The Fine Arts of Christian Muslim Dialogue
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Medieval Bilingual Dialogue:

This volume comprises an Arabic edition with English translation of the Arabic response made by Damascene Islamic scholar Shams Ibn Ab Tlib, a fourteenth century 'faquih', in response to a provocative letter from 'across Mediterrenian' Cypriot Christians. In his Letter, the Cypriot Christian eludes that the Qur'an does not contradict, but in fact affirms the Christian religion and its basic doctrines. the Moslem scholar elaborates in his comprehensive reply, in detailed and wide-ranging themes, rewriting earlier familiar polemical works, in a reply to Christian's letter, which was also sent to Ibn Taymiyya, a controversial Islamic contemporary. This response is thus a parallel to Ibn Taymiyya's (Al-jawb al-sahh)*.

Note on Master of Jihad:

In his original book, (Aljawaab AlSaheeh)*;'The Correct Answer,' Ibn Tayymiya elaborated an encyclopedic answer,in 7 volumes, to many Christian polemics. Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328), well versed in Qur'anic studies, and scholastic theology, started giving fatwas on religious legal matters without following any of the four traditional legal schools, influenced by Ibn Hanbal. He was unyielding in his political and religious positions.

His jihad against the enemies of Islam, which he is now best known for, did not help him in his times, and he died in jail because of his daring opinions. Most notably, the Ibn Taymiyya writings were incorporated into Wahhabi doctrine in order to legitimize fighting anti-Islam as holy Jihad.

A Model Muslim/Christian Dialogue:

The development of Muslim christian interfaith dialogues, in the later medieval period is a good example of those polemics, is thus a rich source of information about the trends, attitudes, and rules of oral and written engagement.

The edition, in parallel Arabic versions and English translation presents in vivid account both parts of this correspondence, as a dialogue. The authors provide an elaborate introduction, detailed notes and commentary on the Arabic text rendered in a clear English translation.

Toil Lover Editors:

The Catholic Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission , inspired by Vatican II, and pioneered by two great scholars in the field Fr. Samir Khalil, and Fr. Sidney Griffith has progressed vastly this area of research.  Dr. Rifaat Ebied, Professor of Semitic Studies, University of Sydney, has published extensively on Christian Arabic and Syriac studies, Studies on the Christian Arabic Heritage. Dr. David Thomas, of U. Birmingham, Islamic Studies has published profusely on Christian/Islamic issues, (Christians at the Heart of Islamic Rule, Brill, 2003).
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Dr. James R. White wrote the book so that Christians can be better informed about what Muslims believe about Qur'an, so Christians can be prepared to discuss Islam with Muslims and others. In the book Dr. White examines what the Qur'an and other sacred texts teach about several topics, such as Jesus, salvation, and the Trinity.

I've enjoyed reading the book. It is very academically written, and straight forward. I like the way Dr. White took portions of the Qur'an and hadith teachings, and then broke them down to explain what they say and how they compare to Christian teachings. I feel that Dr. White treats the Muslim texts fairly and objectively. I have really enjoyed reading this book, and feel that the information presented was conveyed clearly and is important to know in today's world.

I received this book free from Bethany House for my Review.
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Detailed interpretation of the Holy Quran, Islamic theology, hadith, tradition and sharia. A wonderful guide to one of the great Abrahamic religions. The differences and commonalities with Christianity and Judaism become clear and enlightening. A wonderful, holy experience for a believing Christian. Extraordinary.
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Jesus died for Muslims. Jesus loves Muslims. Jesus wants Christians to love Muslims like he does.

The first step toward that challenging goal is understanding and Mark Pfeiffer makes that first step simple, if not easy.  The director of the Christian Institute of Islamic Studies at Baptist University of the Americas introduces us to the basic beliefs, basic history and basic culture of the other children of Abraham and gives practical and non-manipulative ways to see behind the veil and beyond the traditions to the individual men and women created in the image of God that are our brothers and sisters in God's creation.

It is an easy read to a challenging but rewarding life of seeing Muslims through the eyes of Jesus.

I recommend it to anyone who thinks the Great Commission includes everyone.
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In a world informed by postmodern philosophy, it has become difficult to describe and discuss what can truly be known.

Many fear that such epistimelogical issues are deletrious to the cause of Christianity, but Placher explains that this is not inherantly harmful, and that an informed Christian can actually engage in pluralistic conversation.

The author does a fine job of outlining the most relevant contemporary issues faced by today's western apologetics, as well providing vocabulary for Christians as we begin to engage in dialoge with people from other faith traditions, or from those with none at all.

