come. * Nabil Matar, American Historical Review *Useful Enemies is an exhaustive study of such uses of the Ottomans and Islam in early modern European political writing. * Jan Loop, Journal of Modern History *Noel Malcolm's impressive inquiry ... is remarkable for its insight, order and clarity of exposition. * Rolando Minuti, Journal of Ecclesiastical History *Useful Enemies offers a balanced and nuanced view on how and why the Westerners perceived the otherness and how, over time, different authors and different testimonies about the Ottomans intertwined one with another in a construction of a complicate 'image'... This book also may be seen as an invitation for scholars to think about how the Ottomans were perceived in Eastern Europe. * Ovidiu Cristea, Institute of History 'Nicolae Iorga', European History Quarterly *Noel Malcolm's brilliant study ... a wealth of scholarship drawing on primary sources in many languages ... The book's importance is thus not only to do with its nuanced account of the varieties of western European responses to Islam - though this is valuable enough... * Rowan Williams, New Statesman *Learned and fascinating account... * Sameer Rahim, Prospect Magazine *[A] richly research and commendably lucid new book ... As with all Malcolm's work, the power of the underlying scholarship in Useful Enemies - the archives visited, the languages mastered - is deeply impressive. Perhaps still more impressive, however, is the way Malcolm has organised and shaped his material into a subtle, many-faceted exposition that is always clear and never feels forced or sophisticated... * David Womersely, Standpoint *An indispensable guide to that encounter that combines deep learning, refined historical judgment, and an elegant authorial voice. Malcolm describes his book as "a study of Western political thinking about Islam and the Ottoman Empire in the early modern period," roughly 1450 to 1750. But the book offers much more than that. * James Hankins, New Criterion *Useful Enemies provides a model for how a book that articulates its core objective with judicious precision can open a window, simultaneously, onto a landscape of intellectual cross-fertilization. * World History Connected *... impressive inquiry, which is remarkable for its insight, order and clarity of exposition... , strongly grounded on philological and historical inquiry. * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *Noel Malcolm displays an overwhelming erudition and vast linguistic abilities which underline why Useful Enemies will be a mandatory reference book for any scholar who, from now on, intends to study the interactions between the Ottomans and the Christian world. This book also may be seen as an invitation for scholars to think about how the Ottomans were perceived in Eastern Europe. * Ovidiu Cristea, European History Quarterly *Table of ContentsPreface 1: The Fall of Constantinople, the Turks, and the Humanists 2: Views of Islam: standard assumptions 3: Habsburgs and Ottomans: 'Europe' and the conflict of empires 4: Protestantism, Calvinoturcism, and Turcopapalism 5: Alliances with the infidel 6: The new paradigm 7: Machiavelli and Reason of State 8: Campanella 9: Despotism I: the origins 10: Analyses of Ottoman strength and weakness 11: Justifications of warfare, and plans for war and peace 12: Islam as a political religion 13: Critical and radical uses of Islam I: Vanini to Toland 14: Critical and radical uses of Islam II: Bayle to Voltaire 15: Despotism II: seventeenth-century theories 16: Despotism III: Montesquieu Conclusion List of manuscripts Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisChristians and Muslims together make up about 57% of the world''s population today, and by the end of the century they will constitute about 66% of the world''s population. More than any other single factor, the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren may depend on how well Christians learn to relate to Muslims - and Hindus, the next largest faith, not to mention Buddhists, Jews, people of indigenous faiths, and the nonreligious. We know how to have a strong Christian identity that is intolerant of or belligerent towards other faiths, and we know how to have a weak Christian identity that is tolerant and benevolent. But is there a third alternative? How do we discover, live, teach, and practise a Christian identity that is both strong and benevolent towards other faiths?In this provocative and inspiring book, author Brian McLaren tackles some of the hardest questions around the issue of interfaith relations, and shares a hopeful vision of the reconciliation that Jesus offers to ourTrade ReviewThe thing I love about Brian is that he's kind and intelligent and funny and easy to talk to and in no time you're deep into conversation until it hits you: this man has a very, very radical message. He actually believes that Jesus and his followers can change the world. This book is no exception - he starts with a joke but quickly you realize just how serious he is about doing what Jesus teaches us to do. Helpful, timely, and really, really inspiring. * Rob Bell *An extraordinary book: a thought-provoking introduction to one of the biggest challenges confronting the church in our globalised world, and a profoundly biblical and brave beginning to a Christ-centred cultural revolution. * Rev Steve Chalke MBE, founder of Oasis Global & Stop The Traffik *Brian McLaren is a genius in provoking - in a constructive way. You won't see relations among religions in the same way after you read this book. * Miroslav Volf, Professor of Theology, Yale University *I think Brian McLaren is a spiritual genius! Not only does he have the courage to say what must and can be said, but he says it with a deep knowledge of both Scriptures and Tradition, and then says it very well besides - in ways that both the ordinary layperson and the scholar can respect and understand. You can't get any better than that, which is why I call him a genius! * Richard Rohr, O.F.M, Center for Action and Contemplation *In its relationship to those who believe differently, Christian formation all too often takes shape with hostile reaction, or collapses into some washed out common denominator. Brian helps us recover, and explore a vital and exciting alternative. Of how learning from "others" of all persuasions, is possible and intrinsic to vibrant Christian identity. * Jason Clark *

