Christianity in light of Islamic Primary Sources
The world has become a global village where happenings in one area have a bearing on the all the rest. The need to foster positive understanding and interaction among all religions has greatly increased, especially in view of the peculiar nature of threats to global order and peace posed by religiously motivated violence.
Islam and Christianity are the two largest religions, Muslims and Christians together making up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace between the followers of these two great religions, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. A statement by more than 138 Muslim scholars sent in 2007 to Christian leaders, “A Common Word”, stated, “If Muslims and Christians are not at Peace, the world cannot be at Peace”. The common perception of Islam in the Christian world is one of austerity, rigidity, and, in extreme cases, severe cruelty. The situation is not helped by the strict and radical interpretation of the religion by a number of its adherents that in some cases has lead to the persecution of Christians in certain Muslim majority countries, and to the belief that the teachings of Islam are to be blamed for the violence of Muslim extremists against Christian communities.* Full article available in printed copies.