This book continually speaks in an informed, philosophical tone, that never turns harsh or condescending, but that endeavors to make manifest mutual undertstanding and to encourage coversation rather than a self-righteous insular attitude.
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This is a book I am highly pleased to add to my library. At just under seven hundred fifty pages it is not a "light-weight" book, but because of the way it is written and the fact it is a compilation keeps it accessible and easy to read. Additionally, because it is a compilation and divided into several part, I am comfortable pulling it from the shelf to read for brief periods of time and using it as a resource tool.

Christian Apologetics Past & Present is subtitled "A Primary Source Reader" and is the second of a two-volume set. This volume spans the Christian timeline from year 1500 to present. It is exactly as it proclaims itself, a primary source reader. There are writings from over twenty-five theologians included in this compendium with quite a few more mentioned and cited throughout the book. I personally know of no other source that lists and included the diversity of theological thought in a single volume. It thrills me to have such breadth, depth, and diversity of theology in one book. This diversity does have its trade-off; however, in the fact that there is not time, space, or opportunity to go into great detail of explanation of the theologian's writings. The benefit is in providing the high-level introduction to some of the most important Christian writing over the last five hundred years since the Reformation.

The writings in the book are well cited and referenced providing the reader with all the information needed to dig deeper should they desire. The sections are broken into four primary parts with sub-sections or chapters devoted to some of the greatest contributors to that particular period of thought. For instance, Part One is Reformation, Post-Reformation (Protestant), and Catholic Reformation and includes works from Martin Luther, John Calvin, Robert Bellarmine, and John Owen. As I have said, representative of a very diverse group of thinkers. Subsequent sections include the following: Modernity and the Challenge of Reason, The Global Era: Christian Faith and a Changing World, and Issues Today and Tomorrow.

I am greatly impressed with the editors' decisions on who to include in this volume although I was a little surprised by some of the theologians they opted not to include. In fairness, I understand that there has to be a criteria established and a line has to be drawn somewhere; it is with this mind that I do not envy or fault the editorial team for their decisions. Also, to the credit of Edgar and Oliphint, they do not offer a lot of commentary or opinion related to the writing or belief of the theologians included in this body of work, but they allow the writing of the theologians to stand on their own accord. It should also be noted that the majority of these pieces are excerpted from more comprehensive pieces. This means that your interaction with the writer may require your reading the theologian's thoughts in full disclosure by going to the source publication.

In summary, I am delighted to have a copy of this book. While it may not be the end-all source for Christian apologetics, it is absolutely the best collective overview that I've ever held in my hands. If I have any con or regret over this book, it will be that it cost me quite a few dollars in purchases toward the primary source of some of the writings I was introduced to and the purchase of Volume One in this Christian Apologetics set, Christian Apologetics Past and Present (Volume 1, To 1500). I consider this set a "must" for any serious Christian Library.
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One of the most amazing books on religious discussions I've ever seen. Once you start, you will not be able to do anything until you finish it. Perfect choice for the Christians and Muslims to read, who want to follow their religion as a choice, not just as an inheritance.
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I had the good fortune to hear Nabeel Qureshi speak in person. He has a gift of communicating simply, succinctly and pragmatically, with empathy and earnestness. This book gave me a peek into Islam, and a worthy revisit into the core beliefs of my faith. A major side benefit is insight into the topic of cross-cultural evangelism. An important read for our times.
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This book features three NY women, a Christian (Episcopalian), Jew, and Muslim who meet in the aftermath of 9/11 to create an interfaith dialogue. The book is in the first person, rotating between their viewpoints. Their initially warm-hearted intentions are almost derailed many times, as they discuss hot-button issues, including some political, and discover that their disagreements cannot easily be reconciled. They unearth stereotypes, and deeply embedded cultural and religious wounds, that they never knew they had, as they explore the history of their three religions, and its contemporary versions. These are three smart, well-educated women, and they hold no punches as they recount their journey together. It makes for compelling reading, and along the way, the reader learns plenty about these three religions that have come to dominate our social and political dialogues today.
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Evangelicals have pursued a variety of forms of multfaith engagement. This runs across a spectrum from evasion of contact to evangelism/missions to dialogue. But Metzger brings something new, and promising through his relationship with his Buddhist friend and co-author, Kyogen Carlson, that comes through strongly in this volume.

