This book offers a topical investigation into Christian-Muslim relations, highlighting the important need for an improved understanding between the two communities in order develop universal peace and justice.For centuries Christians and Muslims have engaged with each other in a variety of ways, peaceful and otherwise.Today, Christians represent an influential body of opinion that largely perceives Islam, post 9/11, as a threat. Yet Muslims represent approximately one third of the world's population. Improved understanding between Christians and Muslims is a crucial foundation for international peace and for common humanitarian action. This book aims to investigate Islam's place in the world, Muslim aspirations vis-a-vis non-Muslims and the realities of how Christians perceive Muslims and Muslims Christians. It covers what has been said and written from the seventh to the present century.Each chapter analyses accessible texts from key thinkers and commentators, broadly split into two camps: confrontational or conciliatory including detailed treatment of Bible and Qur'an. Christian-Muslim relations are set in the wider context of civilizational, geo-political and economic interaction between the Muslim world and the historically Christian West.

Author Biography

Clinton Bennett is history and biography editor for the New World Encyclopedia. His books include In Search of Muhammad (1998) and Muslims and Modernity (2005).