Christianity Face to Face with Islam

by Robert L. Wilken

Historical and ideological analysis of the relationship between Christianity and Islam.

Genres: History, Church History, Christian

33 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Alexandria Avona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fair treatment, doesn't take a huge dump on Islam with everything is the United States is under attack when a Muslim is slightly smarter than an American. Clear that Christianity and Muslim religions both fundamentally share in common the love of God, though this love of God is experienced in different ways. Interesting and critical difference between how Muslims emphasize that "God is alone", revealing a need to be God that in Tesla's works, beliefs, and writing with a Serbian history with a Islam influence suggesting he had a real narcissism problem. There is clear repression in his work that also suggests a problem with this, repression in populations or in one's personal psychology is never healthy in the same way constipation is never health. In general, it was a good point that Muslim influence is opposed to the Christian codependent trinity where Jesus is God and God's Son and they are separate and the same at the same time. I think the Islam tradition treats God with more gravity, is more serious, emphasizes fidelity, but can sometimes have a psychopathy/narcissism problem where Christianity is pretty good at resolving some of the more narcissistic cognitions. I admire it taking things at their full gravity, the cowardice, lack of action, waiting for someone else to do what was necessary to do a long time ago, watching and waiting for things to happen, limp willlessness, passivity, of Christianity is increasing and it is genuinely repulsive. We have a lot to learn from Islam on that point. Really fair treatment.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and historical look at Islam. A little short on solutions.

[Ian Minielly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilken's book seems to take a very simplistic attitude regarding Christianity and Islam. While I agree with the author as he discusses Islam being more than a religion as it also dictates social and civil life through governance and relationship.

Wilken ignores this is also the weakness of Christianity since Constantine's folly where we governized Christianity by marrying it to the State. This is Christianity's downfall as the State and civil governance, which should be influence by the faith of people, should not be controlled by a religious theocracy of people who think they can govern a satanic institution with a biblically moral conscious.

Christianity has a King and has very little to do with secular kings, queens, prime ministers or dictators. When Christianity stops trying to rule this world and instead seeks to win souls out of it, people will recognize there is true difference between real faith and just checking in.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I came upon this very short book but I read it before deciding whether or not to add it to the patient library where I work. I’m going to add it. Wilken gives a lot of history between Christianity and Islam and some thoughts for moving forward. I don’t particularly agree with his viewpoint but he is fairly objective, so I don’t have a huge problem with it. Not sure whether I should give it 2 or 3 stars. This is really more of a long essay than a book.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good analysis of how Christianity and Islam have impacted countries and regions.

The salient quote I took is: "Christianity seems like a rain shower that soaks the earth and then moves on, whereas Islam appears more like a great lake that constantly overflows its banks to inundate new territory."

I get that, and believe that is what is happening, but most are missing it.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short study of Christianity, Islam, history, and modernity. Historically, conflict has existed between these two world religions. Normally, Islam moves in and Christians either flee, convert, accept second class citizenship or are destroyed. Unlike many Christians, Muslims are generally not interested watering down their faith or compromising with secularism.

[Laura]

I don't know enough about history, geography, or Islam to understand what he is saying or the point he is trying to get across. It would take much research to understand, and I do not have the interest.