Humanity: Texts and Contexts

This latest volume from the leading international Christian-Muslim seminar in the English-speaking world is a fine contribution to contemporary thinking about an issue which affects all of us-ourselves... This volume provides an excellent summary of contemporary Christian and Muslim contributions to the discussion of what it means to be human today, as well as giving a vivid sense of the ongoing discussions within, as well as between, the two communities. -- Hugh Goddard, University of Edinburgh Some of the most important conversations taking place today are between Christians and Muslims. In this valuable volume, leading Muslim and Christian thinkers ponder both the commonalities and differences between Islam and Christianity on key issues of human identity, human diversity, and human stewardship. The result is a collection of profound and masterly analyses of some of the most fundamental issues that unite and divide the two largest religious communities in the world today. -- Asma Afsaruddin, professor of Islamic studies, Indiana University, Bloomington

Explores three central questions: What does it mean to be human? What is the significance of the diversity that is evident among human beings? And what are the challenges that humans face living within the natural world? In this title, a distinguished group of scholars focuses on the theological responses to each of these questions."Humanity: Texts and Contexts" is a record of the 2007 Singapore "Building Bridges" seminar, an annual dialogue between Muslim and Christian scholars cosponsored by Georgetown University and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This volume explores three central questions: What does it mean to be human? What is the significance of the diversity that is evident among human beings? And what are the challenges that humans face living within the natural world? A distinguished group of scholars focuses on the theological responses to each of these questions, drawing on the wealth of material found in both Christian and Islamic scriptures. Part one lays out the three issues of human identity, difference, and guardianship. Part two explores scriptural texts side by side, pairing Christian and Islamic scholars who examine such themes as human dignity, human alienation, human destiny, humanity and gender, humanity and diversity, and humanity and the environment. In addition to contributions from an international cast of outstanding scholars, the book includes an afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.