Paul Louis Metzger is a Christian theologian from Multnomah University. Kyogen Carlson is a Zen Buddhist priest and Abbot with the Dharma Rain Center. Metzger does the majority of the writing in this book, sharing his thoughts as a Christian who has traveled extensively in Japan and has made Buddhism an area for intense study. Carlson writes responses to Metzger. The book includes five parts comprised of thirty three brief chapters.

There are aspects of this book that make it unique in Christian volumes interacting with other religious traditions. First, Metzger writes with empathy and humility. Although he is firm in his Christian convictions, and as he likes to say, authentic multifaith engagement must work through our convictions rather than around them, Metzger does not engage in triumphalism over Buddhism or his Buddhist conversation partner. Instead, he speaks as one confident in his Christian commitments, and yet open to risky encounter with a "religious other." Second, Metzger writes as someone interested in pursuing a "global humanity." He is very aware of our differences which often result in varying degrees of conflict, but he encourages us to work together as human beings "centered in our mutual search for truth, life, and love with one another." Finally, one of the most beautiful parts of this book is the depth of relationship that comes through between Metzger and Carlson. Here we find two men with a strong relationship and love for one another no matter how much they may disagree on religious issues.

I have been fortunate to know both of these men. Although Carlson is no longer with us, his legacy continues in the impact he has made on Metzger, as well as on the Dharma Rain community who perpetuate their relationship and conversations with Christians in the greater Portland area.

In my view we need more books like this. My hope is that it becomes a template for multifaith encounters as two people in deep relationship explore their global humanity and the issues that unite and divide with respect and civility.
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In "No God But One:  Allah or Jesus", Nabeel Qureshi uses his vast knowledge of both religions to compare their similarities and differences.  The book is around 300 pages and covers such topics as:

1.  Similarities - Christianity and Islam are monotheistic (one God) and not polytheistic (many gods).
2.  Differences - (Jesus is close and personal, Allah is distant),  salvation in Christianity is free (Jesus' death on the cross was the penalty for our sin and we cannot earn our way into heaven) vs.  Islam (followers must fulfill certain requirements and hope that Allah finds them acceptable on the day of judgement - in other words, salvation by works).
3.  His personal experiences and those of others who were former Muslims and are now Christians.
4.  History of Islam.
5.  Views of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
6.  The Bible vs. the Quran.
7.  The evidence for Christianity being true.

The book flows smoothly from topic to topic and reveals the great intellectual depth of Mr. Qureshi.  I was able to learn some things about Islam and look forward to using this title as a helpful reference.  Recommended.
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I held discussions groups on "Muslim Journeys" -- a National Endowment for Humanities and American Library Assn. We read  Malouf's book Leo Africanus. His works on identity add so much to the discussions.
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In the year 2007 an article published by The Economist entitled The Battle of the Books stated that Christians and Muslims have one striking thing in common: they are both people of the book. And they both have an obligation to spread the Word. The article concluded that the Bible and the Quran will continue to exercise a dramatic influence over human events, for both good and ill. The twigs of the burning bush are still aflame with the fire of God.

Since then I have been wondering that instead of battle of the books can a structured framework for common ground from point of view of method and analytical structure between these two major faiths develop from their very respective books of faith as the best way to build bridges to reflect their historical relationship given that they are both people of the book?

To my extreme satisfaction I have finally come across an indispensible study by Dr. Safi Kasis and Dr. David Hungerford entitled The Qur'an - with References to the Bible: A Contemporary Understanding that not only exhaustively addressed my burning desire but provides for and represents the Qur'an in a simple way that is easy to understand and shows the common ground that both Christianity and Islam have. I highly encourage everyone interested to learn more about the commonality of Islam and Christianity through this publication. Perhaps even the most fundamentalist of forces of both sides would think twice if they read carefully the arguments and penetrating analysis of commentary put forward as an indisputable road map for why we must strive for inclusiveness.

