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Abrahamic Faiths: Titik Temu dan Titik Selisih antara Islam, Kristen, dan Yahudi
Islam, Kristen, dan Yahudi memiliki lebih banyak unsur pemersatu daripada titik seteru. Ada banyak sekali kesamaan terkait dengan isi kitab suci maupun kisah tentang para nabi. Ketiga agama besar ini pun sama-sama menandaskan bahwa ketaatan sejati terhadap wahyu Ilahi harus dilambari hubungan yang benar dengan Tuhan dan sesama manusia. Bahkan, ketiganya dapat dipandang sebagai satu agama, sebagaimana diungkapkan secara berulang-ulang dan gamblang dalam Alquran: agama yang ditetapkan Tuhan untuk Nabi Muhammad dan pengikutnya adalah juga agama yang ditetapkan untuk Nabi Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, dan Isa.
Kesatuan agama-agama Ibrahimi ini diibaratkan oleh Jerald F. Dirks laiknya sebuah pohon. Tiap-tiap agama mendaku sebagai batang utama pohon wahyu yang benar dan vertikal. Dua agama lainnya pun dianggap sebagai cabang yang menyimpang dari batang utama. Dari kiasan inilah Dirks beranjak membahas topik demi topik, termasuk petualangannya dari agama Kristen ke Islam.
Semua tersaji begitu mudah dan indah. Ringkasan-ringkasan cermat dan akurat akan membantu Anda memahami inti ajaran, sekaligus landasan kesamaan dan akar perbedaan, dari ketiga agama ini. Dirks juga menjawab sejumlah pertanyaan dasar seputar apa yang mesti dilakukan setelah mengetahui kesamaan dan perbedaan yang ada. Menurutnya, meyakini agama sendiri sebagai agama terbaik bukanlah fanatisme (intoleransi), melainkan ekspresi keimanan. Fanatisme baru terjadi manakala kita tak mampu menghargai tradisi agama dan keyakinan pihak lain. Maka, setiap pemeluk agama harus memperhalus retorika kala membahas agama lain. Dan, mereka harus berfokus pada visi yang lebih tinggi dari ketiga agama ini: komitmen menyembah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, pemberantasan penyakit-penyakit sosial, dan upaya memperbaiki kesejahteraan hidup sesama.
Kesatuan agama-agama Ibrahimi ini diibaratkan oleh Jerald F. Dirks laiknya sebuah pohon. Tiap-tiap agama mendaku sebagai batang utama pohon wahyu yang benar dan vertikal. Dua agama lainnya pun dianggap sebagai cabang yang menyimpang dari batang utama. Dari kiasan inilah Dirks beranjak membahas topik demi topik, termasuk petualangannya dari agama Kristen ke Islam.
Semua tersaji begitu mudah dan indah. Ringkasan-ringkasan cermat dan akurat akan membantu Anda memahami inti ajaran, sekaligus landasan kesamaan dan akar perbedaan, dari ketiga agama ini. Dirks juga menjawab sejumlah pertanyaan dasar seputar apa yang mesti dilakukan setelah mengetahui kesamaan dan perbedaan yang ada. Menurutnya, meyakini agama sendiri sebagai agama terbaik bukanlah fanatisme (intoleransi), melainkan ekspresi keimanan. Fanatisme baru terjadi manakala kita tak mampu menghargai tradisi agama dan keyakinan pihak lain. Maka, setiap pemeluk agama harus memperhalus retorika kala membahas agama lain. Dan, mereka harus berfokus pada visi yang lebih tinggi dari ketiga agama ini: komitmen menyembah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, pemberantasan penyakit-penyakit sosial, dan upaya memperbaiki kesejahteraan hidup sesama.
346 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Jerald F. Dirks
10 books52 followersDr. Jerald F. Dirks received his Bachelor of Arts (philosophy) from Harvard College in 1971, his Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 1974, his Master of Arts (clinical child psychology) from the University of Denver in 1976, and his Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 1978.
In 1969, he obtained his License to Preach from the United Methodist Church, and he was ordained into the Christian ministry (deaconate) by the United Methodist Church in 1972.
He converted to Islam in 1993 and completed his sessions program certificate in Islamic studies from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in 1998.
Dr. Dirks is the author or co-author of over 60 published articles in the behavioral sciences (primarily in psychosomatic medicine), over 140 published articles on the Arabian horse and its history, and over 220 published articles and formal presentations on Islam, comparative religion, and private Islamic education in America. He has lectured widely on Islam at American colleges and universities.
