Faithful Neighbors: Christian-Muslim Vision and Practice

by Robert S. Heaney, Zeyneb Sayilgan, Claire Haymes

Faithful Neighbors outlines an introduction to the rationale for interfaith work through both theological and practical viewpoints, using stories from real experiences of interfaith cooperation to offer encouragement, inspiration, and practical steps to do the same.

The book has eight chapters in three main sections. Section one provides a Christian and Muslim rationale for engaging with the Other. Section two outlines stories of those involved in interfaith work in a series of academic research, intercultural, pastoral care, youth work, and peace work. The concluding section details recommendations and resources for best practice. Faithful Neighbors exhorts both Muslims and Christians to be faithful neighbors drawing on their traditions and real life practice for the sake of life-giving community.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2016

Reviews

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was a colossal waste of time. I didn't finish it, but the only way I can write a review and give it a rating is to say I did. This was a reading for my Education for Ministry class, Living Faithfully in a Multicultural World. This book only dealt with, ad nauseam, the Muslim religion. We read too many chapters, all of which stated the same thing - Christians and Muslims need to get along, Christians and Muslims need to interact. It's not that I'm anti-Muslim, I'm not. But there are an awful lot of other religions out there in our Multicultural World. And instead of spending 2 weeks reading the same thing over and over and over, it would have been nice to have a variety. I'm sorry these authors get all of this money from all of the EfM students this year. They don't deserve it.

[Leslie Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was required reading for my EfM class. I had high hopes but ultimately found it a let down. Not that I disagree with the mission, I don't. I just didn't find the book engaging. It described the project of increasing interfaith dialog in rather distant, sometimes clinical terms. I could have really benefited from some anecdotes to add more humanity to the piece. "We did this thing and it was good" does not a compelling read make.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked the book to include more personal stories of cross cultural friendships.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my EfM (Education for Ministry) group at church. It was okay, but I felt like it could have done more with its 165 pages. There was a lot of repetition & not enough depth/engagement with the challenges of interfaith conversation. Someone else in the group summarized it as “We’re different, but let’s be friends!” Pretty accurate summary. I most appreciated the stories from people engaged in interfaith work.

[John Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man has been segregating groups of people into "we" or "in-group" and "them" or the "out-group" from the time of early man. The "others" are often not befriended but are shunned and feared. One only has to fill-in-the-blank who is in the in-group and in the out-group. If the two groups never interact on a personal and respectful manner, the ostracization is almost guaranteed to continue.

The editors of this book, all associated with Virginia Theological Seminary and Christian and Muslim, serve as apologists for Christian-Muslim engagement providing a number of examples how such interactions have successfully occurred. A common thread underlying many of these interactions is intentional friendships on a one-to-one basis, which are respectful of each one's story and faith journey. I thought that the criteria for constructive conversations included in the final chapter could be applied with some modification to almost any "we-them" situation. Who knows? It might even be useful in our current contentious national political climate. Hope springs eternal... One of the better books read in Christian-Muslim engagement that I have read.

[Maya Senen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful ideas around the changing ecumenical to interfaith movements. People of faith stand only to gain from sharing common goals (care for creation, ministering to the underserved, encountering atheism and agnosticism), and seeing those as more pressing than strife between faith communities. The prescription is more local dinners and small bridging to bring informal education and break down cultural isolation.

That being said, I would be super curious to read a reprint of this book for Muslim community. This one so clearly is targeting the Anglican community and so much of how we dialogue will be different.

[Margie Dorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject of this book is very important. It is assigned reading for this year's Education for Ministry classes. The good thing about the book is that it tries to approach the topic from a variety of angles, including research that has been done, personal experiences of both Christians and Muslims, and implications for action. The problem with the book is that it does not energize its readers (at least from what I've heard from our students at this point.) But I guess we all have to start somewhere, and this is a start.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had good middle to high level experiences and logistics. Middle being a metropolitan area regular small-group dinners with theme and mainly new people each time. High being international conferences. It was a bit repetitive and positive. I’m always hoping for some negative moments to be shared as lessons in how to manage them. And someday a book more on low level, laity driven simple interfaith dialog events. The end discussion questions and further steps were very well done.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for EfM. It was more readable than the other books we read this year but it was a bit repetitive. It’s basic premise is that we can understand our Muslim brothers and sisters by getting to know them better. This seems obvious to me but the author wrote 163 pages about it. Still I’m giving it a higher rating than the others for level of interest and readability.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This title merely presented reasons why dialogue is important. One could argue if someone is reading the book, they already believe dialogue is important.
There could have been so much more worthy content to foster healthy, appropriate Muslim-Christian dialogue but in the end it was lacking.
Sewanee could probably find a better title for EfM interlude engagement on this topic.

[Joshua Booher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as an upcoming EfM Interlude text.

[Amy Rudolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as EfM Interlude text regarding interfaith dialogue.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently the key to not being bigoted is to not be ignorant. Who knew.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will let those that are interested read Good Read's description of this book. I was reading it for an EFM class. I wouldn't recommend unless you are interested in interfaith reconciliation