Description

"Recent developments in the study of earliest Christianity provide great opportunity for interfaith dialog, enabling us to see there is far more common ground between Islam and Christianity than has been previously assumed. New perspectives afforded by these developments are also opening a growing number of Christians to consider the prophethood of Muhammad in ways they never before imagined. Unfortunately, most Christians and Muslims are unfamiliar with these developments and their theological implications. Therefore, most Christians continue to believe medieval assessments of Muhammad and the Qur’an, thereby erecting enormous barriers to interfaith dialog and peacebuilding. Similarly, while the Qur’an certainly brings correction and warning to Christians who persist in excessive doctrines not taught by Christ, many Muslims believe that various titles of Jesus found in the Bible constitute clear evidence of its corruption, further complicating interfaith dialog and understanding. This paper will examine one significant development in the study of earliest Jewish Christianity, show how worldview and translation complicated later developments in Christian theology, then propose a cooperative effort between Muslim and Christian peacebuilders to gently and respectfully expose both Christians and Muslims to these matters in order to build genuine understanding and greater peace between these communities."