Common Ground (Paperback)

Paul L. Heck

ISBN 10: 158901507X / ISBN 13: 9781589015074

Published by Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC, 2009

About this Item

Paperback. Christian-Muslim interaction is a reality today in all corners of the globe, but while many celebrate the commonality of these traditions, significant differences remain. If these religions cannot be easily reconciled, can we perhaps view them through a single albeit refractive lens? This is the approach Paul Heck takes in "Common Ground": to undertake a study of religious pluralism as a theological and social reality, and to approach the two religions in tandem as part of a broader discussion on the nature of the good society. Rather than compare Christianity and Islam as two species of faith, religious pluralism offers a prism through which a society as a whole - secular and religious alike - can consider its core beliefs and values. Christianity and Islam are not merely identities that designate particular communities, but reference points that all can comprehend and discuss knowledgeably. This analysis of how Islam and Christianity understand theology, ethics, and politics - specifically democracy and human rights - offers a way for that discussion to move forward. Presents a study of religious pluralism as a theological and social reality, and approaches Christianity and Islam in tandem as part of a broader discussion on the nature of the good society. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781589015074

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Common Ground (Paperback)
• Publisher: Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 158901507X
• ISBN 13: 9781589015074
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Christian-Muslim interaction is a reality today in all corners of the globe, but while many celebrate the commonality of these traditions, significant differences remain. If these religions cannot be easily reconciled, can we perhaps view them through a single albeit refractive lens? This is the approach Paul Heck takes in Common Ground: To undertake a study of religious pluralism as a theological and social reality, and to approach the two religions in tandem as part of a broader discussion on the nature of the good society.

Rather than compare Christianity and Islam as two species of faith, religious pluralism offers a prism through which a society as a whole―secular and religious alike―can consider its core beliefs and values. Christianity and Islam are not merely identities that designate particular communities, but reference points that all can comprehend and discuss knowledgeably. This analysis of how Islam and Christianity understand theology, ethics, and politics―specifically democracy and human rights―offers a way for that discussion to move forward.

About the Author

Paul L. Heck is an associate professor in the Department of Theology at Georgetown University. He is the author of The Construction of Knowledge in Islamic Civilization and editor of Sufism and Politics: The Power of Spirituality.