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Summary
Summary
In late 2007 Muslim leaders from around the world together issued in the pages of The New York Times an open letter to Christian leaders inviting cooperation as a step toward peace. That letter, "A Common Word between Us and You," acknowledged real differences between the two faiths but nonetheless contended that "righteousness and good works" should be the only areas in which they compete. The 138 signatories included over a dozen grand muftis, an ayatollah, and a Jordanian prince, and the document was widely considered a groundbreaking step toward reconciliation between Islam and Christianity -- two major religions with a great deal in common. / That original letter and a collaborative Christian response -- "Loving God and Neighbor Together" -- both appear in this remarkable volume. Building on those original momentous documents, A Common Word further includes subsequent commentary and dialogue between Muslim and Christian scholars addressing critical and frequently asked questions. All in all, this eventful book encapsulates a brave and encouraging move toward harmony and accord between two world religions so often seen to be at odds.
Author Notes
Miroslav Volf is Director of the Yale Center for Faith Culture and Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School.
H.R.H. Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad bin Talal is the principal drafter and political force behind the original open letter. He is the Personal Envoy and Special Advisor to H.M. King Abdullah II and Chairman of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan.
Melissa Yarrington is Research Fellow for Muslim-Christian Relations at the Yale Center for Faith Culture's Reconciliation Program.
Reviews 2
Choice Review
This collection focuses on an unprecedented document issued by Muslim thinkers in late 2007, responding to the controversial 2006 Regensburg remarks of Benedict XVI, which, among other things, addressed the nature of Islam. In irenic contrast, that document, "A Common Word between Us and You," posited a common ground between the world's two largest religions, suggesting that the two faiths must promote peace rather than conflict and, where they differ, find ways to agree to disagree. Shortly thereafter, a broadly heterogeneous group of Christians responded in kind with "Loving God and Neighbor Together." Out of this exchange grew the current volume, which does not try to explain away Christian-Muslim enmity, but offers alternative visions of how Christians and Muslims can interrelate. Although political figures such as John Kerry contribute to this volume, far more authors represent their respective religious communities as theologians, clergy, educators, and practitioners. Some of the essays are profoundly theological, seeking to define terms such as "love," "neighbor," and "God" for members of both religious communities, which have differing understandings of such basic concepts. Other essays address more practical issues, and note that the exchange has spontaneously led to innumerable interfaith activities. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. S. P. Blackburn Hartford Seminary
Library Journal Review
In 2007, a number of Muslim leaders published an open letter in the New York Times that they called "A Common Word"; the document stressed the common ground of Islam and Christianity in love of God and love of neighbor. This important volume unites that original letter and one of the most substantial Christian replies, the so-called Yale Response, created by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, with new essays by notables such as Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Harvey Cox, Andre Saperstein, and Sen. John Kerry. VERDICT Almost without doubt one of the most profound interfaith movements and statements in recent memory, this work brings a new audience to this crucial dialog; essential reading for the thoughtful Christian or Muslim. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
| Foreword | p. ix |
| Preface | p. xii |
| Part I Invitation and Response | |
| On "A Common Word Between Us and You" | p. 3 |
| A Common Word for a Common Future | p. 18 |
| A Common Word Between Us and You | p. 28 |
| Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to "A Common Word Between Us and You" | p. 51 |
| Part II Muslim Perspectives | |
| Loving God and Loving Neighbor | p. 79 |
| God, "The Loving" | p. 88 |
| The Word of God: The Bridge between Him, You, and Us | p. 110 |
| The Concept of Loving Neighbor in the Qur'an and Hadith His Excellency | p. 118 |
| Part III Christian Perspectives | |
| God Is Love: Biblical and Theological Reflections on a Foundational Christian Claim | p. 125 |
| Understanding the Meaning of Love: Eternal or Temporal? Self-Giving or Gift-Giving? | p. 143 |
| Transforming Love | p. 153 |
| Loving Neighbor in Word and Deed: What Jesus Meant | p. 157 |
| Love and Speech: With Remarks on Seduction and Sorcery | p. 162 |
| Part IV Frequently Asked Questions | |
| Frequently Asked Questions That Muslims Have Been Asked about "A Common Word" | p. 171 |
| Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Yale Response to "A Common Word Between Us and You" | p. 178 |
| Part V Political Significance of "A Common Word" | |
| Common Word, Dialogue, and the Future of the World | p. 193 |
| Appendix 1 The Addressees and Signatories of "A Common Word Between Us and You" | p. 201 |
| Appendix 2 The Signatories of the Yale Response, "Loving God and Neighbor Together" | p. 214 |
| Contributors | p. 238 |
