Understanding Christian-Muslim Relations: Past and Present [Hardcover]

Clinton Bennett (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0826487823 | ISBN-13: 978-0826487827

For centuries Christians and Muslims have engaged with each other in manifold ways, peaceful and otherwise, be it in scholarly study, or in war and colonization.

Today, Christians represent an influential body of opinion that largely perceives Islam, post 9/11, as a threat. Yet Muslims represent approximately one third of the world's population. Improved understanding between Christians and Muslims is therefore crucial and a prerequisite for universal peace and justice. This book aims to investigate Islam's place in the world, Muslim aspirations vis-a-vis non-Muslims and the realities of how Muslims are perceived and how they perceive others. Each chapter analyses accessible texts from central thinkers and commentators, broadly split into two camps: confrontational or conciliatory. Christian-Muslim relations are set in the wider context of civilizational, geo-political and economic interaction between the Muslim world and the historically Christian West.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr Clinton Bennett's Understanding Christian-Muslim Relations is a scholarly contribution to an important issue in our times. Dr Bennett tells us the story of Christian-Muslim relations with a view to improve our understanding of this area, and analyses the issues involved - past and present. This study is useful for anyone interested in the wider concerns of conciliation and dialogue in relations between Muslims and Christians." - Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid, Imam Brighton Islamic Mission and Chairman of Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK

"Key conclusions are that early arguments set much of the agenda up to modern times, and that the key issues concern the nature of Jesus and Muhammad, the reliability of the scriptures, the reality of the Crucifixion, and the unity of God. Bennett concludes by articulating his own support for conciliation. Summing up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers." - P.S. Spalding, CHOICE, October 2008 (P.S. Spalding CHOICE )

mention in Bookseller Buyers Guide, 1 January 2008

"This book will undoubtedly repay careful reading and would make a most useful foundation text for a course in the history of Christian-Muslim relations."

Islam and Christian-Mulslim Relations, Vol. 20, April 2009

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"Bennett has written a book that is detailed, informative, balanced and touches on both the politically correct and incorrect. There is a wide variety of people who will find this a helpful book. I commend it to everyone wanting to learn more about both Christianity and Islam. I also want to commend it to everyone wanting a deeper understanding of the relationship and developing dialogue between the two."

Theological Book Review, Vol. 21, 2009

“Key conclusions are that early arguments set much of the agenda up to modern times, and that the key issues concern the nature of Jesus and Muhammad, the reliability of the scriptures, the reality of the Crucifixion, and the unity of God. Bennett concludes by articulating his own support for conciliation. Summing up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.” - P.S. Spalding, CHOICE, October 2008 (, CHOICE )

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"Bennett has written a book that is detailed, informative, balanced and touches on both the politically correct and incorrect. There is a wide variety of people who will find this a helpful book. I commend it to everyone wanting to learn more about both Christianity and Islam. I also want to commend it to everyone wanting a deeper understanding of the relationship and developing dialogue between the two."

Theological Book Review, Vol. 21, 2009

About the Author

Clinton Bennett teaches Religious Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz, and at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826487823
• ISBN-13: 978-0826487827
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,281,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clinton Bennett was awarded the PhD in Islamic Studies by Birmingham University in 1990. He also holds the M.Ed. from Oxford and his undergraduate degree in Theology from Manchester University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and of the Royal Anthropological Institute and uses ethnography in his research. He is especially interested in how sensitive but critical issues in Religious Studies can be explored without causing offense to religious insiders. He is a specialist in the study of Islam with a focus on modern Muslim thinkers and movements. An ordained Baptist minister, he has worked as a missionary in Bangladesh, as co-pastor of a multi-racial inner city congregation, on the staff of the British Council of Churches and as a College and University chaplain and teacher. He has written nine books. He has combined academic study of Islam with participation in interfaith dialogue, serving on several World Council of Churches committees. He has advised local mosques, chaired school governing bodies and represented an NGO at the UN. He currently teaches at the State University of New York at New Paltz. His homepage is www.clintonbennett.net