Global Christianity and Islam: Exploring History, Politics, and Beliefs, By Wafik W. Wahba
Global Christianity and Islam
paperback
  • Length: 352 pages
  • Dimensions: 6 × 9 in
  • Published: February 04, 2025
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • Item Code: 5195
  • ISBN: 9780830851959

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A Comprehensive Overview of Christianity and Islam

Together, the adherents of Christianity and Islam make up over half of the world's population, and their numbers are expected to keep growing. The influence of these two faiths—and their relations with each other—is seen in politics, economics, and social interactions. Religious identity and aspirations remain powerful and appealing to people around the world. Understanding global realities today requires understanding the histories and dynamics of the world’s largest religions.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of Christianity and Islam, covering three interrelated areas:

  • historical developments and encounters,
  • the influence of religion on politics,
  • and religious beliefs and worldviews.

Wafik W. Wahba highlights key points of similarity and difference and particular factors that contributed to divergence between the Western world and the Muslim world. Exploring the various narratives that have shaped both Christianity and Islam, he argues, is crucial to understanding current trends in Christian-Muslim interactions and their impact on future relations between the two communities globally.

Drawing from decades of experience teaching around the world, Wahba clarifies core beliefs that influence the actions of Muslims and Christians and their attitudes toward the other faith. This book demonstrates how learning from the past should help us avoid repeating mistakes in interactions between religious communities.

"The interfacing of the Christian Gospel and Islam triggers conversations in most countries I travel, as political, social, and religious issues raise concerns over how these faith-driven convictions can live together. Dr. Wahba's invaluable service is in his laying out the basic factors, historically, the intertwining of faith and politics and in their respective core beliefs. This is a must-read for those seeking to understand these two major and global faiths."

Brian C. Stiller, global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance and president emeritus at Tyndale University

"This is the book I want for an overview into Islam's interaction with Christianity through the centuries followed by contemporary insights into current beliefs and practices. My interest is piqued based on the logical and informative organization of the historical features in lockstep eras as well as how the Muslim world regards its mission and agenda in the twenty-first century. This is bundled in the trusted knowledge through personal and academic experience by Wahba and the superb writing style which endears itself to students in their quest to grasp its relevance."

Mark A. Lamport, professor at Grand Canyon University and Colorado Christian University

"Wafik Wahba's Global Christianity and Islam is a comprehensive work that briefly and objectively covers the encounter between Christianity and Islam on different dimensions, in particular the theological differences. It is a must-read for any scholar who needs an introductory work on Christian-Islamic comparative studies."

Hesham Shehab, founder of Messiah for Muslims and Salam Christian Fellowship

"In our fragmented and polarized world, mutual respect and understanding between Muslims and Christians are more important than ever. To navigate the terrain where they encounter one another, you could not hope for a more trustworthy interpreter than Wafik Wahba. Fair, balanced, sympathetic, patient, irenic, concise, and clear—this is an indispensable guide for all who travel the frontiers of Christian-Muslim relations."

Kenneth R. Ross, professor of theology and dean of postgraduate studies at Zomba Theological University in Malawi

"In this breathtaking study of global Christianity and Islam, Wafik W. Wahba delivers a sweeping account of the history, politics, and beliefs of Christianity and Islam as global religions. As an Egyptian Christian who teaches in North America, Wahba is uniquely positioned to tell this story, and he does so to great effect. This is a 'must-read' for any Christian who wants to think better about Islam today."

John A. Vissers, professor of systematic theology at Knox College, University of Toronto

"In this sweeping, masterful study of Christian-Muslim interactions spanning thirteen centuries, Wafik W. Wahba provides a compelling analysis of the impact of historical developments, sociopolitical dynamics, and religious beliefs on past and current Christian-Muslim relations globally. Wahba is an eminently qualified guide in this exploration, a distinguished, Arabic-speaking theologian who, for thirty years, has studied and taught Christian-Muslim relations all over the globe. This is a meticulously researched, scholarly text, yet also highly readable and accessible to anyone seeking greater understanding of the world's two largest religions. Wahba's respectful, irenic tone beautifully embodies the book's stated aim—to better understand and communicate with the religious other and find a path to a peaceful future."

Janet Clark, dean emerita at Tyndale University in Ontario, Canada
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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1: Historical Developments and Encounters
1. The First Five Hundred Years of Christianity
2. Byzantine Christendom and the Early Islamic Caliphates (500–1000)
3. Christianity and Islam During the Middle Ages (1000–1500)
4. Christianity and Islam in the Age of Discovery (1500–1750)
5. Christianity and Islam in the Modern Age (1750–1910)
Part 2: Religion and Politics
6. Historical Developments and Political Interactions (1910–2020)
7. Religion and Politics in Contemporary World Contexts
Part 3: Religious Beliefs
8. God: Absolute, Relational
9. Jesus Christ: A Prophet
10. Jesus Christ: The Savior
11. Humanity and Salvation
12. Community: The Ummah and the Church

General Index

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Wafik W. Wahba is professor of Global Christianity at Tyndale University in Toronto, Canada. He has taught and lectured on global Christianity and Christian-Muslim relations in twenty-five countries, including in the United States, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. He has contributed to several publications, including Edinburgh Companion to Global Christianity, The Rowman and Littlefield Handbook of Christianity in the Middle East, and Cascade's series The Global Story of Christianity. He served on the editorial advisory board and contributed several entries to the Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South.