A History of Christian-Muslim Relations [Paperback]

Hugh Goddard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

The relationship between the Christian and Muslim worlds has been a long and tortuous one. Over the course of the centuries the balance of power has swung in pendulum fashion—at times the initiative seems to have lain with the Muslim community, with the Christian world simply being compelled to react to developments outside itself, while at other points the opposite has been true and Muslims have found themselves having to respond to Christian challenges in different forms. Today Christians and Muslims comprise the world's two largest religious communities. Although they can coexist fairly peacefully, at times they still engage in violent confrontation, such as in the recent conflicts in Bosnia and the Sudan. This book investigates the history of the relationships between Christians and Muslims over the centuries, from their initial encounters in the medieval period, when the Muslims were the dominant group, through to the modern period, when the balance of power seems to have been reversed. This much-needed overview of the Christian-Muslim encounter places the emphasis on the context within which perceptions and attitudes were worked out and provides a depth of historical insight to the complexities of current Christian-Muslim interactions on different continents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Appropriately designed to give an introductory overview of the encounter of Christianity and Islam...He approaches the subject as a historian of religion with sensitivity to the civilizational character of the Christian-Muslim encounter—i.e. an encounter in which 'religious' aspects must be set in a wider discussion of social, economic, political, and religious factors. (David Kerr )

This overview…for general readers succeeds admirably. … Goddard’s book is an excellent introduction to Christian-Muslim relations. (Thomas Burman Journal Of Religion )

Excellent summaries of contemporary interreligious dialogue and of thinkers from both religions who have demonstrated an interest in the other. (Gregory J. Miller Religious Studies Review )

About the Author

Hugh Goddard is reader in Islamic theology at the University of Nottingham and author of Christians and Muslims: From Double Standards to Mutual Understanding and Muslim Perceptions of Christianity.

Hugh Goddard is reader in Islamic theology at the University of Nottingham and author of Christians and Muslims: From Double Standards to Mutual Understanding and Muslim Perceptions of Christianity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: New Amsterdam Books (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566633400
• ISBN-13: 978-1566633406
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the Best of Its Kind, August 24, 2010

By 

Brock Bingaman (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Christian-Muslim Relations (Paperback)

Goddard's book is a fair, constructive, and irenic history of these two religions that, unfortunately, have battled one another for centuries. I am using it as the first text in a college course on Christianity and Islam. It journeys through the historical terrain of Christian-Muslim relations as deftly as any book out there. In comparison to other books that attempt to do the same thing, Goddard's account is reader-friendly and shot through with interesting stories that cause students to reflect on what went wrong at critical moments between Muslims and Christians, what we can learn from these situations, and what we can do now to engage in constructive dialogue. The book's eight chapters tell the story of how Christianity and Islam emerged from Middle Eastern soil, Muhammad's interactions with Christians, then considers the various periods of Christian-Muslim interaction: the first age, the medieval period, the era of mission and imperialism, and the 19th-20th centuries (13th-14th centuries for Muslims). The final chapter challenges readers to move beyond confrontation to dialogue, to draw on the best of each of their traditions, and to view Christians and Muslims as fellow travelers on the road toward truth. Therefore, if you are looking for a resource that tells the all too often heartbreaking story of Christian-Muslim relations, then points to the possibilities for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, this is the book for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars goldmine, January 27, 2010

By 

C.N. (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A History of Christian-Muslim Relations (Paperback)

This book is a veritable goldmine of information concerning the Muslim-Christian encounter throughout the mutual history of these faiths. While it is concise and moves quickly, it has concentrated a great deal of information into a relatively short work. The topic of this book is one which is not often written about but is extremely applicable to understanding today's world both politically, culturally, and religiously.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With an emphasis on changing relationships and ideals, September 9, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Christian-Muslim Relations (Paperback)

This history covers changing relationships between Muslim and Christian worlds, examining how the two largest religious communities have interacted over the ages. Hugh Goddard's History Of Christian-Muslim Relations is a fine survey with an emphasis on changing relationships and ideals on both sides.