Meeting Islam: A Guide for Christians

by George Dardess

George Dardess, author of this wise and inviting guide, believes that Jesus's injunction to "Love your neighbor as yourself" means that serious Christians should engage with Islam and come to know their Muslim neighbors.

Dardess invites readers to explore some of Islam's key facts, chief concepts, and practices, using his own failings and successes as a guide. He shares his own experiences as a deacon in the Catholic Church in Rochester, New York, seeking to build bridges with the local Muslim community, and how his own faith has been expanded and enhanced by the relationships and understandings that have resulted.

At times humorous, questioning, and warm, Meeting Islam is an engaging guide to the rewards (and the dangers) of venturing outside the boundaries of one's own faith. Dardess is sympathetic to Muslim claims to truth, and analyzes them in the light of similar, Christian claims. Each chapter ends with a theological reflection on how a particular facet of Islam may enhance (rather than detract from) our own Christian self-understanding.

Genres: Islam, Religion

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

George, a permanent deacon in the Catholic Diocese or Rochester, N.Y., was so distressed at watching the televised Gulf War that he was determined to learn Arabic, thinking that if more people understood other people there would be less violence and more communication between countries. His wife Peggy found a class at Rochester’s Islamic Center and met Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, who was teaching the class. He was one of three non-Muslims in the class. From there he went on to study the Qur’an in Arabic with Omar, also at the Center.
The book is divided into chapters, each giving an explanation of a key belief or practice of Islam, and a theological reflection on how that facet of Islam may enhance, rather than detract from, our own Christian self-understanding.
Some of his personal stories are funny, some are questioning, but all are dedicated to understanding a non-Christian religion and how Christians may relate to those who follow it. There is even a glossary of terms in the back, which I found very helpful.
This is not a book to be read in bits – I suggest reading a chapter at a time so as to get the impact of what the author is saying – then perhaps re-reading a paragraph or two afterward. For me it wasn’t an easy read, but I feel that I have learned something about this religion.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read. There were times when I almost couldn't put the book down. I came into the book not knowing much at all about Muslims and their faith and left with an appreciation and at least a feeling that I've managed to scratch the surface. I especially enjoyed the lessons to Christianity Mr Dardess was able to draw from various Islamic tenants. All in all - I would recommend this book.

[Larry Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

in an age when islam is the fastest growing religion in the west and an age where there is so much hysterical writing that elicits fear, this is an important book to help Christians really understand muslims. if we do not understand, we cannot love, and if we do not love, we are failing Christ.