Christian-Muslim Relations Research Articles

Communication: a Neglected Paradigm in the Study of Christian–Muslim Relations (7th–16th Cent.)

Communication as a paradigm of analysis has so far been neglected in the study of historical relations between Christians and Muslims. Part One demonstrates that previous forms of conceptualizing these relations fail to grasp the wide range of possible forms of interaction. It presents more differentiated recent approaches and points to the problems that still need solving. Part Two proposes a typology of different kinds of primary evidence that allow us to gain a more profound understanding of how interreligious communication is documented and which conclusions we may derive from this documentation. Part Three discusses methods of using such evidence to produce a greater picture of historical Christian–Muslim relations from the perspective of the communicative paradigm. It concludes that cooperation between specialists on different (e.g. diplomatic, economic, social, intellectual) facets of interreligious relations is necessary to formulate new macro-historical models that consider both the synchronic diversity of communicative acts and settings, as well as the diachronic evolution of larger communicative constellations in reaction to greater political, economic, social, and ideological changes.

The historiography of Medieval Christian-Muslim relations (1960-2020)

The historiography concerning Medieval Christian Muslim-Relations over the past sixty years has been shaped by two important books: Norman Daniel’s Islam and the West (1960) and Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978). Each of these works made significant contributions to the field, but each also had serious methodological limitations. Both works assumed and reinforced a conceptual divide between an imagined Christian West and Muslim East. Over the past several decades, some of the most interesting and important work in the field has challenged and reconceptualized this dichotomy.

Book Review: A History of Christian-Muslim Relations

Book Review: A History of Christian-Muslim Relations

I monaci athoniti e l’Islam nel sec. XIV: le fonti agiografiche

"The article aims to approach the theme of the progress of the Turkish brigades into the Byzantine territories, in particular the Mount Athos, during the fourteenth century. It provides a new perspective for this topic. Indeed, it focuses on the hagiographical sources and how they describe the reaction of the Athonite monks in front of this phenomenon. The sources have been set according to a thematic order: 1) cases of escape from the Holy Mountain after the Turkish raids; 2) reports of or from captivity; 3) the consequences of the Turkish progress into the Asiatic and Western provinces of the Byzantine Empire; 4) the psychological impact on the monastic communities of Athos, and finally 5) the relationship between Athonite monks and Islamic communities in the Holy Land as favorite pilgrimage destination. The perception of the violence of the Turkish troops forces the Athonite communities to a general reconsideration of lifestyle and of ascetical practices. Moreover, it indirectly causes the propagation of the hesychast lifestyle out of the borders of the Holy Mountain during the late Byzantine period. Out of fear for the Islamic enemies the hagiographers take the opportunity to praise the ethical qualities of their monastic champions. On the other hand, in these sources they do not deal with Islamic morals; the violence of the enemies is the unique theme they consider as a priori distinguished feature of Muhammed’s followers. Keywords: Mount Athos, Byzantine monasticism, hesychasm, fourteenth century, Byzantine hagiography, Turkish conquest, Christian–Muslim relations, Kallistos I, Gregory Palamas, Philotheos Kokkinos "

Richard the Lionheart, Contested Queerness, and Crusading Memory

This article explores King Richard I of England (r. 1189–99) and the medieval and modern historiography on the subjects of 1) his contested sexuality and 2) his participation in the Third Crusade (1187–92). In addition to demonstrating that the evidence of his queerness is both considerable and unambiguous, the article investigates how Richard’s political and cultural legacy has been used and re-used, how his status as an English national hero has been increasingly called into question, and how modern anxieties about the medieval crusades have driven the need to reconfigure his historical memory. It also briefly touches upon questions of ‘religious’ versus ‘secular’ violence, transhistorical Christian-Muslim relations, and the problematic and enduring mythology of the crusades in modern and post-Brexit Britain, especially in regard to the epistemological legacy of the Western Christian world, its historical empire-building and other projects in which the crusades have played a major role, and the ongoing reckoning and reshaping of these ideas. Lastly, it proposes new concepts of premodern queer memory and the academic practice of queer history, and calls for the creation of an analytical space that assertively centres these complexities.

Asia Pacific: Heal History – Build Peace, Trust And Hope For The Future (Could Pancasila Be Applied Regionally?)

This paper respectfully and humbly attempts to describe a perspective on peacebuilding in the Asia Pacific region. It will emphasize the significant connection between personal and global change, one that seems to be overlooked to our detriment in overly systems-focused approaches to creating peace. It was once, pertinently or impertinently, commented by UK journalist, Peter Howard, that the problems sitting around the table at international conferences, or even the UN, are always more pressing than the problems sitting on the table. It will draw from real-life stories of those who have experienced change of heart leading to personal, family, community and sometimes national and international change. There will be a focus on Indonesia and Australia, healing history with Japan, Muslim-Christian relations, colonial history, including some evidential experience from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island countries. References to the experience of countries outside the Asia-Pacific region will be made where the principles support the position that some big changes, national and international, have come about significantly through moral and spiritual change in individuals. It will attempt to respond to the question of whether our region with its extensive diversity, can model for the world the Pancasila, the peace, trust, hope and healing for which it longs. Keywords: Healing, Peace, Trust, Hope, Pancasila.

