How Not to Kill a Muslim: A Manifesto of Hope for Christianity and Islam in North America

by Joshua Graves

The adherents of Islam and Christianity comprise half of the world’s population, or 3.5 billion people. Tension between them exists throughout the world and is increasing here in North America. In How Not to Kill a Muslim, Dr. Joshua Graves provides a practical subversive theological framework for a strategic posture of peaceful engagement between Christians and Muslims. Based upon both academic and personal experience (Josh grew up in Metro Detroit), this book will provide progressive Christians with a clear understanding of Jesus’ radical message of inclusivity and love. There is no one who is not a neighbor. There is no them. There’s only us. Our future depends upon this becoming true in our cities, synagogues, churches, and mosques. In pluralistic societies such as those of Canada and the United States, the true test of Christianity is what it offers those who are not Christian. And it starts with Islam. "In pointing us back to Genesis and the imagination of Jesus--especially as evidenced in the parable of the Good Samaritan--Josh Graves provides us with some of the basic fodder necessary for Christians to make much needed advances in our relations with American Muslims. May God grant that we all foster the sort of imagination to which Josh calls us." --Lee C. Camp, Professor of Theology, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN "Our relationship with our Muslim neighbors, locally and globally, is the most pressing challenge facing the Christian church today. But the obstacles are enormous. How can we come live out the gospel story given the pervasive climate of fear, ignorance, and suspicion? Sharing the hard-won insights from his interfaith work with Muslim neighbors and leaders in Nashville, Josh Graves calls upon the followers of Jesus to become agents of grace, peace, love, and reconciliation. A passionate, powerful, and urgent call to action." --Richard Beck, author of Unclean "Josh Graves has developed an amazing project that invites American Muslims and Christians to dialogue about their common humanity as children of the same God. He argues clearly that the relationship of American Muslims and Christians is arguably the most pressing issue of our time. If Christians are not convinced, well, they should be as the author's 'proof texts' are those great conflict stories of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Israel and Ishmael, Joseph and his elder brothers, the Merciful Samaritan, culminating in the Jesus story. I hope every Christian congregation extends an invitation to this important dialogue." --Charlie Strobel, founder, Room in the Inn, Nashville, TN "God created this diversity among human beings in race, color, and ethnicity to test us in doing good deeds. Islam teaches us that there is no compulsion in faith; all humans are free to practice their religion. These golden principles are the guidelines for Muslims in dealing with non-Muslims to live in peace with their non-Muslim neighbors. We live as part of a worldwide human community that is at war with itself. Unfortunately, these conflicts are both justified and emotionally intensified by religions. After all, the Quran preaches that all men are created equal. For this reason, I wholeheartedly endorse Josh's How Not to Kill a Muslim project!" --Amir Arain, Vanderbilt University/Islamic Center of Nashville, Nashville, TN Josh Graves is the preaching/teaching minister for Otter Creek Church (Nashville, TN). He is author of How Not to Kill a Muslim (Cascade, 2015), Heaven on Earth (2012 with Chris Seidman), and The Feast (2009).

Genres: Islam, Christian

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jenae · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I am not a fan of the title of this book. I know it is meant to be provocative and to draw in the reader, but it is a bit too controversial to me! The book, however, offered some much-appreciated insight on opening our hearts to a relationship with our Muslim neighbors.

It is short and concise. I especially appreciated the insight on how the story of the Good (or Merciful) Samaritan relates with modern day relations with Christians and Muslims. I wish there would have been a bit more explanation regarding Islam, even though that wasn't necessarily the point of the book. There was a glossary of terms in the appendix but I still have many questions.

Overall, a very challenging book for Christians by a very honorable man/preacher/pastor/writer!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives scriptural basis for a paradigm of Christ-like reconciliation and love of our neighbor. I particularly love the creative amplification of the story of the Samaritan and application to our world today. Graves point out the need for building up of this model with illustrations of misunderstanding between Christians and Muslims. He points out how we can come to love the Muslim and Islam in particular as our neighbor and intertwining religion. As a minister of pastoral counseling I can daily see the need for peace in our world and Graves' book is an excellent survival guide.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

None of us are immune from making judgments based on stereotypes. It's almost inevitable -- if we don't know a person or even a group of people personally, we will make decisions about them based on what we do know, and those are usually stereotypes. For instance, most Westerners assume that Muslims are Arabs and Arabs are Muslims, but while many Muslims are Arab, the majority are not, and while a majority of Arabs are Muslim, not all Arabs are Muslim. Especially since 9/11/01, many Americans, especially Christian Americans, view Muslims as adherents of an inherently violent religion intent on eradicating Christians and Jews (among others) in pursuit of dominion on earth.

Josh Graves, a Church of Christ pastor, writes to Christians, inviting us to set aside our stereotypes and begin to see Muslims as people whom God loves. Thus, there's no need to kill Muslims! In a book that has roots in Graves' D.Min. project at Columbia Theological Seminary. In this book Graves invites us to examine our biases along with providing a guide to dialogue and shared life. Writing from within the Evangelical community, which has tended to view Islam with hostility, he seeks to offer a better way, one that is rooted in Jesus' own teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan. He uses Participatory Action Research method to survey and discuss attitudes toward Muslims, whom he acknowledges are among the most feared and despised people in America. With the parable's message of openness to the stranger, along with Jesus' teaching of the two commandments to love God and neighbor, we might be able to get beyond stereotypes and embrace our neighbors.

To move forward with these conversations we need to understand our own story (for him and for me, that is the Christian story). Therefore, while he explores aspects of Islamic thought and practice, his focus is really on Christian responses and expectations.

The book is brief, but includes three appendices. The first offers a helpful glossary of terms, though I wish he had included Sufi in the list (and probably Amahdi as well). Secondly he reprints a blog post dealing with the building of a mosque near Ground Zero. Finally, he offers a report of two surveys he took regarding stereotypes. The questions he used, using the the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method, focus on getting people to share their views of Muslims and other faith communities.

This is an excellent resource written first to those in Evangelical Community, who tend to have the most negative views of Muslims, but I think that it is equally valuable for those outside the evangelical community. Since he mentions other issues/persons who are viewed negatively, including gay persons, much of what he says about the way we live with biases are transferable. This is a most welcome book that can serve us well as we seek to build bridges across faith lines and overcome negative stereotypes that undermine the Christian witness.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started with a premise and then makes the facts support the premise. But there were some good nuggets in the book. "The fundamental challenge of leadership is to instill and cultivate a prophetic imagination." In Luke 10:25-37, the rich young ruler by standing is showing Jesus disrespect. Cultural habits would have required him to sit as he asked the question. In terms of the world population the percentage of Christians has declined from 35 % to 32%. Islam has grown from 12% to @@%. US muslim pop. is estimated between 4 to 7 million but that is expected to double in the next 20 to 25 years.

[Jeff Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of density to the material

The book is more of a devotional encouragement to Christian peacemaking and ethics than a deep treatment of the difficulties between Christians and Muslims in the modern context. The relevant points could be summarised in a short few pages without losing much in terms of supporting information or explanation.

[Paul Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable book for every Jesus follower to read. In addition to being great content, it is accessible and understandable. Challenging insight from someone writing from a place of love of God and love of neighbor.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Title is provocative but his theme is to show us that we are to be a neighbour - even to Muslims. He really digs into the Good Samaritan story to make his case. Short book and an easy read.

[Walter Warren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a College Thesis. The Good Samaritan is a better read ( Luke 10:25–37) is just as informative and a better read. Parables always are. Learning order is story told, word written, and last and least reliable tv and movie screen.