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Book SynopsisAn essential interfaith resource for university chaplains and spiritual leaders in higher education. In an increasingly heterogenous age, any university chaplains and spiritual leaders struggle to center their student communities, aware of vast diversities in their needs – the prayers of one tradition are rarely sufficient to honor the many paths their students may be travelling. With this heartfelt collection of interfaith prayers, Janet Fuller leverages the fruits of 40 years of chaplaincy to bridge this gap, offering sample prayers and spiritual direction for use across all communities of learning, from the first day of school to the bittersweet crossroads of graduation. Chaplains will find support for all the essential student struggles, including new beginnings, athletics, loneliness, and the search for hope. For use in part or whole, or as templates for other prayers, these blessings provide a voice for academic communities as they gather to give thanks, remember, and look to the future, all using language that commends itself to many spiritual paths or none at all. The prayers can also be adapted for chaplain use in hospitals, prisons, continuous care retirement communities, military gatherings, and many others. In a time when many exhibit a disinclination to hear with ears or hearts, Blessings for Your Students invites readers to listen closely to the power of prayer.

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Book SynopsisA religious liberty lawyer and acclaimed author reveals the root of America's polarization inside the Muslim and evangelical Christian divide—and how it can be healed. Despite the dire consequences of America's cultural, political, and religious divisiveness, from increasing incivility to discrimination and outright violence, few have been able to get to the core cause of this conflict. Even fewer have offered measures for reconcilliation. Now, in The Politics of Vulnerability, Asma Uddin, American-Muslim public intellectual, religious-liberties attorney, and activist, provides a unique perspective on the complex political and social factors contributing to the Muslim-Christian divide. Unlike other analysts, Uddin asks what underlying drivers cause otherwise good people to do—or believe—bad things? Why do people who value faith support of measures that limit others, especially of Muslims’, religious freedom and other rights?’ Uddin humanizes a contentious relationship by fully embracing both sides as individuals driven by very human fears and anxieties. Many conservative Christians fear that the Left is dismantling traditional “Christian America” to replace it with an Islamized America, a conspiratorial theory that has given rise to an “evangelical persecution complex,” a politicized vulnerability. Uddin reveals that Islamophobia and other aspects of the conservative Christian movement are interconnected. Where does hate come from and how can it be conquered? Only by addressing the underlying factors of this politics of vulnerability can we begin to heal the divide. Trade Review“While evangelical Christians and Muslims differ as to the content of our faith convictions, there is agreement on the ethics our convictions inspire. By striving to heal the divide as Asma Uddin ably articulates, we can make strides as divergent faith communities toward unity of purpose in service for a thriving humanity.” -- Daniel Harrell, PhD, Editor in Chief * Christianity Today *"American Christians, in their own struggle to protect religious freedoms in America, have labelled American Muslims as enemies when they could be strong allies. If their rights aren’t protected, the rights of Christians will ultimately be threatened as well. With remarkable scholarship and insight, Asma Uddin makes a strong case for why Christians and Muslims should work together to protect the crucial freedoms that both faiths cherish.” -- Richard Stearns, President Emeritus of World Vision US, Author of The Hole in Our Gospel"The threat to religious liberty is real, and sometimes believers are their own worst enemies. Here’s a book that should open up some serious conversations about the current crisis that casts a dark shadow over faith communities in the land of the free, a land conceived in religious liberty." -- Shaykh Hamza Yusuf * "The Most Influential Islamic Scholar in the West" (New Yorker) *"A concise, challenging clarion call for Religious Freedom. Uddin’s book is filled with extensive research, humanized and complimented by life stories from a wide-array of Americans. A powerful book for our current moment.” -- Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church“An exemplar of charitable civic engagement. Without oversimplification or caricature, Uddin dives headfirst into the complex world of Muslim-Christian relations. With clear and accessible prose, her nuanced analysis both explains and models how Muslims and conservative Christians can find common ground across their differences.” -- John Inazu, Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis, author of Liberty's Refuge and Confident Pluralism"Asma Uddin confronts the limitations that triabilism and ideological divdes impose on religious freedom discourse in America. She calls on people of all faith—and no faith at all—to remember religious liberty as a human right and not a political tool. She describes a vision for the future of this discussion as one where American's don't water down their beliefs to engage in vigorous debate, but come together in the fullness of those beliefs to discover their American identity." -- Montserrat Alvarado, Executive Director, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty"In The Politics of Vulnerability, Ms. Uddin dares engage a conversation many wish to avoid – the realization that the US is a post-Christian nation with fear of vulnerability driving our actions, attitudes, and politics. How did we get here? And how do we move forward? Through compelling narrative, theory, and research, Ms. Uddin provides a framework for Religious Freedom; a framework that asks us to consider how Christians and Muslims can move from vulnerability to religious freedom together." -- Revered Dr. Colleen Derr, President, Wesley Seminary"In this wonderfully insighful book Asma Uddin presents a compelling and refreshing Muslim perspective on religious freedom and pluralism. Her willingness to share her sense of vulnerability in addressing these issues as a person of faith is a gift to all of us. As a conservative Christian, I not only learned much from this book—I was also deeply moved by it." -- Richard Mouw, President Emeritus, Fuller Theological Seminary"A potent challenge to prevailing thoughts on politics and culture, with the goal of bringing Muslims and Christians closer." * Kirkus *"From a sociological perspective, Uddin’s analysis is spot-on." * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisAre Islam and Christianity essentially the same? Should we seek to overcome divisions by seeing Muslims and Christians as part of one family of Abrahamic faith? Andy Bannister shares his journey from the multicultural streets of inner-city London to being a Christian with a PhD in Qur’anic Studies. Along the way, he came to understand that far from being the same, Islam and Christianity are profoundly different. Get to the heart of what the world’s two largest religions say about life’s biggest questions—and discover the uniqueness of Christianity’s answer to the question of who God really is.Trade ReviewA nuanced and sensitive examination, from an overtly Christian perspective, of how to negotiate a truth that is no less self-evident for being one that many prefer to draw a veil across: Christianity and Islam are not remotely the same. -- Tom Holland * author of Dominion and In the Shadow of the Sword *A must-read for the curious whether you have faith already or not. Prepare to be entertained, edified and gripped – I found myself unable to put it down. -- Dr Amy Orr-Ewing * President, OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics *Few topics are more important in today’s world, and few authors are more qualified to address it. -- Bruxy Cavey * Pastor of The Meeting House, author of The End of Religion *We need thinkers who have studied both religions extensively. Andy Bannister is just such an expert and he helps us wrestle with this important question with the depth and care it deserves. -- Randy Newman * Senior Fellow at The C. S. Lewis Institute and author of Questioning Evangelism. *This book is a must-read for all interested in inter-religious issues, both believers and non-believers. -- Peter G Riddell * SOAS University of London and Australian College of Theology *Persistently challenging, consistently provoking, deeply searching, and endlessly witty! -- Anna Robbins * President and Dean of Theology, Acadia University *A sharp witted, big hearted, and clear minded romp through one of the most pressing religious questions of our time. -- Dr Richard Shumack * Research Fellow, Centre for Public Christianity and Director, Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam, Melbourne School of Theology *

