Humanity: Texts and Contexts: Christian and Muslim Perspectives

by Michael Ipgrave (Editor), David Marshall (Editor), Rowan Williams (Afterword), Ng Kam Weng (Contribution by), Michael Ipgrave (Contribution by)

Overview

Humanity: Texts and Contexts is a record of the 2007 Singapore “Building Bridges” seminar, an annual dialogue between Muslim and Christian scholars cosponsored by Georgetown University and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This volume explores three central questions: What does it mean to be human? What is the significance of the diversity that is evident among human beings? And what are the challenges that humans face living within the natural world?

A distinguished group of scholars focuses on the theological responses to each of these questions, drawing on the wealth of material found in both Christian and Islamic scriptures. Part one lays out the three issues of human identity, difference, and guardianship. Part two explores scriptural texts side by side, pairing Christian and Islamic scholars who examine such themes as human dignity, human alienation, human destiny, humanity and gender, humanity and diversity, and humanity and the environment. In addition to contributions from an international cast of outstanding scholars, the book includes an afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589017160
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	03/15/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The Venerable Dr. Michael Ipgrave is the Archdeacon of Southwark, Church of England.

The Reverend Dr. David Marshall is the academic director of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Building Bridges seminar and a research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University.

Table of Contents

IntroductionHumanity in ContextMichael Ipgrave

Part One: Human Identity, Difference, and Guardianship

1. Being Human

The Image of God, Human Dignity, and VocationNg Kam Weng

Being Human in IslamMona Siddiqui

2. Living with Difference

Affinity, Inclusion, and Mission: Christian Resources for Living with DifferenceMichael Ipgrave

Islam and Human Diversity: Vernacular Religion Confronts the Categories of Race and CultureVincent Cornell

3. Guardians of the Environment

Guardianship of the Environment: An Islamic Perspective in the Context of Religious Studies, Theology, and Sustainable DevelopmentAzizan Baharuddin

Slayers or Stewards? Ecological Guardianship in the Christian TraditionMichael Northcott

Part Two: Scriptural Texts on Being Human

4. Human Dignity

Genesis 1:26–31Ellen Davis

al-Baqara 2:30–35Muhammad Abdel Haleem

5. Human Alienation

Genesis 3; Romans 7:15–25Mona Siddiqui

al-Baqara 2:36–39; Tā' Hā' 20:115–124Daniel Madigan

6. Human Destiny

Isaiah 65:17–25; Revelation 21:1–8, 21:22–22:5Roland Chia

al-Ramān 55:26–78; Al-Qiyāma 75:20–25Seyed Amir Akrami

7. Humanity and Gender

Genesis 2:18–25, Ephesians 5:21–33Tim Winter

al-Azāb 33:35; al-Rūm 30:21; al-Nisā' 4:34; al-Baqara 2:228Jane Dammen McAuliffe

8. Humanity and Diversity

Isaiah 2:1–5; Galatians 3:28–29; Revelation 7:9–10John Prior

Hūd 11:118; al-Rūm 30:20–22; al-Fāir 35:27–28; al-ujurāt 49:13Osman Bakar

9. Humanity and the Environment

Jeremiah 5:20–25, 18:13–17; Romans 8:18–23Michael Northcott

al-An'ām 6:141–42; 6:38; al-Rūm 30:41; al-Nal 16:112Mohamed Yunus Yasin

Afterword: Reflections on Humanity in Text and ContextRowan Williams

What People are Saying About This

Hugh Goddard

This latest volume from the leading international Christian-Muslim seminar in the English-speaking world is a fine contribution to contemporary thinking about an issue which affects all of us—ourselves. . . . This volume provides an excellent summary of contemporary Christian and Muslim contributions to the discussion of what it means to be human today, as well as giving a vivid sense of the ongoing discussions within, as well as between, the two communities.

From the Publisher

"This latest volume from the leading international Christian-Muslim seminar in the English-speaking world is a fine contribution to contemporary thinking about an issue which affects all of us -- ourselves.... This volume provides an excellent summary of contemporary Christian and Muslim contributions to the discussion of what it means to be human today, as well as giving a vivid sense of the ongoing discussions within, as well as between, the two communities." -- Hugh Goddard, University of Edinburgh

"Some of the most important conversations taking place today are between Christians and Muslims. In this valuable volume, leading Muslim and Christian thinkers ponder both the commonalities and differences between Islam and Christianity on key issues of human identity, human diversity, and human stewardship. The result is a collection of profound and masterly analyses of some of the most fundamental issues that unite and divide the two largest religious communities in the world today." -- Asma Afsaruddin, professor of Islamic studies, Indiana University, Bloomington

Asma Afsaruddin

Some of the most important conversations taking place today are between Christians and Muslims. In this valuable volume, leading Muslim and Christian thinkers ponder both the commonalities and differences between Islam and Christianity on key issues of human identity, human diversity, and human stewardship. The result is a collection of profound and masterly analyses of some of the most fundamental issues that unite and divide the two largest religious communities in the world today.

Editorial Reviews

Should be read by all who count themselves stewards of the Earth's most precious resources, as well as those interested in seeking reconciliation between Muslims and Christians.

Missiology

The clear language, the precision of the quotations and the qiality of the contributors make the book an important tool for those who are involved in scholarly research, as well as for those who are simply involved in daily life dialogue and try to create bridges among peoples, cultures and religious traditions in order to give to mankind new hopes for the future of the world.

Islamochristiana

Some of the most important conversations taking place today are between Christians and Muslims. In this valuable volume, leading Muslim and Christian thinkers ponder both the commonalities and differences between Islam and Christianity on key issues of human identity, human diversity, and human stewardship. The result is a collection of profound and masterly analyses of some of the most fundamental issues that unite and divide the two largest religious communities in the world today.

Asma Afsaruddin

This latest volume from the leading international Christian-Muslim seminar in the English-speaking world is a fine contribution to contemporary thinking about an issue which affects all of us—ourselves. . . . This volume provides an excellent summary of contemporary Christian and Muslim contributions to the discussion of what it means to be human today, as well as giving a vivid sense of the ongoing discussions within, as well as between, the two communities.

Hugh Goddard

"Should be read by all who count themselves stewards of the Earth's most precious resources, as well as those interested in seeking reconciliation between Muslims and Christians." — Missiology

"The clear language, the precision of the quotations and the qiality of the contributors make the book an important tool for those who are involved in scholarly research, as well as for those who are simply involved in daily life dialogue and try to create bridges among peoples, cultures and religious traditions in order to give to mankind new hopes for the future of the world." — Islamochristiana

"This latest volume from the leading international Christian-Muslim seminar in the English-speaking world is a fine contribution to contemporary thinking about an issue which affects all of us — ourselves.... This volume provides an excellent summary of contemporary Christian and Muslim contributions to the discussion of what it means to be human today, as well as giving a vivid sense of the ongoing discussions within, as well as between, the two communities." — Hugh Goddard, University of Edinburgh

"Some of the most important conversations taking place today are between Christians and Muslims. In this valuable volume, leading Muslim and Christian thinkers ponder both the commonalities and differences between Islam and Christianity on key issues of human identity, human diversity, and human stewardship. The result is a collection of profound and masterly analyses of some of the most fundamental issues that unite and divide the two largest religious communities in the world today." — Asma Afsaruddin, professor of Islamic studies, Indiana University, Bloomington

From the Publisher