Islam. Passato, presente e futuro

by Hans Küng, Massimo Faggioli (Translator), Alessandro Vanoli (Translator)

In tempi in cui la necessità di comprensione e comunicazione si fa sempre più pressante, Hans Küng ripercorre la vicenda del mondo musulmano nel suo sviluppo storico: dalla tradizione orale al Corano, dall'affermazione della politica del califfato alle grandi stagioni della cultura scientifica e filosofica. Così sino al complesso incontro con l'Occidente europeo del periodo coloniale e all'irruzione della modernità nella società islamica. Dopo i volumi Ebraismo e Cristianesimo, l'opera del teologo dedicata all'Islam conclude idealmente l'ampio progetto di studio del rapporto tra le fedi monoteiste nella storia e nel mondo contemporaneo. Una ricerca sui fondamenti, un'attenta riflessione sui princìpi, da cui emerge un messaggio universale di speranza rivolto ai fedeli di tutte le religioni e un invito all'elaborazione di nuove vie di dialogo nel riconoscimento della reciproca diversità. Per giungere non a una religione unitaria ma a una pace autentica tra le religioni.

Genres: Religion, Islam, History, Nonfiction, Theology, Philosophy, Spirituality

911 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Hans Küng was a Swiss Catholic priest, controversial theologian, and prolific author. Since 1995 he had been President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic (Stiftung Weltethos). Küng is "a Catholic priest in good standing," but the Vatican has rescinded his authority to teach Catholic theology. Though he had to leave the Catholic faculty, he remained at the University of Tübingen as a professor of Ecumenical Theology and served as Emeritus Professor since 1996. In spite of not being allowed to teach Catholic theology, neither his bishop nor the Holy See had revoked his priestly faculties.

Reviews

[Damian North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hans Küng’s Islam: Past, Present and Future is an eye-opening and inspiring read that does a fantastic job of explaining one of the world’s great religions in a way that feels both informative and approachable. Küng, a respected theologian known for promoting dialogue between faiths, takes readers on a journey through the history of Islam while keeping an eye on what it means for today’s world.

The book starts by going back to the very beginning, with the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the birth of the Islamic faith. Küng shows how Islam connects with Judaism and Christianity, while also highlighting what makes it unique. He covers big moments in Islamic history—its early expansion, cultural achievements, and the wide variety of movements and traditions that developed over the centuries. What’s impressive is how he explains complex ideas in clear, straightforward language that anyone can follow.

What really stands out is Küng’s fair and balanced perspective. He doesn’t shy away from the hard questions—like struggles with extremism or the challenges of modernization—but he always frames them with respect and care. He makes it clear that Islam, like any major faith, is diverse and dynamic, with rich traditions of spirituality, philosophy, and reform.

More than just history, though, this book is about hope. Küng believes that understanding Islam is essential for building peace in our globalized world, and he argues convincingly that Christians, Muslims, and Jews have more in common than they often realize. His call for dialogue and cooperation feels both urgent and encouraging.

Overall, Islam: Past, Present and Future is a fascinating, thoughtful, and surprisingly readable book. Whether you’re new to the subject or looking to deepen your understanding, it’s a powerful reminder of why learning about each other’s traditions matters so much.

Damian North.
Author

[Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hans Kung's lucid prolific study of Islamic history and the honest engagement with the issues of Christianity Islam dialogue makes this a compulsory read for all who think about the future of the world.

[Carolina Neves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este não é um livro apenas sobre uma religião. É um livro que ajuda a perceber toda uma cultura, tradições e modos de viver.
Começa por se debruçar sobre a história do islão de modo a melhor perceber o porquê do funcionamento do presente, sendo, também, possível extrapolar um pouco de como pode vir a ser o futuro próximo. Tem como objetivo transpor algumas barreiras que existiam e continuam a existir na sociedade nos dias de hoje, explicando qual a melhor metodologia para tal.

[Wyatt Houtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Christoph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gegen Ende hin nicht nur von den Ereignissen überholt, sondern bemerkenswert naiv, um nicht zu sagen arrogant in seiner Konzentration auf einzelne, fortschrittliche Dogmatiker.

[Andrew]

Extremely thorough and well balanced overall. An academic and detailed unpacking of Islam and its interrelation with history and the other major world religions.