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Book SynopsisOpen to New Light is not only for readers interested in exploring Quaker history and principles but also for anyone interested in different faiths and the relationships between them. The topics covered include Quakers' historic interfaith encounters, as well as more recent engagements with Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Jains, Sikhs, Baha'is, followers of Indigenous religions and Humanists.

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Book SynopsisIn the late Middle Ages, Europe saw the rise of one of its most virulent myths: that Jews abused the eucharistic bread as a form of anti-Christian blasphemy, causing it to bleed miraculously. Valiantly reconstructing the cult environments created for these sacred places, this title offers a look at Christian-Jewish relations in premodern Europe.

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Book SynopsisA new analysis of the phenomenon of Judaizing Christianity in seventeenth-century EnglandTrade ReviewAn original and innovative contribution to our understanding of a neglected tendency within Puritanism. A compelling work that has implications that go well beyond its subject matter and opens up new ways of thinking about Christian interpretations and appropriations of Judaism. Justin Meggitt, Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion, University of Cambridge, and Visiting Researcher, Stockholm University Aidan Cottrell-Boyce takes his readers on a fascinating journey, exploring the significance of 'Judaizing' trends among English Puritans. Operating at the intersection of theological and sociological analysis, he presents an innovative and convincing account in which the adoption of 'Jewish' practices enabled individuals to take on a stance of distinctiveness and separation from the surrounding culture of the dominant majority. The book's argument has implications beyond its seventeenth-century focus, illuminating a broader historical pattern of scripturally shaped resistance-identity that can be traced through early Christianity, rabbinic Judaism, the rise of Protestantism, and the Radical Reformation. Daniel H. Weiss, Polonsky-Coexist Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Singularity and Puritanism Chapter 2: Judaizing and Singularity Chapter 3: 'A Jewish Faccion': Anti-Legalism, Judaizing, and the Traskites Chapter 4: Thomas Totney, Judaizing, and England's Exodus Chapter 5: The Tillamites, Judaizing, and the 'Gospel Work of Separation' Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisProphet or messiah, the figure of Jesus serves as both the bridge and the barrier between Christianity and Islam. In this book, the author takes her reader on a personal, theological journey exploring the centrality of Jesus in Christian-Muslim relations.Trade Review"An excellent book."—Christianity * Christianity *“A charitable, knowledgeable, very readable and personally candid survey of Christian-Muslim interactions and disputes."—Matthew Skinner, The Christian Century -- Matthew Skinner * The Christian Century *“This landmark study of the figure of Christ by a Muslim scholar is both a personal voyage of discovery and a sourcebook . . . This splendid work makes clear that mutual understanding requires empathy and courage to move beyond formulaic positions. Any serious theology today has to be interreligious.”—Dr Philip Lewis, Church Times -- Dr Philip Lewos * Church Times *"Parts of her book are rigorously academic and arcane, other parts are very personal . . . She does not confine her meditations on her own faith to an introduction. Rather, she ambitiously weaves her personal and scholarly views throughout . . . The most compelling passages are the personal ones, in which the author sets out some of her own dilemmas . . . She writes with clarity and empathy about the core doctrines of Christianity . . . But unlike other comparative-religion scholars, she does not paper over the differences between these two global monotheisms.”—The Economist * The Economist *“Siddiqui is careful and scholarly throughout, quoting extensively from primary as well as secondary sources, and her sharp scholar’s eye and clear prose style are assets as she explores complicated topics . . . While many of the topics and writers covered here merit an entire book, this concise and intelligent work deserves attention from both academic and popular audiences.”—Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *“[T]his fine and empathetic volume. . .can be read as a dynamic, extended meditation on interfaith, from the standpoint of a scholar admirably honest about her own Islamic faith position. Siddiqui does not try to gloss over the very real differences between the praxis and theologies of Islam and Christianity, in their diverse forms, but deals with them all sympathetically and respectfully. In so doing, she provides not just a valid and rich intertextuality, but a basis for genuinely harmonious interfaith meeting and dialogue.” —Ian Richard Netton, The Tablet -- Ian Richard Netton * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisThe Didache as a mediating document between Jewish and gentile Christians, advocating Mosaic law without full conversion.Trade Review'In this stimulating and original monograph, Nessim argues that the author of the Didache mandated the same Torah followed by the Jewish people for gentiles, insofar as it was deemed to apply to them. The claim is controversial, but in arguing it, Nessim touches on an array of issues pertinent to the study of Jewish and Christian identity and their relationship to each other.' - James Carleton Paget, University of Cambridge 'Much has been written since the rediscovery of the Didache on its relationship to Judaism and Torah, but most of the work has been piecemeal, focusing on particular texts and problems. . . . In this book Daniel Nessim has provided a plausible and holistic account of its background in the historical context of the failed revolt against Rome and its aftermath in Antioch, drawing particularly on the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Jewish sources. He locates the struggle in the emergence of the earliest movement of Jesus believers around the position of Torah, God's covenant with Israel, and continuing Jewish ethnic identity in mixed communities of Jesus believers. . . . His study provides intriguing possibilities for rethinking relations today between Jesus-believing Jews and gentiles who identify with and wish to live and worship in common with them.' - Jonathan Draper, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 'A fresh and measured study of how the Didache understood the application of the Torah to Gentile followers of Jesus and Jews respectively. I highly recommend it!' - David Rudolph, The King's University, Southlake, TexasTable of ContentsPreface | ix Abbreviations | xi Introduction | xiii Part One: Didache and Torah | 1 1. The Didache and the Torah: A Literature Review | 3 2. Text and Transmission | 22 Part Two: A Comprehensible and Authoritative Teaching | 45 3. Crisis and Community | 47 4. Two Ways and the One Way of Torah | 74 5. An Authoritative Torah and Teacher | 90 Part Three: Torah for the Lord's Community | 113 6. The Two Ways Choice | 115 7. The Sectio, Jesus, and the Torah | 129 8. The Sectio and the Two Ways | 140 9. The Torah and the Two Ways | 158 10. The Yoke of the Lord | 177 11. The Two Ways Disciple | 196 Conclusion | 221 Bibliography | 225 Author Index | 243 Subject Index | 247 Index of References | 253

