Well, issue two of volume seven of St Francis Magazine has now come out. I'm not surprised it took a while longer than usual, given the tumult in the Middle East where several of the editors are. But that having been said, I'm really excited about several of the articles. Here they are, and let me share why I think they are worth your scrutiny. (Though let me admit that I have not yet read all of these, though I have read some of them.)
John Damascene in context: An Examination of “The Heresy of the Ishmaelites” with special consideration given to the Religious, Political, and Social Contexts during the Seventh and Eighth Century Arab Conquests, by D. Bryan Rhodes
I'm a big fan of church history, as long-time readers will know. I am looking forward to detailed analysis of the first documented commentary of a Christian on Islam.
What is the Qur’an? A Moroccan intellectual’s critique of the Qur’an’s ethical teachings, by Bassam M. Madany
Madany is a great source for translating and interpreting Arabic-language documents. Also, he's been doing ministry for longer than I've been alive.
‘Your swords do not concern me at all’: The liberation theology of Islamic Christianity, by Duane Alexander Miller
I love the idea of combining liberation theology and ex-Muslim Christians doing theology!
Enjoy the reading! And let me know what you think about the various articles.
--Abu Daoud
3 comments:
Thank you Abu Daood for sharing this great article. Just like you, I too am a great fan of Church History and I wonder what's the general opinion of Christians on Muslims during Islam's first violent conquest of Christian and Jewish lands.?
Catholic Defender, I'm in the US for a few months, so if you ever want to chat on the phone let me know.
To answer your question, different things. Some early Christians (non-Chalcedonians) welcomed Muslim rule as they had been treated poorly by the Orthodox Byzantines. I think they came to regret that pretty soon.
Other Christians saw it as a sign of the eschaton--wars and rumors of wars, you know.
For the point of view of John of Damascus, read the article and then you will know more than I do about it!
Abu Daoud,
I've heard various Western historians say that Islam has historically been more tolerant than Christianity. They point out the treatment of non-Christians, particularly the Jews, in Europe and compare that with the treatment of Christians in the Middle East. It is true that even after the Arab conquests, there was a substantial Christian population in the Middle East for many centuries. The Muslim overlords needed the jizya, so Christians were tolerated. I believe it was only after the Crusades and Mongol conquests, when Christians sided with the Mongols, life for Christians got tougher. Now, of course, with the rise in Muslim fundamentalism things have got a lot tougher.
What do you say? Has Islam been historically tolerant, more tolerant than Christianity? Or has Christians always had it tough since the days Muhammad blazed on the scene?
JI
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