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A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue

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I read this book during seminary. I gave it to a muslim friend of mine because I wanted her to verify the Islamic viewpoint of the book. She verified the tenents of the faith described and was impressed with the side by side descriptions of beliefs. She felt it helped her to better understand the Christian faith. We have had some wonderful discussions due in part to Kateregga and Shenk's clear presentations. This book is a valuable tool opening up communication between Christians and Muslims.

I have read the book on a Muslim side, having read the Quran and the Bible more than 3 times.

To begin with, the book is divided into two parts, with 12 chapters in each. The first part is the Muslim witness and the second part is the Christian witness. Each chapter is concluded with the other side's response. Following is the table of contents:

Part I. The Muslim Witness

1. There Is No God but Allah
2. The Creation
3. Adam and Hauwa
4. Satan and Evil
5. The Books of God
6. The Prophets of Allah
7. The Seal of Prophets
8. The Umma
9. Divine Guidance and Peace
10. Worship
11. Right Conduct
12. The Mission of the Umma

Part II: The Christian Witness

13. The Lord God is One
14. The Creation
15. Adam and Eve
16. Sin and Evil
17. The Word of God
18. The Prophets in History
19. Jesus the Messiah
20. Salvation
21. The Church
22. Worship and Fellowship
23. Right Conduct
24. The Mission of the Church

The subject, comparative religion is a very hard subject to discuss and to write on, due to the sensitivity of the subject. Throughout the book, both Kateregga (Muslim) and Shenk (Christian) never leaves courtesy, tolerance and politeness. This is one of the most important points to stress: neither on the Muslim nor on the Christian side, the style in no way irritates the reader. Plus, both authors kept well clear of emphasizing the "rightness" of one faith over the other. Plus, different schools in both religions, such as Qadariyah/Jabariyah in Islam and Protestantism/Catholicism in Christianity are briefly touched, but again not emphasized the "rightness" over the other.

The details in explaining the basics of faith, are noteworthy. Both Kateregga and Shenk base the details on Quran and the Holy Bible. They have presented their cases, indicated differences, cleared misunderstandings while maintaining their politeness. The details are presented with verses from the Quran and the Holy Bible, and Kateregga used Hadiths where necessary. The dialogue is at all times lively throughout the book. The reading is extremely pleasant for such a hard subject.

The book is a must-read for any person who wants to learn both of the religions with their faiths, together with their convergences and divergences. The book is not a child's book nor a boring academic thesis. It is in between and an invaluable reference with a very easy-to-follow style. But given the publishing date, 1997, I cannot help but wonder why the authors did not publish the second, or maybe the third volume up to now, which they could go further in their analysis.

As a final note for the readers who may be interested further in discovering Islam: stay away from The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Koran by Sarwar and Toropov. Although I am a born-Muslim, this book is heavily biased and tries to impose the Muslim faith. It is not a book to purchase to understand Islam for a Western reader.

This is a good book to gain a basic understanding of the differences (and some of the similarities) between the faith of Muslims and Christians. The book is well written and a quick and easy read. The Muslim and Christian authors each write twelve chapters explaining their faiths around certain topics with a brief rebuttal from the other faith at the end of each chapter. From the Christian standpoint, this book answers some basic questions about the Muslim faith but also gives rise to some additional ones. This is a good book to begin the study of how Muslims think and how Christians and Muslims can open channels of dialogue about their respective faiths.

This is a great book if you are interested in an overview of potential touching points between Islam and Christianity. It is a wonderful read and gave me a valuable perspective on Islam.

We used this book for one year in our "Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group" that is now running in its third year. We pre-selected 12 topics from the book and had assigned it to 12 volunteer speakers from each group. At our monthly meetings after the presentation, the topic was opened to the group for Q&A and Dicussion. The book really made each understand the other's perspective intimately. I think it would have been very difficult without the book, to achieve the level of knowledge, understanding and appreciation that came about in the group. The authors did a great job in presenting their faith's perspective and laying out the material in a non-confrontational way. It makes it a great book for interfaith dialogue, or just to learn about another faith.

This is an excellent book of comparative religion, which explains the differences between two of the worlds largest major religions without trying to actively convert or sway the readers point of view. The teachings of both of these religions, as well as Judaism, have their basis beginning with Abraham as one of the first major teachers of Monotheistic faith. The initial separation of these faiths begin with his sons Isaac and Ishmael, and carry though the histories of the Jewish and Arab worlds. The reality however is that all three major monotheistic faiths - Christian, Muslim, and Jew - all still worship the same God as Abraham did originally, no matter by which name his is called. This is an excellent book to compare two of the major faiths who's believers follow this same God, without undue pressure to sway or convert the beliefs of the reader one direction or the other. All in all an excellent read, and is highly recommended.