The authors, who are clearly very much at home have made such a vigorous and determined effort to explore the undeniable important conceptual link between the Quran and the Bible; and this alone is a landmark contribution of importance to adherents of both faiths, not merely to specialist historians of the discipline. Whoever writes the history of the Quran with reference to the Bible will have to come to terms with the powerful arguments and extensive documentation provided by this study. This is a major contribution to 21st century literature in religious thought. It is destined to become a time-honored seminal work that must be read and reread. With this book, Dr. Safi Kaskas and Dr. David Hungerford may have already won an important victory in the battle for the minds and hearts of the younger generation of Muslim and Christians.
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In No God But One, Dr. Nabeel Quereshi finds a way to explain difficult and sometimes complex ideas, making them easily accessible for the common reader.  This book, while targeted at Muslims searching for the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam, is also an excellent resource for Christians trying to learn more about their own faith, and perhaps learn about the religion of Islam as well.  Nabeel takes what could be a dry subject and turns it into a journey, indeed a journey which Nabeel himself took 10 years ago, bringing the reader with him as he investigates which religion is true. His arguments are  backed up by historical evidence, quotations from the Quran, the Hadith, and the Bible. We learn about key individuals important to each religion,  foundational concepts, and how to start to determine what is truth.  Nabeel does this with honesty and a heart for Muslims and Christians alike and by carefully examining the foundational documents he is able to review strengths and weaknesses of both world views without criticizing believers. Nabeel looks at foundational questions for both faiths, comparing Jesus and Mohamed as founders of each faith, comparing Jihad and the Crusades, defining and exploring the concepts of tawhid and the trinity.  Taking the reader through the evidence he uncovered in his investigation of the two faiths and augmenting that with research he has continued to do over the past 10 years on the subject Nabeel allows us to see the decisions he made and how it impacted his life; "my family was shattered, and the next year of my life was by far the most harrowing I have ever endured. I was now an outsider, both to my family and to all my friends in the Islamic community.".  He then invites the reader to make their own decisions based on the evidence.

This can be a difficult and contentious topic, Nabeel brings compassion, intellect, humility and a level of careful rationality not frequently seen applied to faith.

If you are looking for a study of comparative religion between Islam and Christianity, there is no one I would rather read than Nabeel's.
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Noverim me; noverim te. (May I know who I am; may I know who you are) writes St. Augustine, this is one of the many snippets of Christian Spirituality that you will find in Ann Garridos, Redeeming Conflict: 12 Habits for Christian Leaders.  Yet these snippets of Christian Spirituality and history is a great backdrop to assist with helping Christians integrate a more nuanced theology of conflict.  Similar to her previous work, Redeeming Administration, Garrido introduces us to 12 different stories within the Christian tradition to help express the process.  There are reflection questions with each section and a prayer.  These 12 practices serve as a theological reflection from her work with the Triad Consulting group and relationship with the Harvard Negotiation Project.

 At the heart of this project is the desire to assist the Christian community to grow in its capacity for and enjoyment of the relationships in our lives, because that is what we are made for from all eternity.  In these 12 habits, the focus is on what you can do as a person and is not necessarily dependent on the others response, but for you to become more aware of your own.  The habits to address conflict can be seen as part of the process for our own ongoing conversion and the question marks that trouble our minds are not threats to be feared nor problems to be dismissed with a shrug, but rather the crooked finger of God beckoning us to draw nearer.  Recognizing that we are made for community and that while we have a voice to offer in the community there is a need for each of us as Christians to find ways to be more curious about the other, a true gift of hospitality and a true witness to the human dignity we all share.  This book gives some great and fresh examples of ways to understand what is going on within yourself as well an understanding of what is happening when conflict arises and ways in which we can respond from within a Christian context.

I am grateful for this addition to the dialogue around conflict and negotiation, especially shedding new light on a way in which we might handle conflict that is reflective of the Christian tradition.  All Christian disciples would benefit greatly from the reflection and habits as a means to better integrate our Christian Identity with the work we do each day, however, some of the examples might be tough for a person who is not associated with the work of a parish or formal ministry might have to re-interpret for their own context.  The mission of the Church and the disciple is to go out and tell the Good News in ways that creates a greater communion transforming our communities. How we handle conflict, within ourselves, our communities and our ministries is an opportunity to share the Gospel message of transformation with those with whom we are privilege to share the journey. Garridos contribution to giving disciples the tools assist us in living a participation in the Trinitarian lifea share in Gods own utterly relational life. To put it another way, the good for which we are meant is communion in diversity.  It does not mean that any one conversation is going to get us to our desired destiny, nor does it mean there is only one way to get there. But it does mean making sure our choices about next steps are in step with the end we want.
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This book is in the form of dialogues between a Christian and various people who have other world views (e.g., feminist, agnostic, pantheistic, etc.).  Each dialogue is short and gets right to the point of showing the  illogic of the other world view compared to the Christian world view.  Outstanding!!
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Nabeel Quteshi is able to speak directly from both religious traditions, Muslim and Christian. He therefore brings a genuinely authoritative voice to our present world - a rarity. Instead of prejudice and/or ignorance, he weighs the real evidence. The result is frankly refreshing.