Between Allah and Jesus
What would happen if Christians and a Muslim at a university talked and disagreed, but really tried to understand each other? What would they learn? That is the intriguing question Peter Kreeft seeks to answer in these imaginative conservations on issues ranging from prayer and worship to evolution and abortion, from war and politics to the nature of spiritual struggle and spiritual submission.
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What would happen if Christians and a Muslim at a university talked and disagreed, but really tried to understand each other? What would they learn? That is the intriguing question Peter Kreeft seeks to answer in these imaginative conservations on issues ranging from prayer and worship to evolution and abortion, from war and politics to the nature of spiritual struggle and spiritual submission. Library Journal Kreeft (philosophy, Boston Coll.), a prolific author on Christian theology and philosophy, argues that Islam can teach Christians strength of will and moral conviction. Kreeft creates conversations between a fictional Muslim student and Christian students and professors on such topics as surrender, jihad, and evolution, with the Muslim student debating the Christians about belief. The dialogs bring out areas of agreement in ways that engender respect for overarching principles accepted by each religion—in particular each one's submission to God and desire to do his will. But the conversations also insist that incompatible doctrines of traditional Islam and Christianity signify that one is right and the other wrong, whereas both may be right about different aspects of the same truth. Kreeft also assumes that Christianity and Islam are sole competitors for religious loyalty. VERDICT Committed Christians, especially Catholics, who want positive approaches to Islam, or Muslims seeking to offer some of their beliefs and faith to Christians, may wish to consider reading this. But the book's emphasis on the truth of Christian doctrine (e.g., the Resurrection and the Trinity) does not make it an objective study or primer.—William Collins, Library of Congress
Introduction 91 On Comparative Religions 212 On Islam vs. the West 303 On Jesus and Muhammad 474 On the Relation Between Morality and Theology 675 On Surrender 766 On Loving God and Fearing God 857 On Who Goes to Heaven 948 On Liberals and Conservatives 1079 On Prayer and the Wildness of God 11610 On Feminism 12411 On Sexual Morality and Moral Ambiguity 13212 On Islam and Politics 14413 On War and Pacifism 15114 On Jihad and Enemies 15815 On Evolution and Sex 17216 On Abortion and Compassion 178Conclusion 187
\ Dinesh D'Souza"Peter Kreeft has written an important, original and groundbreaking book. At a time when there is fierce prejudice against Muslims and Islam, not surprising in the wake of 9/11, Kreeft has the knowledge to treat Islam both sympathetically and critically. With exemplary courage, Kreeft spells out what Christians in the West can learn from the Muslims. Indispensable reading!"\ \ \ \ \ Hicham Chehab"This is a rare and sincere attempt to delve into the Islamic mind and heart, with respect and understanding. With its depth and pertinence to our post-9/11 world, I can say that this work surpasses many previous attempts by famous Orientalists to compare Christianity and Islam. Christians and evangelists can learn a lot from the fictional debates and dialogue that enrich this work. This personalized discourse could be used to teach missionaries authentic ways for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslims."\ \ \ Habit C. Malik"With inimitable subtlety, Peter Kreeft's literary meditation has produced a series of fictional dialogues that bring out how good Muslims and good Christians, despite the grave and irreconcilable differences marking their respective creeds, are really natural allies in the culture war against a common enemy: sin. These insights by the author, born out of a diligent love in investigating the beliefs and life practices of truly devout Muslims, map with courageous honesty minus the usual platitudes the shared moral and spiritual territory between such Muslims and equally devout Christians. Kreeft captures that primordial purity and elemental spirituality of the Muslim believer living in total surrender to God's will. Not only can Christians learn much from Muslims about the importance of submission, tradition, family, divine commandments, spiritual tenacity and rejection of the ills of modernity, Kreeft also uses precisely these strengths in Islam to level a scathing critique at the moral and spiritual laxity of the secular West. All in all, a fascinating read and a tour de force in the indirect communication through creative literature of abiding, universal verities."\ \ \ \ \ Doctor"Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about the morals and values of Muslims. Through the moral, intelligent and open-minded Muslim young man 'Isa, you will learn not only about Islam, but you'll come to a greater understanding and security in your own Christian faith."\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalKreeft (philosophy, Boston Coll.), a prolific author on Christian theology and philosophy, argues that Islam can teach Christians strength of will and moral conviction. Kreeft creates conversations between a fictional Muslim student and Christian students and professors on such topics as surrender, jihad, and evolution, with the Muslim student debating the Christians about belief. The dialogs bring out areas of agreement in ways that engender respect for overarching principles accepted by each religion—in particular each one's submission to God and desire to do his will. But the conversations also insist that incompatible doctrines of traditional Islam and Christianity signify that one is right and the other wrong, whereas both may be right about different aspects of the same truth. Kreeft also assumes that Christianity and Islam are sole competitors for religious loyalty. VERDICT Committed Christians, especially Catholics, who want positive approaches to Islam, or Muslims seeking to offer some of their beliefs and faith to Christians, may wish to consider reading this. But the book's emphasis on the truth of Christian doctrine (e.g., the Resurrection and the Trinity) does not make it an objective study or primer.—William Collins, Library of Congress\ \
