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New Explorations in Theology
Triune Relationality: A Trinitarian Response to Islamic Monotheism
- GenresTheology
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2024
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March 9, 2025
Summary: Argues on the basis that relationality is among the perfections of God that only a Triune God meets that criteria.
Any substantive Christian-Muslim dialogue inevitably confronts the question of the nature of God. Is God absolutely One or is God one being (or substance) subsisting in the relations of three persons? The author of this book, an Arabic scholar who has ministered in Syria proposes the following argument:
P1: One aspect of divine perfection is relationality–the greatest conceived being should be relational in order to be perfect (the greatest).
P2: The Trinity shows God as a relational divine being (intrarelational and interrelational).
C: The Trinity is noncontradictory. (p. 20)
However, Khouri believes our discussions, as well as her argument, need to be grounded in the history of the conversation. And so she begins with the early history of Islam in the eighth to tenth centuries as Christian apologists were confronted by many Christians converting to Islam. She explores how the Qur’anic objections first arose. Contrary to the traditional answer of aberrant beliefs of a weak church, she contends that Muslim ideas of the Trinity are traceable to the theotokos icons. This led to thinking of the Trinity as the Father, the mother Mary, and their offspring, Jesus.
Khouri also introduces us to three Christian apologists from this period. John of Damascus argues from the eternality of word and spirit for the Trinity. Theodore Abu Qurrah. He argues from the nature of Adam for one God in three persons: one who begets, another who is begotten, and one who proceeds. Yahya Ibn Adi takes a more philosophical approach showing that Allah may be one in one sense while multiple in another. Throughout, Khouri shows how they engaged with Muslim scholars of their time.
Then Khouri turns to our contemporary setting. First, she surveys contemporary theologies of the Trinity, considering Social Trinitarian, Latin Trinitarian, and relative identity theories. Finally, she elaborates her own argument, summarized above. She shows how explanations for God as absolutely One yet relational introduce an imperfection, dependence upon the creation, whereas the Trinity is relational within the oneness of God’s being, self sufficient and not dependent on creation.
This work is valuable on several levels. First, Khouri sets the conversation in a historical context. We equally disavow the Trinity of the Qur’an. Second, she introduces us to Arabic Christian theologians who met this challenge in the early centuries, whose arguments still have value. Third, she helps us consider why the Trinity can help us make sense of the relational character of human life. And finally, she offers a logic built on wahid, God as the greatest conceivable being. She argues that God cannot be perfect without being relational. Only the Trinity of Christianity meets that criteria.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Any substantive Christian-Muslim dialogue inevitably confronts the question of the nature of God. Is God absolutely One or is God one being (or substance) subsisting in the relations of three persons? The author of this book, an Arabic scholar who has ministered in Syria proposes the following argument:
P1: One aspect of divine perfection is relationality–the greatest conceived being should be relational in order to be perfect (the greatest).
P2: The Trinity shows God as a relational divine being (intrarelational and interrelational).
C: The Trinity is noncontradictory. (p. 20)
However, Khouri believes our discussions, as well as her argument, need to be grounded in the history of the conversation. And so she begins with the early history of Islam in the eighth to tenth centuries as Christian apologists were confronted by many Christians converting to Islam. She explores how the Qur’anic objections first arose. Contrary to the traditional answer of aberrant beliefs of a weak church, she contends that Muslim ideas of the Trinity are traceable to the theotokos icons. This led to thinking of the Trinity as the Father, the mother Mary, and their offspring, Jesus.
Khouri also introduces us to three Christian apologists from this period. John of Damascus argues from the eternality of word and spirit for the Trinity. Theodore Abu Qurrah. He argues from the nature of Adam for one God in three persons: one who begets, another who is begotten, and one who proceeds. Yahya Ibn Adi takes a more philosophical approach showing that Allah may be one in one sense while multiple in another. Throughout, Khouri shows how they engaged with Muslim scholars of their time.
Then Khouri turns to our contemporary setting. First, she surveys contemporary theologies of the Trinity, considering Social Trinitarian, Latin Trinitarian, and relative identity theories. Finally, she elaborates her own argument, summarized above. She shows how explanations for God as absolutely One yet relational introduce an imperfection, dependence upon the creation, whereas the Trinity is relational within the oneness of God’s being, self sufficient and not dependent on creation.
This work is valuable on several levels. First, Khouri sets the conversation in a historical context. We equally disavow the Trinity of the Qur’an. Second, she introduces us to Arabic Christian theologians who met this challenge in the early centuries, whose arguments still have value. Third, she helps us consider why the Trinity can help us make sense of the relational character of human life. And finally, she offers a logic built on wahid, God as the greatest conceivable being. She argues that God cannot be perfect without being relational. Only the Trinity of Christianity meets that criteria.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review