Christian Monastic Life in Early Islam

Christian Monastic Life in Early Islam

Insecurity and Anxiety in Northeast Nigeria and Boko Haram Agenda Conspiracy Theories: Lake Chad Basin’s Oil and Water Polemics

In Nigeria and other nations with their territory being part of the Lake Chad Basin, anxiety is high and growing because Boko Haram’s “strident messages exacerbate intra-Muslim tensions and worsen Muslim-Christian relations in the region” (Thurston 2016: 5). In addition, because the agenda of Boko Haram appear jumbled and its sponsors indistinct, curiosity has led to the conceptualization of theories aimed at providing illumination. The study interpretively discusses how insecurity and anxieties in northeast Nigeria resulting from Boko Haram’s insurgency propel the articulation of several conspiracy theories explaining Boko Haram’s emergence, evolution and agenda, and the areas where lack of consensus subsists. The study classifies the theories into three categories, namely, the Freedom Fighter and Soldiers of Faith, Proxy Political Tool, and Islamic Caliphate Quest theories, and examines their suppositions and arguments to highlight the degree of plausibility. Substantially, the study expands the ‘Islamic Caliphate Quest’ theory to include the place of ‘oil’ and ‘water’ as likely variables that illuminate other trajectories.

Christian-Muslim Relations in Syria: Historic and Contemporary Religious Dynamics in a Changing Context , by Andrew W. H. Ashdown

Christian-Muslim Relations in Syria: Historic and Contemporary Religious Dynamics in a Changing Context , by Andrew W. H. Ashdown

Andrew W. H. Ashdown, Christian-Muslim Relations in Syria: Historic and Contemporary Religious Dynamics in a Changing Context

Andrew W. H. Ashdown, <i>Christian-Muslim Relations in Syria: Historic and Contemporary Religious Dynamics in a Changing Context</i>

From Evangelization to Worship Restrictions: The Changing Characteristics of Threat Perception between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia

ABSTRACT This article is an examination of the sense of mutual threat felt by both Muslims and Christians in Indonesia from the colonial period to the reformasi era (following the collapse of the Soeharto regime in 1998), which has provoked tensions and stained the country’s motto of Unity in Diversity or Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. Adopting a historical-comparative methodology, it uses threat perception, restriction of worship and concepts of democracy to explain the dynamic relationship between Muslims and Christians, from their initial encounter to the present day. The study finds that Muslims have perceived evangelization in colonial times and Christianization missions under the Soeharto New Order as a threat, while to Christians the Muslim vision of establishing an Islamic state and the rise of radicalism at the end of the New Order have been perceived as a threat. It argues that, in the reformasi era, threat perception has continued and intensified into religious intolerance followed by worship restrictions, and shows that political dynamics significantly affect the quality of Indonesian Muslim–Christian relations.

The Need for a Hermeneutics of Tolerance, Mutual Respect and Peaceful Coexistence for a Healthy Christian-Muslim Relations

Christian-Muslim relations in recent times have raised concerns the world over. There have been increments in polemics and prejudices. Although the root causes of many of these have been political, religion has often been used as a tool to manipulate sentiments and legitimatize the political and social agenda. The lack of a hermeneutics of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence for Christian Mission and Muslim Da’wah activities continue to create the, ‘we’ and ‘them’, and the ‘majority’ versus ‘minority’ status. The challenge is to strive not only to nurture their separate learning in order to survive in the increasingly religiously pluralistic world but to find effective and more efficient ways to interact and collaborate across differences of faith and non-faith environments. This paper discusses the need for hermeneutics of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims. It concludes that when Christians and Muslims come to an understanding of each other, it keeps out intruders like politicians who would want to manipulate their religion for political and economic benefits, remove religious barriers and create opportunities. This article contributes to the dialogue on religious tolerance and its importance in fostering societal growth and development. Keywords: Hermeneutics, Interfaith, Interreligious, Peaceful, Tolerance, Dialogue, Encounters, Christian-Muslim, Relations

A History of Christian-Muslim Relations, written by Hugh Goddard

A History of Christian-Muslim Relations, written by Hugh Goddard

Interreligious relation: Position of women in strengthening Christian and Muslim bonds

Strengthening Muslim–Christian relations is very important for a nation such as Indonesia that has plurality in terms of tribes, ethnicity and religion. This study aims to analyse the role of Muslim women who live in a pluralistic socio-religious situation. This is a qualitative research that uses purposive sampling to determine the informants. The approach used by the Discovering Cultural Themes model is to understand the symptoms of the many themes, cultures, values and cultural symbols. Data analysis was conducted by using software for qualitative research, which is needed in managing data found from the field, in this case, nVivo Basic 12.00 for Windows. The results show that Muslim women translate justice, empathy and rationality in religion by building relationships with other religions. This attitude is part of Islamic teachings that contain moderate, accommodating and tolerant aspects. In addition, culture has encouraged women to blend in and form egalitarian equality in the social and cultural realm. The culture of generosity and mutual help has become a tradition both in religious and customary activities.Contribution: This article provides an insight into the contribution of Muslim women in strengthening Muslim–Christian relations. This agenda is very important because Islam and Christianity have the largest adherents in Indonesia. This contribution is very important and crucial in the midst of radicalism issue in Indonesia lately.

