The Cross & The Crescent (Paperback)

~ Jerald F. Dirks (Author) "Thanks and praise to Allah that I was fortunate enough to be born into and raised in a small, agricultural community in rural Kansas..." (more)
Key Phrases: created sonship, alleged crucifixion, unitary document, New Testament, Old Testament, Prophet Muhammad (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In The Cross and The Crescent, Dr. Dirks, a former ordained minister (deacon) in the United Methodist Church, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and with a doctorate in clinical psychology, reaches out to the Christians and the Muslims for an interfaith dialogue. Drawing on his seminary education and thirty years of interaction with Muslims in America and overseas, the author digs deep into the roots of Christianity to bring out obscure information that highlights what was once common between Christianity and Islam. He envisioned that, "In writing this book, I would like to touch the lives of those Christians who have not been given the knowledge that I have gained both about Islam, from my direct contact with Muslims, and about Christianity from my seminary education. I want to share with those Christians, who are willing to listen, what is so often known by their clergy and church leaders, but seldom finds its way into their knowledge of their own religion. Likewise, I would like to reach out to the Muslims, in order to help them understand the religious commonality that they share with Christians".

About the Author

Dr. Jerald Dirks holds his B.A. and M.Divinity from Harvard University and his doctorate in Psychology from the University of Denver. He is a former ordained minister (deacon) in the United Methodist Church. He has published over sixty articles in the field of clinical psychology and over one hundred and fifty articles on Arabian horses. He has traveled extensively in the Middle East and interacted widely with the Muslim communities in the United States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Amana Publications (August 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590080025
• ISBN-13: 978-1590080023
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,852 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid research, comprehensive explanations, MUST read!, July 26, 2003

By	"falconer" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews

Dr. Dirks has drawn the lines in history for us to see. This book gathers together the pieces of so many details, and puts them into a narrative that's easy for the reader to understand. If you've ever wondered about Islam, or the divergeng (and very similar) origins of Islam or had questions about how the two religions differ, this is the book for you!

I look forward to reading his new book, "Abraham, Friend of God." If it's as comfortably thorough as Cross & the Crescent, I"m sure to be pleased!

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read, July 10, 2003

By	"tsabr" (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

Having read this book and taken a class on comparative religion with the books author, I can say that it is truly fascinating book. For me who was baptized and confirmed as Lutheran, I found it amazingly interesting what the christian theologians know and do not tell the laity. The information is easily verifiable by reading the book with a bible in hand, page by page, reference by reference. I was particularly interested in the comparisons between the religions and their similarities and also their differences and what those differences are based on or found in. Especially given that most the time answers are available but the Pastors, Preachers, Deacons, and Reverends will tell you to just have faith. Which to me is a cop out. I have gotten from him a list of books that you can further read, the apocrypha, that shows the true foundation and teachings of the original christianity. For anyone who likes history and religious study, this is an absolutely fascinating and educational read, despite the review from the reader in Colorado who purports to be from Harvard. Even if you don't agree with someones point of view we all can always learn from each other and this is an excellent learning tool for such learning. Does it matter what the Authors religion is?? He doesn't say because it is not the focus, what he teaches in this book is, and it is good.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Precise and well researched, September 16, 2002

By A Customer

A well written book. The author backed up his points and informed the reader when he was expressing opinion. Sources were explained in terms of origin and reliability. I would definitly recommend this book to anyone looking to answer their questions on the relativity of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.