In 1969, he obtained his License to Preach from the United Methodist Church, and he was ordained into the Christian ministry (deaconate) by the United Methodist Church in 1972.
He converted to Islam in 1993 and completed his sessions program certificate in Islamic studies from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in 1998.
Dr. Dirks is the author or co-author of over 60 published articles in the behavioral sciences (primarily in psychosomatic medicine), over 140 published articles on the Arabian horse and its history, and over 220 published articles and formal presentations on Islam, comparative religion, and private Islamic education in America. He has lectured widely on Islam at American colleges and universities.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 31, 2021
This should be mandatory reading
December 7, 2008
Dari buku ini saya dapat mengetahui makna yang tersirat dari alquran dan Hadist, dan ternyata maknanya sungguh luar biasa. Islam ternyata agama yang benar-benar rahmatan lil alamin. Membuat saya makin mencintai Allah SWT.
December 4, 2025
This book gave me a clear and balanced look at the similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Dr. Dirks writes with clarity, respect, and depth, making complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying.
I especially appreciated how it encourages understanding and dialogue across faiths, a perspective we need more than ever. Thought-provoking, well-researched, and highly readable.
I especially appreciated how it encourages understanding and dialogue across faiths, a perspective we need more than ever. Thought-provoking, well-researched, and highly readable.
October 16, 2023
Oh I so enjoyed reading this. For a long time I’ve been wanting to know the differences between Christianity and Islam and this book covers it excellently in a condensed manner.
Jerald Dirks is an ex-ordained Christian Minister who converted to Islam in 1993. He is the perfect person to write such a book, considering his elite Christian education and then later, a traditional Islamic one. His scholarship shines throughout the book, as he compiles verses from the bible (Old and New Testament and other versions) along with their accepted interpretations, while comparing them to similar and some not-so-similar verses from the Quran. Though still present, the book has considerably less input from Jewish scriptures, understandably so considering Dirks’ forte was Christianity and later, Islam.
He tells about the different divisions within Christianity, and how they differed about the nature of God Himself. You would think that in spite of different sects within one religion, the minimum that they should be able to agree on would be the nature of God - such is not the case with Christianity, who’s various divisions differ on the nature of Jesus (PBUH) and his relationship to God. Interestingly, Dirks also points out that although the (alleged) crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH) has by most in the western world been considered a historical fact rather than a religious belief, he directs us to legit (though not widely known) historical evidence that denies this. The chapter on women in Christianity vs Islam was particular eye-opening for me.
Let me add a reminder that this book is very concise, with accessible language, and doesn’t necessitate any prior knowledge of the Abrahamic faiths. I particularly liked that Dirks’ presents us the evidence and tells us to think for ourselves beyond that. I’d say it would make a very good introduction for anyone looking into these faiths and their differences, particular Christianity and Islam.
Jerald Dirks is an ex-ordained Christian Minister who converted to Islam in 1993. He is the perfect person to write such a book, considering his elite Christian education and then later, a traditional Islamic one. His scholarship shines throughout the book, as he compiles verses from the bible (Old and New Testament and other versions) along with their accepted interpretations, while comparing them to similar and some not-so-similar verses from the Quran. Though still present, the book has considerably less input from Jewish scriptures, understandably so considering Dirks’ forte was Christianity and later, Islam.
He tells about the different divisions within Christianity, and how they differed about the nature of God Himself. You would think that in spite of different sects within one religion, the minimum that they should be able to agree on would be the nature of God - such is not the case with Christianity, who’s various divisions differ on the nature of Jesus (PBUH) and his relationship to God. Interestingly, Dirks also points out that although the (alleged) crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH) has by most in the western world been considered a historical fact rather than a religious belief, he directs us to legit (though not widely known) historical evidence that denies this. The chapter on women in Christianity vs Islam was particular eye-opening for me.
Let me add a reminder that this book is very concise, with accessible language, and doesn’t necessitate any prior knowledge of the Abrahamic faiths. I particularly liked that Dirks’ presents us the evidence and tells us to think for ourselves beyond that. I’d say it would make a very good introduction for anyone looking into these faiths and their differences, particular Christianity and Islam.
December 25, 2008
lebih banyak persamaannya daripada perbedaannya
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews