Christians, Muslims, and Mary: A History

by Rita George-Tvrtkovic

Moving through history, views of Mary's role in Christian-Muslim relations have constantly shifted back and forth from bridge to barrier and back again. This book focuses on history, and the use (sometimes polemical, sometimes irenic) of Mary as either a bridge or barrier between Islam and Christianity. It is NOT a comparative theology of Mary in both traditions; rather it focuses on how Mary has functioned within the Christian theology of Islam over time (and to a lesser degree, in the Islamic theology of Christianity). The book begins with a comparison of biblical and Qur'anic accounts of Mary. The author walks readers through these texts, with some attention given to extra-scriptural sources (hadith, Christian tradition). Subsequent chapters highlight key texts/theologians from various time periods (mostly Christians, but some Muslims) who discuss Mary in light of the other, ending with a consideration of Nostra Aetate's groundbreaking theology of Islam. †

Genres: Religion, History

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history (note: not the history) of an element in the conversations among Christians, Muslims, and others regarding the role of Mary, the Mother of Jesus in ecumenical communication.

Eclectic source material that is unfamiliar to and in some case unavailable to most readers. This book is written from a Roman (or Latin if you prefer) Catholic viewpoint. Other sources of writing about this discussion are mentioned, but are not very influential in the final commentary.

A work that requires a second read or review of major portions alongside some of the referenced material to be fully evaluated. As a history it is lacking since it skips around many controversial subjects or just mentions them in passing. More of the history of Vatican II regarding the topic of Mary would have given this book greater worth to the modern reader.

Not an introductory work to Mary or Mariology at all.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto interessante. L’autrice dona diversi spunti di riflessione per un dialogo interreligioso dal punto di vista “umano” più che teologico. È un libro che, però, mi pare verta un po’ sul punto di vista cristiano; attenzione, non nel senso che parli bene del cristianesimo a discapito dell’Islam, ma sembra un po’ sbilanciato cioè che parli più del primo rispetto al secondo (tanti esempi di autori cristiani medievali che scrivono sulla figura di Maria e dell’Islam) - però probabilmente è voluto!