Is the Muslim my neighbor?
For increasing numbers of Christians, the answer to that question is yes. The crescent, an emblem of the Islamic faith recognized throughout the world, is gaining prominence in the West, bringing with it the collision of worldviews.
When the cross meets the crescent, what ought to happen? In the newly revised classic Cross and Crescent, Colin Chapman brings remarkable sensitivity and humanity to a question that too often incites hostility and suspicion. He introduces Islam in its historical context, its theological assumptions and, most important, its common practice in the West. In this comprehensive, gracious introduction to Islam, you will meet the Muslims in your community and learn how to love these neighbors as yourself.
CONTENTS
Foreword by Jim Tebbe
Preface to the second edition
Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART ONE: RELATING TO OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS
1. Meeting face to face
2. Appreciating Islamic culture
3. Examining our attitudes
PART TWO: UNDERSTANDING ISLAM
4. What is Islam?
5. Basic Muslim beliefs and practices
6. Muslims at prayer
7. The life of Muhammad
8. The Qur?an
9. Tradition (hadith and sunna)
10. Law (shari?a) and theology (kalam)
11. Sufism
12. Folk Islam or popular Islam
13. The spread and development of Islam
14. Branches and movements within Islam
15. Issues facing Muslims today
16. Women in Islam
17. "Islamic terrorism"
PART THREE: ENTERING INTO DISCUSSION AND DIALOGUE
18. Questions and objections concerning Christian practice
19. Social and political issues
20. Questions and objections concerning Christian beliefs
21. Guidelines in discussion with Muslims
22. A deeper look at the main Muslim objections
23. Learning from the controversies of the past
24. Exploring dialogue
PART FOUR: FACING FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES
25. Theological questions
26. The Islamic view of Jesus
27. The qur?anic view of Christians
28. Crucial differences: the parting of the ways
29. Thinking biblically about Islam
30. Counting the cost of conversion
31. Facing the political challenge of Islam
PART FIVE: BEARING WITNESS TO JESUS
32. Natural openings in everyday life
33. Using the Bible
34. Starting from the Qur?an
35. Explaining Christian beliefs about Jesus
36. Some issues facing Christians today
Conclusion
Notes
Index