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Book SynopsisChristians and Muslims comprise the world's two largest religious communities. This book looks at the history of their relationship part peaceful co-existence and part violent confrontation from their first encounters in the medieval period up to the present.

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Book SynopsisThis classic study by Norman Daniel explores the political and religious considerations behind distorted western views of Islam, examining Christian-Muslim interaction from medieval times to the modern world. First published over 30 years ago, the message within this great scholarly achievement is more relevant today than ever before. This timeless and accessible book should be of interest to students and for anyone wishing to gain a deeper insight into the complex relations between two of the world’s greatest religions.Trade Review"The importance of the late Norman Daniel’s updated study… is as great now as it was when the first edition was published." * The Times Literary Supplement *"Painstakingly thorough. Twenty Years after its first publication, Islam and the West remains the standard work on views of Christian polemicists towards Islam." * Religious Studies Review *"Carefully researched. An important addition to public and academic libraries." * Library Journal *"A justly celebrated account of the reaction to the Christian world to the phenomenon of Islam." * Expository Times *"A monumental work of painstaking scholarship." * Impact International *

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Book SynopsisIsrael and the Nations: The Bible, The Rabbis, and Jewish-Gentile Relations explores the Jewish theology and law (Halakhah) relating to non-Jews. It analyzes biblical, talmudic, medieval, and contemporary Jewish writings about gentiles and their religions. The Bible challenges the Jewish people to be “a blessing for all the families of the earth.” Yet throughout history, Jewish experience with gentiles was complex. In the biblical and talmudic eras most gentiles were assumed to be idolators. In the Middle Ages most rabbis considered their Christian neighbors idolators, and Christian enmity sharpened the otherness Jews felt toward their Christian hosts. Muslims were monotheists, but Jewish-Muslim relations were sometimes positive and at other times difficult. With the advent secular tolerance in modernity, Jews found themselves in a new relationship with their gentile neighbors. How should Jews relate to gentiles today, and what are the bounds of Jewish tolerance and religious pluralism? The book will interest both Jewish laypersons familiar with Jewish tradition as well as scholars of theology and interfaith relationsTrade Review"This is an informative volume that traces the evolution of Jewish-Gentile relations and posits a path forward. It would be a valuable resource for those interested in interfaith dialogue."— C. and Anne-Marie Belinfante, AJL News & Reviews“Today, Korn insists, Jews must lock arms with Christians to fight common enemies—relativism and secularism on the left, and radical Islamist violence on the right. Against the recent devaluation of human nature, Jews and Christians must teach the sanctity of human life... At a time when antisemitism is on the rebound and Jews like Rabbi Korn are fighting to defend Christians, it is high time we listened to voices like his. His new book is a great place to start.”— Gerald McDermott, Juicy Ecumenism: The Institute on Religion & Democracy's BlogTable of ContentsIntroduction: Reassessing Jewish-Gentile Relations TodayPart One: Judaism, Jews, and Gentiles The Covenant and Its Theology Israel as Blessing: Theological Horizons Extra Synagogam Nulla Salus? Judaism and the Religious Other Revelation, Gentiles, and the World to Come Idolatry Today Part Two: Judaism, Jews, and Christianity Rethinking Christianity: Rabbinic Positions and Possibilities Esau Hates Jacob The Man of Faith and Religious Dialogue The People Israel, Christianity, and the Covenantal Responsibility to History BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIsrael and the Nations: The Bible, The Rabbis, and Jewish-Gentile Relations explores the Jewish theology and law (Halakhah) relating to non-Jews. It analyzes biblical, talmudic, medieval, and contemporary Jewish writings about gentiles and their religions. The Bible challenges the Jewish people to be “a blessing for all the families of the earth.” Yet throughout history, Jewish