Abstract
Christians have often looked at Islam as a threat, both theologically and culturally. Islam comes after Christianity, and many Christians have seen Islam as a heresy. Islam also has experienced growth in numbers and in various metrics of religious practice in recent years, while Christianity in certain countries has declined. How might Christians look to Islam not for ways in which it is in competition with Christianity, either theologically or culturally, but for ways in which it can teach them lessons about adaptability? I present elements of Islamic theology that animate the spiritual life of many Muslims: the mystery of God, the life of the believer as a “test,” and a positive view of religious law. Together these elements might serve Christians today to adapt to culturally specific contexts. Thereby, I propose, an old rival of the Church might become a new friend.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Islam culture Christianity dialogue philosophy
