Approaches to Islam: faith, religion and politics
Approaches to Islam: faith, religion and politics

Summary/Abstract: Christian encounter with Islam has a long and tortured history which continues to affect not only interfaith dialogue, but also political and social rapprochement. However, the situation seems to take a positive turn thanks especially to increased scholarship and knowledge of each other as well as to the still growing Muslim presence in the West. In highlighting both these aspects, the present essay introduces some of the commonalities, such as monotheism, creation, responsibility, prophethood, etc., discussed and debated in academic circles without ignoring their implications for any interfaith dialogue and shared citizenship in a democratic liberal and secular society. Whereas the beginnings of a new hermeneutics in Islam shall be discovered by T. Ramadan as well as among Muslim feminists, a creative and faithful engagement with Islam from the Christian front is offered by K. Cragg. The essay calls attention to the possibility of moving beyond theological discourse, especially if the notions emphasized by Islam, such as power, sovereignty and stewardship, are taken seriously without ignoring their shocking impact on non-Muslims, as well as proposing alternative perspectives from the Christian side. The envisioned outcomes is a dialogue in trust, re-building some of the shared confidence which the faiths’ communal living together did enjoy, though for brief periods, in various parts of the world. These resources of peaceful coexistence need urgent deployment today.

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