experience with gentiles was complex. In the biblical and talmudic eras most gentiles were assumed to be idolators. In the Middle Ages most rabbis considered their Christian neighbors idolators, and Christian enmity sharpened the otherness Jews felt toward their Christian hosts. Muslims were monotheists, but Jewish-Muslim relations were sometimes positive and at other times difficult. With the advent secular tolerance in modernity, Jews found themselves in a new relationship with their gentile neighbors. How should Jews relate to gentiles today, and what are the bounds of Jewish tolerance and religious pluralism? The book will interest both Jewish laypersons familiar with Jewish tradition as well as scholars of theology and interfaith relationsTrade Review"This is an informative volume that traces the evolution of Jewish-Gentile relations and posits a path forward. It would be a valuable resource for those interested in interfaith dialogue."— C. and Anne-Marie Belinfante, AJL News & Reviews“Today, Korn insists, Jews must lock arms with Christians to fight common enemies—relativism and secularism on the left, and radical Islamist violence on the right. Against the recent devaluation of human nature, Jews and Christians must teach the sanctity of human life... At a time when antisemitism is on the rebound and Jews like Rabbi Korn are fighting to defend Christians, it is high time we listened to voices like his. His new book is a great place to start.”— Gerald McDermott, Juicy Ecumenism: The Institute on Religion & Democracy's BlogTable of ContentsIntroduction: Reassessing Jewish-Gentile Relations TodayPart One: Judaism, Jews, and Gentiles The Covenant and Its Theology Israel as Blessing: Theological Horizons Extra Synagogam Nulla Salus? Judaism and the Religious Other Revelation, Gentiles, and the World to Come Idolatry Today Part Two: Judaism, Jews, and Christianity Rethinking Christianity: Rabbinic Positions and Possibilities Esau Hates Jacob The Man of Faith and Religious Dialogue The People Israel, Christianity, and the Covenantal Responsibility to History BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisReligion posits one characteristic as an absolute: faith. Compared to faith, all other social distinctions and sources of conflict are insignificant. The New Testament says: We are all equal in the sight of God'. To be sure, this equality applies only to those who acknowledge God's existence.Trade Review"Beck does not claim to have found 'the' answer to religious conflict. What he does demonstrate very effectively is that one way of avoiding a polarised and terrifying future is to find hope in the mdoern world's many ironies, paradoxes and complexities"New Humanist, four star review "A volume with more than enough ideas to inspire the study of religion for the foreseeable future. The author's acclaimed individualization thesis is put to work in the context of an emerging debate concerning the cultivation of humanity: one between believers in various forms of religious universals, and a form of cosmopolitanism which acknowledges that variety is the spice of life. Whatever the 'god of one's own' owes to universalism, Beck's controversial argument is that the most effective god of one's own lies with non-essentialist, relatively modest and sceptical, cosmopolitanism realism." Paul Heelas, Lancaster University "This new book from one of Europe's leading thinkers is a welcome, thoughtful engagement with the prominence of religion in the contemporary world. Writing as an unabashed sociological secularist, but one who refuses the simplifications of typical ideas of secularization, Beck explores religion's contradictory potentials, patterns of individuation and group identity, and the relation of religion to the "crisis of European modernity". Beck should inspire other sociologists and secularists to think harder about phenomena they too often ignore."Craig Calhoun, New York University and President, Social Science Research CouncilTable of ContentsAcknowledgements ixI The diary of ‘a God of one’s own’: Etty Hillesum. An unsociological introduction 1II The return of the Gods and the crisis of European modernity. A sociological introduction 19III Tolerance and violence: The two faces of the religions 47IV Heresy or the invention of a ‘God of one’s own’ 93V The cunning of unintended consequences: How to civilize global religious conflicts. Five models 137VI Peace instead of Truth? The futures of the religions in the world risk society 164Bibliography 201Index 220