Kateregga, Bardu D., Shenk, David, W. A Muslim And A Christian In Dialogue. Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1997.

In this book, Katereggea and Shenk, from the beginning of the book to the end, argue for the commonalities between God/Allah. As a result, they find similarities and some contrasts between Islam and Christianity. The authors make statements such as "Christians and Muslims worship the same God" (Pg. 34, 120) then point to similarities throughout the book to prove this out. The book is divided into two parts, Part One and Part Two. Part One of the book is an explanation of Muslim thought on various aspects of Islam, and a Christian response is added at the end of each Chapter. The opposite is true for Part Two, The Christian view is first then the Muslim view is added at the end of the chapter to give the alternative view.

Many different aspects of each religion are presented to give an overview, and to show similarities of the views held on the different subjects being discussed, However, God/Allah is consistent throughout. In each of the two parts of the book each religion is given the opportunity to lead in the discussion, and then each presents their ideas in generalized terms on several pages. The authors go into as much detail as they feel necessary to show the similarities, or distinctions in the teaching (Christianity, Islam) of God/Allah. The responses at the end of the chapters are short and curtailed, and the responder gives attention only to the content they wish to point out to make their point, or to draw a harmony between the two religions, a harmony between God/Allah. In some instances an additional clarification is given by the lead in to make sure there is no misunderstanding going on between the two in dialogue.

For the most part the two do not go into any detail of the others religious beliefs; they do reference each other's beliefs in order to make a point of their own belief or to show commonality, or to make a distinction. The do not attack each other in their presentations, they make their case and then allow the reader to discern between the two. The dialogue is brief and compact, the explanations and responses are given the due the responder or presenter feels necessary to make their point clear. They do not go into a lot of detail or lengthy explanations of their beliefs; they give just enough to form the basis on an idea, to present a similarity, and to leave room for the reader to go deeper. Each presentation, and each response can be viewed as jumping off points for further investigation into the similar/dissimilar belief structures of Christianity and Islam.

At the beginning of the book, we are presented with the idea that Christians and Muslims worship the same God in the chapter titled "There is no God but Allah" (Pg. 34). A little time is spent explaining the idea of God/Allah, and how this is a common belief held among Christians. We are told in the very first Christian response that EL/Elohim and Allah are the same word. We are told that Christians and Muslims have a common faith in God, yet with differences that have their root in the human understanding of "God/Allah's relationship to people" (Pg. 34). We are given a note (Pg.35) that then explains that the word "Allah" is difficult to translate, and according to Muslims the English word "God" does not do justice to the meaning of "Allah." We are also given further distinction when the name YHWH is introduced from the Christian perspective as the revealed name of God/Allah (Pg. 34, 67, 119)

Whatever the difficulty, the authors point out in this note that they will use the two words "God/Allah" interchangeably throughout the book. (Pg.35). From here, we are to make the theistic connection between Christianity and Islam throughout the rest of the book. The authors then go on to the creative aspects of God/Allah and give us their perspective views on the subject. The Creative God, the cause of all things, is the idea being presented in Chapter two. And the explanation of that idea is that God/Allah is that Creator God who is the cause of all things, according to the authors. (Pg. 34, 120)

We are told in both presentations that God/Allah does not want us to waste or abuse the creation but to use it for its intended purposes. The Christian response does highlight some similarities as well and some contrasts between the two ideas of creation (Pg.36-41). In one instance of contrast God/Allah taught man the names of the animals (Quran 2:31), in the other narrative God/Allah told man to name all the animals (Gen. 2:20). The similarities already mentioned as "The Creator God." (Pg.36-41). Such slight differences are overlooked and God/Allah continues.

The creation of Man is the next topic and the Christian response focuses on the idea of The Spirit of God/Allah being put inside man. The author states that the Christian view "enlarges on the Islamic belief on this point. The idea that the teaching of The Quran that "God/Allah's" spirit was put into man does come into a little more focus than what the Christian response gives. The Muslim clarification points out that "the spirit of God/Allah" is just the "life" God/Allah gives to man, and not The Holy Spirit (Rauch Ha Kodesh) of Christian belief. Both views point out that man is a creation of God/Allah, Sinless in the Islamic view and Sinful in the Biblical view. (Pg. 42-46)

Next in line is the idea of sinfulness. In the Muslim view, man is sinless and innocent, but occasionally makes mistakes such as his mistake of listening to Satan/Iblis. On the other hand, the Christian idea presents man as a fallen creature who is sinful because of his rebellion against God/Allah (Pg. 48-52). Both narratives give us a tempter, and a created man and woman who were tempted. In the Christian view, man purposely gave into the temptation in open rebellion to God/Allah. In the Islamic view the man made a simple sinless mistake (Pg. 48-52).

