Christian. Muslim. Friend.: Twelve Paths to Real Relationship

Recognizing the friction that can exist between Muslims and Christians, Shenk (A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue) provides ways for Christians to reach across the religious divide. Shenk spent years as a Mennonite missionary in countries with Muslim populations, including Somalia and Kenya, and this direct experience of interfaith dialogue animates his book. Integrity, honesty, respect, hospitality, trust, and peacemaking become his cornerstones for building relationships with Muslims. Shenk uses stories of real encounters to illustrate his concepts, and he includes concrete suggestions for those hoping to introduce Muslims to the Bible. For example, he suggests the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospels as the books most accessible to Muslims interested in learning more about Christianity. Shenk comes from a Christian perspective and includes study questions as well as short appendices with information about Jesus and the Bible in the Qu’ran. Shenk can at times appear highly optimistic in his depiction of bridge-building, but that vision may well be the needed corrective to what sometimes seems an insurmountable difference of worldviews. (Nov.)