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Book SynopsisWhen life gets tough what use is a belief in God?Trade ReviewPowerful and life-changing. * Bear Grylls *'Compelling' * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThrough its introductions and translations of this book allows scholars, students, and the general public to explore the earliest interactions between what eventually became the world's two largest religions, shedding new light on Islamic history and Christian-Muslim relations.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: The Year 630 Introduction Account ad 637 Chronicle ad 640 Letters, Isho'yahb III Apocalypse of Pseudo-Ephrem Khuzistan Chronicle Maronite Chronicle Syriac Life of Maximus the Confessor Canons, George I Colophon of British Library Additional 14,666 Letter, Athanasius of Balad Book of Main Points, John bar Penkaye Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius Edessene Apocalypse Exegesis of the Pericopes of the Gospel, Hnanisho' I Life of Theodute Colophon of British Library Additional 14,448 Apocalypse of John the Little Chronicle ad 705 Letters, Jacob of Edessa Chronicle, Jacob of Edessa Scholia, Jacob of Edessa Against the Armenians, Jacob of Edessa Kamed Inscriptions Chronicle of Disasters Chronicle ad 724 Disputation of John and the Emir Exegetical Homilies, Mar Abba II Disputation of Bet Hale Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA guide to the history of relations between Jews and Muslims around the world from the birth of Islam to today. It features more than 150 authoritative and accessible articles by an international team of leading experts in history, politics, literature, anthropology, and philosophy.Trade ReviewOne of the Outstanding Reference Sources for 2014, Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), American Library Association One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "Although contemporary media may portray Muslim-Jewish relations from only the perspective of the Palestinian-Israeli lens, and view Muslims and Jews as monolithic, this book presents a far deeper and richer relationship between Muslims and Jews in areas that go beyond politics and religion... The essays presented here provide the general reader with a flavor of the rich Muslim-Jewish relationship since early Islam. An excellent reference for high-school students, general readers looking for more depth than current media coverage, and undergraduates looking for a starting point in their research."--Booklist, starred review "At more than 1,000 pages of text, illustration and scholarly apparatus, A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations is, quite literally, a solid work of scholarship. Thanks to its eye-catching visual elements, it also presents itself as a coffee-table book of a superior kind. Above all, it is a serious and timely effort to repair a relationship between kindred peoples who have never been fully at ease with each and yet, thanks to the accidents of history, are fated to live in close proximity."--Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal "This work marks a milestone... It is a true act of faith in the ability of history, and, more broadly, the social sciences, to mediate between past and present and between extremes."--Frederic Abecassis, Lectures "Organized thematically and chronologically, this indispensable reference provides critical facts and balanced context for greater historical understanding and a more informed dialogue between Jews and Muslims."--RELMIN newsletter "[T]he work contains a wealth of information that will appeal to varied constituencies. It certainly deserves a place on the bookshelf of any individual or institution concerned with this contentious subject."--Philip Chrimes, International Affairs "[T]his is a very beautiful book. It is also a very important and timely one... I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in Jewish-Muslim relations. I can easily imagine using it as the principal textbook for a college course on the subject, and I am sure that others will do just that."--Michael McGaha, Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online "The chapters are concise and accessible, adequately referenced, and stunningly illustrated... It will be indispensable for scholars and teachers seeking perspective or planning courses or research."--Choice "This collection of scholarly yet accessible articles by dozens of Jewish and Muslim experts is the definitive source for understanding a complex relationship between Muslims and Jews from the seventh century to the present day... [T]he richness of this fantastic and exciting book lies also in its descriptions of how Jews and Muslims have learned from each other in the arenas of philosophy, science, art, literature, and mysticism."--Tikkun "A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations is an essential book for anyone who seeks truly to understand the history and context of modern relationships between the two descendants of Abraham."--Charles H Middleburgh, Charles Middleburgh Blog "A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations, is a resource that should be in the library of every person who cares about peace in the Middle East and reconciliation among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam."