Dialogue and Difference: Clarity in Christian-Muslim Relations »

An influential scholar and participant in Muslim-Christian conversations for decades, Christian Troll assesses the problems and shortcomings of both traditions in the quest for mutual understanding.

Preface 1

Introduction 1

Acknowledgments 4

Translator's Note 5

A Word on Abbreviations 6

Part 1 Dimensions of Dialogue

1 The New Muslim Presence in Europe: Challenge and Opportunity for Christians 9

Toward Harmonious Coexistence 9

Theological Distinctions 15

Forms of Christian Witness: The Task of Christian Mission in Relation to Muslims 20

2 Dialogue as Encounter in Faith 23

Common Ground in the Spheres of Faith and Mission 24

Significant Differences and Their Roots 26

The Burden of History 28

Worldwide Reciprocity in Relations between Majorities and Minorities 30

3 The Ethical and Political Dimensions of Dialogue 33

The Situation after 11 September 2001 33

Facets of the Reality of Islam Today 34

Western Perspectives on Islam 40

The Need for Policies Informed by Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue 43

4 Dialogue and Truth-Claims in Christianity and Islam 47

The Essential Question 47

Truth-Claims and the Demand for Tolerance in Christian Perspective 48

Contemporary Islam, Social Pluralism, Tolerance, and Dialogue 52

The Qur'anic Imperative Today 56

5 Human Dignity and Religious Freedom in Modern Islamic Thought 57

Religious Freedom in Dignitatis Humanae 57

The "Mainstream" Position of Traditional Islamic Teaching on Religious Freedom 57

Muslim Thinkers Asking New Questions 59

Qur'anic Resources for Teaching on Human Dignity 62

Human Dignity and Freedom 65

Freedom, Predestination, and Responsibility 66

Freedom and Revealed Law 67

Freedom and History 71

Conclusion 74

6 Dialogue: Between Mission and Ecumenical Relations 76

The New Situation 76

Christian Mission Today 77

Emphases and Imperatives inthe Missionary Encounter of the Church with Islam Today 79

Part 2 Distinctions In Belief

7 Islamic Understandings of God and Dialogue 87

Fazlur Rahman on the Essential Features of the Qur'anic Understanding of God and Humanity 88

Prospects for Healthy Christian-Muslim Coexistence and Dialogue 91

8 Abraham: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives 97

Sons of Abraham? 97

In Jewish Perspective: A Long Journey of Faith 98

In Muslim Perspective: The Prophet of Monotheism 99

In Christian Perspective: Bearer of the Promise Fulfilled in Jesus 102

The Relationship of the Monotheistic Faiths to Abraham 105

9 God, Muhammad, and the Unbelievers 108

Islam and the Other in the Qur'an and in the Biography of Muhammad 108

Mecca and Medina: Two Paradigms for Islamic Thought in Relation to the Other 111

The Relationship between the Umma and Others in the Light of a Fundamentalist Reading of the Qur'an 112

The Meccan Paradigm and Some Modern Muslim Thinkers 114

The Need for a New Reading of the Qur'an 115

10 Is Muhammad Also a Prophet for Christians? 117

A Question That Demands an Answer 117

Prophecy in Islam 118

Possible Approaches to a Christian Acknowledgment of Muhammad as Prophet 119

Critical Openness to Muhammad's Life and Teaching 120

Muhammad, the Qur'an, and Political Power 121

The Hijra 122

The Political and Military Dimensions of the Life and Message of Muhammad 123

The Qur'an, Muhammad, and the Criterion of the Gospel 125

Creation, Revelation, and Law in the Qur'an 126

Part 3 Theological Assessments

11 Bible and Qur'an in Dialogue 131

The "Word of God" in Christian and in Muslim Understanding 131

Muslim Beliefs concerning the Qur'an and the Bible, and Their Relevance for the Encounter between Christians and Muslims 133

The Bible and the Qur'an in Their Spiritual Significance for Christians and Muslims 136

Initiatives in Studying the Bible and the Qur'an Together 138

12 Islam in Christian Theological Perspective 142

Defining One's Own Position in Dialogue 142

The Specific Character of Islam in Christian Perspective 144

Abraham's Faith and Worship as a Point of Contact 145

The Meaning of Christian-Muslim Encounter 147

Summary 151

13 Official Catholic Teaching and Islam since Vatican II 153

The Statements Made by Vatican Council II 153

Postconciliar Official Teaching on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 156

Summary 166

Appendix: Suggestions for Further Reading 171

Index 177