The Islamic Mary as a Protagonist and Qur’anic Daughter

Scholarship on Christian-Muslim relations often notes that the Islamic Mary (Maryam) is not seen as a figure in her own right but rather is viewed as ancillary to Jesus/‘Īsā. This paper will argue that the Islamic Mary is a protagonist, as the Qur’an defines her role, extols her spiritual state, and places her within its worldview. Maryam fits within the Qur’an’s larger framework of a daughter who is both similar to and distinct from the Christian Mary.

Christians and Muslims in Egypt

This essay surveys the long history of Christian-Muslim relations in Egypt. Interfaith relations in this context have ranged from cordial to tense, depending on a variety of internal and external factors.

Odrazi muslimanske sakralne povijesti u slavonskoj književnosti 18. stoljeća / Traces of Muslim sacral history in 18th century Slavonian literature

This article explores various questions about a poem written by Antun Ivanošić (1740–1800), a priest and poet from Slavonia, in which he glorifies the Habsburg victory over “the Turks” during the Dubica War (1788–1791). The author twice mentinos Mustafa Gaibija (Muṣṭafā Ghāʼibī or Ghaybī), a 17th century Muslim scholar, mystic and poet. Gaibija holds an important place in the sacral history of the Banja Luka region and of the Bosnian Muslims in general. His memory is also preserved in the folk traditions of the Catholics of Slavonia. The references to Gaibija in Ivanošić’s poem have previously passed unnoticed both in both Bosnian historiography and Croatian literary studies. This article highlights the significance of these references and thus contributes to a better understanding of Christian-Muslim relations on the borders of empires and to the representation of Muslims among the Southern Slavs of the 18th century.

The effects of Islamization on Muslim-Christian relations within Israel’s Arab community before and after the ‘Arab Spring’

ABSTRACT This article examines the effects of Islamisation processes among Israeli Muslim Arabs on their intercommunal relations with Christian Arabs before and after the ‘Arab Spring’, based on 45 in-depth interviews held prior to and after this momentous event. The findings show the complex role played by Islamisation in Muslim-Christian relations, causing tensions and distancing at times while promoting intercommunal cooperation on other instances. They also reveal that in addition to the Islamic Movement, three other main socio-religious subsets played a role in Islamisation: secular, traditional and Salafi. Finally, since the onset of the ‘Arab Spring’, the religious identity of Israeli Muslims has remained central but the power of Islamic segments seems to have declined. Under these circumstances, Muslims and Christians tended to grow socially distant from each other, though no substantial tensions were evident.

Grassroots Perceptions of Islamic Extremism and Muslim-Christian Relations in Mali

Abstract Recent studies of Christian-Muslim encounters in West Africa underlines their complexity and warn against reducing them to either peaceful coexistence or conflict. Yet the question whether the recent resurgence of religious extremism the Sahel is recasting interfaith relations in the region requires scholarly attention. This paper investigates the perceptions of religious extremism in Mali from a Christian-Muslim perspective. The paper is based on a qualitative study carried out in Bamako in 2016 among Christians and Muslims. These perceptions mirror the ways in which Christians and Muslims represent and misrepresent each other in the context of the threat of the “islamist take over”. I argue that the resurgence of religious extremism has not significantly impacted Christians-Muslims relations in Mali for three main reasons. The first is that religious extremism is largely perceived as imported from outside; second, targets and victims of Jihadist attacks in Mali have been both Christians and Sufi Muslims. Thirdly the management of religious differences is subordinated to broader social processes of conviviality.

Fluid Boundaries: Christian Sacred Space and Islamic Relics in an Early Ḥadīth

Abstract This article examines a ḥadīth text that illustrates the complicated interactions between Christian and Islamic sacred spaces in the early period of Islamic rule in the Near East. In this narrative, the Prophet Muḥammad gives a group of Arabs instructions for how to convert a church into a mosque, telling them to use his ablution water for cleansing and repurposing the Christian space for Muslim worship. Contextualizing this narrative in terms of early Muslim-Christian relations, as well as late antique Christian religious texts and practices, my analysis compares this story with Christian traditions regarding the collection and usage of contact relics from holy persons and places. I argue that this story offers an example of early Islamic texts’ engagement with, and adaptation of, Christian literary themes and ritual practices in order to validate early Islamic religious claims.