--Joseph V. Montville, Abrahamic Family Reunion "I found the book fascinating. I learned a great deal from it--about the culture of these two groups, about their conflicts, about the areas where they have some commonality. The level of research is quite deep. The inclusion of art and items from the writings of each tradition simply add to the richness of the volume."--Mary Jarvis, Reference ReviewsTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. 1*Contents, pg. 5*Foreword, pg. 7*Editorial Committee, pg. 9*Introduction, pg. 13*Transcriptions, pg. 25*Prologue. The "Golden Age" of Jewish-Muslim Relations: Myth and Reality, pg. 28*The Jews of Arabia at the Birth of Islam, pg. 39*Islamic Policy toward Jews from the Prophet Muhammad to the Pact of 'Umar, pg. 58*Jews and Muslims in the Eastern Islamic World, pg. 75*The Jews of al- Andalus, pg. 111*The Conversion of Jews to Islam, pg. 136*The Legal Status of the Jews and Muslims in the Christian States, pg. 145*Jews and Muslims in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, pg. 156*Prologue. Jews and Muslims in Ottoman Territory before the Expulsion from Spain, pg. 164*Jews and Muslims in the Ottoman Empire, pg. 171*The Jews of Palestine, pg. 203*The Jews in Jerusalem and Hebron during the Ottoman Era, pg. 211*In Emergent Morocco, pg. 223*The Jews in Iran, pg. 239*Jews of Yemen, pg. 248*Jews and Muslims in Central Asia, pg. 258*Judaism and the Religious Denominational Community in the Near East, pg. 269*Prologue. The Cremieux Decree, pg. 286*The Invention of the Holy Land, pg. 292*From Coexistence to the Rise of Antagonisms, pg. 297*The Balfour Declaration and Its Implications, pg. 320*"The Arabs" as a Category of British Discourse in Palestine, pg. 329*Zionism and the Arab Question, pg. 340*The Diverse Reactions to Nazism by Leaders in the Muslim Countries, pg. 349*Al- Nakba: A Few Keys to Reading a Catastrophe, pg. 375*From the Judeo- Palestinian Conflict to the Arab- Israeli Wars, pg. 384*Israel in the Face of Its Victories, pg. 393*The Mobilization of Religion in the Israeli- Arab Conflict, pg. 403*The Emigration of the Jews from the Arab World, pg. 415*The Case of Lebanon: Contemporary Issues of Adversity, pg. 436*Muslim- Jewish Relations in Israel, pg. 445*The Arabs in Israel, pg. 452*Shari'a Jurisdiction in Israel, pg. 458*Judeo- Arab Associations in Israel, pg. 471*In the Territories, pg. 479*Survival of the Jewish Community in Turkey, pg. 490*Iranian Paradoxes, pg. 495*In the Shadow of the Republic: A Century of Coexistence and Conflict, pg. 501*Muslim Arab Attitudes toward Israel and the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict: Variable and Contingent, pg. 521*Perceptions of the Holocaust in the Arab World: From Denial to Acknowledgment?, pg. 533*Muslim Anti- Semitism: Old or New?, pg. 546*Relations between Jews and Muslims in Hebrew Literature, pg. 559*Jewish Figures in Modern Arabic Literature, pg. 566*Figures of the Israeli in Palestinian Literature, pg. 573*Writing Difference in French- Language Maghrebi Literature, pg. 582*Looking at the Other: Israeli and Palestinian Cinemas, pg. 594*Prologue Recapitulating the Positives without Giving in to Myth, pg. 606*Qur'an and Torah: The Foundations of Intertextuality, pg. 611*Arabic Translations of the Hebrew Bible, pg. 628*Hebrew Translations and Transcriptions of the Qur'an, pg. 640*Hebrew, Arabic: A Comparative View, pg. 653*Semitism: From a Linguistic Concept to a Racist Argument, pg. 676*Comparison between the Halakha and Shari'a, pg. 683*Rituals: Similarities, Infl uences, and Processes of Differentiation, pg. 701*Prayer in Judaism and Islam, pg. 713*Shabbat and Friday in Judaism and Islam, pg. 720*Jewish and Muslim Charity in the Middle Ages: A Comparative Approach, pg. 726*Jewish and Muslim Philosophy: Similarities and Differences, pg. 737*The Andalusian Philosophical Milieu, pg. 764*The Karaites and Mu'tazilism, pg. 778*Judaism and Islam According to Ibn Kammuna, pg. 788*From Arabic to Hebrew: The Reception of the Greco- Arab Sciences in Hebrew (Twelfth-Fifteenth Centuries), pg. 796*Shi'ism and Judaism: A Relation Marked by Paradox, pg. 816*European Judaism and Islam: The Contribution of Jewish Orientalists, pg. 828*Embodied Letter: Sufi and Kabbalistic Hermeneutics, pg. 837*Respectful Rival: Abraham Maimonides on Islam, pg. 856*Jews, Islamic Mysticism, and the Devil, pg. 869*Biblical Prophets and Their Illustration in Islamic Art, pg. 891*Images of Jews in Ottoman Court Manuscripts, pg. 902*Synagogues in the Islamic World, pg. 911*The Contribution of Jewish Architects to Egypt's Architectural Modernity, pg. 928*James Sanua's Ideological Contribution to Pan- Islamism, pg. 934*Arabic Ars Poetica in Biblical Hebrew: Hebrew Poetry in Spain, pg. 943*The Figure of the Jew in A Thousand and One Nights, pg. 955*Judeo- Persian Literature, pg. 962*The Music of al- Andalus: Meeting Place of Three Cultures, pg. 970*The Jews of the Maghreb: Between Memory and History, pg. 985*Jewish Pilgrimages in Egypt, pg. 1005*Aspects of Family Life among Jews in Muslim Societies, pg. 1017*Citizenship, Gender, and Feminism in the Contemporary Arab Muslim and Jewish Worlds, pg. 1025*"Muslim Body" versus "Jewish Body": The Invention of a Division, pg. 1042*Flavors and Memories of Shared Culinary Spaces in the Maghreb, pg. 1052*General Bibliography, pg. 1063*Index of Names, pg. 1101*Index of Places, pg. 1123*Illustration Credits, pg. 1135*Contents, pg. 1139

