Customer Reviews

A Muslim View Of Christianity: Essays on Dialogue (Faith Meets Faith Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Irfan A. Omar edits an outstanding collection of essays highly recommended for Muslim and Christian spiritual collections alike: they serve as a bridge between the two religions and represent the reflections and insights of a highly regarded scholar in Christian-Muslim dialogue. These are essays previously published by Ayoub and gathered conveniently from a range of sources under one cover, offering studies which vary from analysis of the roots Quar'anic thought to modern religious applications. Students who would better understand either religion or the dialogue between the two must have these writings, which represent both the foundations of intercultural communications and the essentials of spiritual communication between religious perspectives.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I read this book in a senior level college class entitled "Jesus in the New Testament and the Qur'an" at Piedmont College in Demorest Georgia, taught by Barbara Brown Taylor. Out of the three books that were assigned for this class this was the only one that was written by an Islamic author. This could be one of the reasons that I enjoyed it the most out of the three. Ayoub does an excellent job of portraying his own tradition, Islam, and describing the view of Christianity from his own perspective. This allows the reader (assuming that they are a westerner, as most reading this book will probably be) a rare chance to step outside of one's own culture and view it through the eyes of another. Whether a person is Christian or not, there is no denying that the Christian worldview has attributed to the culture of western world; therefore, there is no need to approach this book from a devotional perspective to reap great rewards from its content. This is not an easy read, it is quite academic in nature, but the language used is not pretentious, and a novice student of religion would be able to work through it relatively easily with time. In closing, I highly recommend this book to those that wish to achieve a more educated view of not only Islam, but also Western Christianity as well.

Irfan Omar has put together an insightful collection of essays written by Mahmoud Ayoub pertaining to two major world religions, Islam and Christianity. For someone with little background in either tradition, Ayoub manages to discuss both traditions in an well-rounded manner. He doesn't assume his reader is already significantly well read in the subject area, and thus is easy to follow given the necessary time to immerse oneself in the literature. From his writings you can illicit such fundamental differences between the two traditions as to how overlapping major figures are perceived in the context of vastly intricate and evolving societies. Yet Ayoub also maintains that, both being Abrahamic traditions, there is common ground that can be used to bridge the gap between Islam and Christianity. There is much to be learned from the interfaith dialogue that can easily stem from ideas in Ayoub's writings. At the very least, the reader should expect to gain a better knowledge and understanding of both of these great traditions without feeling "recruited" by either.

This book contains a collection of accessible essays by Professor Ayoub and covers a variety of topics. They place emphasis on the bonding links shared by Islam and Christianity as well as the theological distinctions between the two. There are also discussions on the methods for dialogue between the faiths and the importance of such dialogue. I would recommend that readers have an introductory academic grasp of both religions before reading these essays. Professor Ayoub provides a basic introduction to deeper theological aspects of both faiths and compares the two using methods familiar to Christianity. I would recommend this book to a well read Christian that is interested in learning where both faiths differ and more importantly how they are similar. This book opens the door to many for constructive dialogue and deeper studies of two rich religious traditions.

The topic of this book looks most graceful and accommodating to all that would like to see the big difference between religions. Either the Qum'ran or the bible are wrong, but they can not both be true! The only thing which is most important to gather, here is a greater understanding of Christianity. Which is that it is not a religion! It is acquiring, the knowledge that the God of this universe, the one that created the world and all that is contained in it, is simply looking to have a personal relationship with all of us. The Muslim god is more or less very distant, and not approachable at all. He is so high and mighty no one dare to communicate with him unless it's done so based on what others tell you too, so no one will be offended. He is more or less a 'will' that is to be obeyed and never questioned or doubted. lest you die! Some of the basic negatives about the Muslim religion/s are their believes, which are so contrary to the ones of the bible and the Christian faith. For example, all in the world that is not a Muslim, are considered by any Muslim as an infidel. In other-words there are passages in the Qum'ran that specifically state that as infidels we are to be killed! The main reasons are we are an embarrassment to say the least, to the god of Allah. He demands nothing less then the destruction of such. He hates them that oppose or are not in the Muslim religion. Their reasons for killing us, is if we are killed right away, we may be able to stop sinning, be forgiven, and enter paradise, or heaven. Thus doing Allah a favor. Yet in the Holy Scriptures it also states that we that are Christians will be persecuted, chastised, bullied, and even killed by them that believe that while doing so, will be doing god a favor. Thus making religious friends with a Muslim, is simply futile since he comes in peace as long as he can not mount enough of an army or insurrection to divide and conquer, for the love and blessing of Allah. They have no problem in making you believe that he want's nothing then peace, thus he will great you with Salaam, which means peace, yet over and over again they have demonstrated that peace with other Muslims, but with us little demons, never! Some people even Christian will tell you that not all Muslims are radicals or fanatics. Since they all read, worship and believe the same book, the Qum'ran, how are we to distinguish clearly who are subversive and who are not? How can you tell a peaceful Muslim and one that is not? Since there objective is to conquer no matter what it takes. They want to die, we want to live. To us to live is gain, to die is Christ, so no matter what it's all good. So unless we read, and hear the truth behind the Muslim religion, taking the time to foster a friendship with them is simply doing them a favor, a way for them to buy time, until they can attack, knowing he will win, and that's the truth so help me God almighty!