The Word of God/Allah is next presented (Ch.5, 17), and then after that the prophets of God/Allah (Ch.6, 18). For the Muslim there are certain portions of the Bible that they claim are valid as the Word of God/Allah. Muslims it is taught, respect what they call the "Tanzil" or "The Divine Scrolls." These scrolls are then listed as The Torah/Taurat, The Psalms/Zabur and The Gospels, which they call Injil, and finally The Quran. In addition to the divine scrolls, Muslims honor Hadith as "second only to the Quran" though not "divine scripture" Hadith explain the Quran (Pg. 60). These writings are supposed to have been originally penned in heaven then handed down word for word by God/Allah to the "prophets" who were Muslims as the commands of God/Allah to mankind.

According to the authors, both Christians and Muslims agree that God/Allah gave the writings to humanity, they do differ on the way this was accomplished (Ch. 5, 17). In the Christian understanding God/Allah revealed the Word though The Holy Spirit to humanity (Pg. 142). In the Islamic view, the scrolls were written in heaven then handed down word for word to the prophets of God/Allah who were all Muslims (Pg. 53-61, 150). According to Islamic teaching, all those who received the "word of God/Allah" were prophets of God/Allah. This includes Jewish prophets such as Moses, David (though David was not a Jewish prophet but a king), and Zechariah etc.

The Christians supposedly corrupted either the teaching or writings to fit their own ideas that led humanity away from God/Allah. These prophets as Muslims had one message, and that message was/is Al-Islam. (Pg. 63-66, 150, 155) For the Christian, these prophets (some not) were those to whom God/Allah revealed His word, and through these men made sure His message to mankind was transmitted (Pg 67,145-150)

The concept of The Umma, and The Church are treated similarly. Both represent the larger, or total religious membership of the two religions under discussion. According to one of the authors Christians are impressed with the overall religious, political, cultural structure of the Umma (Pg.83). The Umma is representative of Islam, and The Church or Body of Christ is representative of The Christian body on a global scale (Pg. 83). Each community is spread in a different method, for Islam the Umma is a universal idea that has no borders. The Umma is spread through conquest, first by invitation then through other means (Pg. 78-83, 183). The Church is the entire body of professing Christians, The body of Christ. The body of Christ is spread though confession of faith in Jesus as messiah, as Lord (Pg. 83-84, 177-183)

According to the Muslim presentation in the book, Mohammad is the final prophet of Islam. Accordingly Mohammad has the final word, and represents the final word of God in The Quran (Pg. 66-67, 155). In the Christian presentation, Jesus is The Eternal Word of God, The Son of God, The Son of Man, The Lamb of God, and accordingly has the final say about the things of God/Allah to all humanity for all time (Pg. 76, 157-165).

The main problem I have with this book is the idea that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. This is in and of itself for me enough to give this book a negative review. However, I won't toss the book entirely. It has some redeeming qualities and these should not be overlooked when reading the text. The authors both make the same statement that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, I cannot think of a greater heresy. This is akin to saying Satan and YHWH are the same person. If the God were the same for both Islam and Christianity (not to mention Judaism), the message would be the same; the name would be the same. Not one place in the Old or New Testament is YHWH ever referred to as "Allah." Ibn Warraq writes "Islam also owes the term "Allah" to the heathen Arabs. We have evidence that it entered into numerous personal names in Northern Arabia and among the Nabatians. It occurs among the Arabs of later times, in theophorous names and on its own...Eventually Allah was only applied to the Supreme Deity [of the kabah]." (Warraq, Pg. 42)

Warraq goes on to quote Theodor Nöldeke who states:

"In any case it is an extremely important fact that Muhammad did not find it necessary to introduce an altogether novel deity, but contented himself with ridding the heathen Allah of his companions subjecting him to a kind of dogmatic purification. ...Had he not been accustomed from his youth to the idea of Allah as the Supreme God, in particular of Mecca, it may well be doubted whether he would ever have come forward as the preacher of Monotheism." (Warraq, Pg. 42)

The author(s) make a fatal error in referring to the God of The Bible as "Allah" (Pg. 34, 120) "And it is no wonder; for even Satan himself is able to take the form of an angel of light." (2nd Cor. 11:14) The Lord has reveled His name, and because of Jewish superstition we are left with the Tetragrammaton YHWH as the name of The Elohim of Israel! If "Elohim" is the same as Allah as the authors state (Pg. 34) then they have a real problem with the strict "monotheism" of Mohammad, as "Elohim" is a plural word meaning "Gods." So, again if this is the case then Mohammad's Allah (or Mohammad himself ) assigned partners to Allah whom he [Mohammad] claimed there were none and is therefore guilty of shirk [associating partners with Allah] which is al fitnah [disbelief] and carries the death penalty under Sharia law. Though Mohammad won't have to worry much about that at this point.