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Book SynopsisA cross-cultural expert and professor gives quick, clear, real-world answers on the beliefs and practices of dozens of religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to examine the controversial Qur’anic phrase which divides Christianity and Islam. According to the majority of modern Muslims and Christians, the Qur’an denies the crucifixion of Jesus, and with it, one of the most sacred beliefs of Christianity. However, it is only mentioned in one verse – "They did not kill him and they did not crucify him, rather, it only appeared so to them" – and contrary to popular belief, its translation has been the subject of fierce debate among muslims for centuries. This the first book devoted to the issue, delving deeply into largely ignored Arabic sources, which suggest the the origins of the conventional translation may lie within the Christian Church. Arranged along historical lines, and covering various Muslim schools of thought, from Sunni to Sufi, The Crucifixion and the Qur’an unravels the crucial dispute that separates the World’s two principal faiths.

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Book SynopsisThis Reader brings together nearly 80 extracts from major works by Christians and Muslims that reflect their reciprocal knowledge and attitudes. It spans the period from the early 7th century, when Islam originated, to 1500. The general introduction provides a historical and geographical summary of Christian-Muslim encounters in the period and a short account of the religious, intellectual and social circumstances in which encounters took place and works were written. Topics from the Christian perspective include: condemnations of the Qur''an as a fake and Muhammad as a fraud, depictions of Islam as a sign of the final judgement, and proofs that it was a Christian heresy. On the Muslim side they include: demonstrations of the Bible as corrupt, proofs that Christian doctrines were illogical, comments on the inferior status of Christians, and accounts of Christian and Muslim scholars in collaboration together. Each of the six parts contains the following pedagogical features: -A sTrade ReviewMany of the themes that still feature in exchanges between Christians and Muslims date from the first centuries of encounter. This selection of texts, grouped according to the languages employed, many translated into English for the first time, makes it possible for readers to see how each side attempted to defend their own religion or to attack the other, during these centuries. Readers will be able to see which themes dominated, which developed or changed and which were dropped, and how context influenced perceptions and attitudes. * Clinton Bennett, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies, the State University of New York at New Paltz, USA *A fascinating short journey in the history of Christian-Muslim encounters in pre-modern times. This anthology of texts provides a revealing window into how Muslims and Christians perceived each other from the beginning of Islam and throughout medieval times. It offers the reader a unique collection of translated texts from languages that include Arabic, Latin, Greek, Syriac and many others. * Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium *The Bloomsbury Reader in Christian-Muslim Relations gives readers a chance to meet the history of Christian-Muslim encounters through the experiences and thoughts of those involved in them at first-hand. Helpful commentary from a diverse community of scholars adds vital context to the primary sources. The Reader will become one of the standard texts that teachers and students depend upon. * Charles Tieszen, SIS Adjunct Professor for Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA *Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 1. Muslim Arabic works Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 2. Christian Arabic works Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 3. Andalusian Arabic works Introduction, Juan Pedro Monferrer Sala (University of Cordoba, Spain) 4. Syriac, Persian and other Eastern language works Introduction, Thomas Carlson (Oklahoma State University, USA) 5. Greek works Introduction, Johannes Pahlitzsch (University of Mainz, Germany) 6. Latin and European vernacular works Introduction, Graham Barrett (University of Lincoln, UK) 7. Table of themes 8. List of contributors Index

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Book SynopsisIn this vital contribution to current comparative theology studies, Michael Barnes puts learning at the centre of responsible interfaith dialogue. Discussing a Christian spirituality which builds on virtues of hospitality and welcoming of other traditions, this book demonstrates that learning about another's faith goes together with learning about one's own.Trade Review'[This] work has important implications for the way Christians should approach evangelism in multi-faith contexts.' The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsIntroduction: dialogue and learning; 1. The middle of things; 2. Schools of faith; 3. Communities of conversation; 4. Thresholds of meaning; 5. The art of translation; 6. Mending memories; 7. Channelling desire; 8. Waiting on God; 9. The divine imperative; 10. Passion for justice; 11. Tragedy and loss; 12. Spirit of wonder; Conclusion: a spirituality of dialogue.

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Book SynopsisIn the online world, people argue about anything and everything - religion is no exception. Stephen Pihlaja investigates how several prominent social media figures present views about religion in an environment where their positions are challenged. The analysis shows how conflict creates a space for users to share, explain, and develop their opinions and beliefs, by making appeals to both a core audience of like-minded viewers and a broader audience of viewers who are potentially interested in the claims, ambivalent, or openly hostile. The book argues that in the back-and-forth of these arguments, the positions that users take in response to the arguments of others have consequences for how religious talk develops, and potentially for how people understand and practice their beliefs in the twenty-first century. Based on original empirical research, it addresses long-debated questions in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis regarding the role of language in building solidarity, defining identity and establishing genres and registers of interaction.Trade Review'Pihlaja's study is valuable to sociologists of religion for his insights into atheism and modes of proselytism, and his in-depth qualitative study of discourse dynamics makes a compelling argument to sociolinguists that 'social media offers a uniquely transparent, public, and immediate view of how people talk about religion'.' Michael Munnik, Discourse & Communication'Pihlaja's book is a promising attempt to analyze the field of religious discourse online from a novel perspective. With his background in linguistics, Pihlaja's approach is a welcome addition to the existing body of research from media studies, religious studies, and theology. His book is innovative in its inclusion of atheist voices, as well as in the historical contextualization of patterns of interreligious dialogue, which would deserve a study of its own. With regard to methodology, the incorporation of corpus linguistics is definitely an approach that seems fit for online discourse data. Hopefully, this study opens the door for further in-depth engagement with digital methodology in the study of religion online.' Frederik Elwert, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital CultureTable of Contents1. Introduction: religious interaction online; 2. Finding and analysing religious interaction; 3. Conflicts; 4. Stories and storylines; 5. Themes; 6. Conclusion: Evangelical outreach – arguing, appealing, and consoling.

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Book SynopsisIn Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1980, two Franciscan Sisters teamed up with a Muslim professor of a local university to begin a journey of dialogue, friendship, and activism that had a lasting effect on their group and the community. They launched one of the first “Islamic Christian” dialogues in the country, which soon became internationally known. This book brings together their stories of encounter and collaboration alongside those of other interfaith actors. The initial Christian-Muslim dialogue inspired the next generation of leaders to continue the work of building trust and mutual understanding through educational programs and social activism. The narratives presented here are based on qualitative data and scholarly research. They are accompanied by representative examples of the efforts aimed at cultivating spaces for interfaith dialogue and interaction between and among people from different faith traditions and backgrounds. This book offers an overview and history of those interfaith efforts and relationships.

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