Vol. 6, No. 4 (Winter 2008)
"Islam and Pluralism"—This issue of The Review presents a variety of perspectives through a roundtable of responses to the "Common Word" and "Loving God and Neighbor" letters.
From the Editor: What Does Pluralism Require of You?
Dennis Hoover Monday, 1 December 2008
Religious believers should embrace a robust understanding of pluralism, acknowledging deep differences between religions but also teaching mutual respect and seeking common agreement.
Rule of Law and Balance of Power in Classical Islam
Noah Feldman Monday, 1 December 2008
Shari‘a law developed alongside the Islamic state as scholars lent legitimacy to rulers. Scholars understood shari‘a as God's law— certainly greater than the ruler and greater than themselves.
The Role of Consensus in the Contemporary Struggle for Islam
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Monday, 1 December 2008
The Jordanian Aal al-Bayt Institute has undertaken an ambitious project of forging scholarly and political consensus on contentious issues, including the Muslim concepts of takfir and jihad.
Absolutism vs. Pluralism in Islam Today
Asma Afsaruddin Monday, 1 December 2008
The internal struggle for "the soul of Islam" continues between the absolutists and the pluralists. Can Muslims employ Islamic historical and intellectual frameworks to support pluralism today?
Traditional Change: Evangelicals, Muslims, and Pluralism in America
Marcia Pally Monday, 1 December 2008
The dominant narrative for immigrant religious groups in America has been one of success. A pluralistic framework prompts participation rather than assimilation, allowing access to the public square.
What Do Muslims Really Think about Israel?
Judith Mendelsohn Rood Monday, 1 December 2008
A growing Muslim realism that is pragmatic and pluralistic means a hypothetical Palestinian-Israeli Peace treaty is more acceptable in Muslim-majority societies today than at any previous time.
The Hajj and Pluralism
Asma Uddin Monday, 1 December 2008
The hajj is a celebration of multiplicity—multiplicity of cultures, lifestyles, views, and interpretations. Through imagination, pilgrims awake to "constructive possibilities" that counter absolutism.
The Context of the "Common Word"
Drew Christiansen, S.J. Monday, 1 December 2008
Interfaith initiatives should display an astute awareness of the institutional context and pattern of interfaith relations, carefully considering the complexity of the Christian and Muslim faiths.
A Common Word vs. a Clash of Civilizations
Eboo Patel Monday, 1 December 2008
The Common Word letter asserts that Christianity and Islam are both founded on love of God and love of neighbor, offering a way forward based on understanding and common action for the common good.
Why I Signed the Yale Response to "A Common Word"
John Stackhouse, Jr. Monday, 1 December 2008
The Common Word and Yale Response letters acknowledge the differences between Islam and Christianity, but they emphasize shared moral imperatives and therefore deserve support.
Why I Would Not Have Signed the Yale Response to "A Common Word"
Keith Pavlischek Monday, 1 December 2008
Evangelicals were too quick to sign the Yale Response letter and should have challenged the participants to repudiate apostasy laws and support religious liberty in Muslim-majority countries.
A Common Word: What Comes Next—and How?
Bradley Shingleton Monday, 1 December 2008
How will "A Common Word" advance its program? An ethically-focused dialogue, using a framework like Hans Kűng's Global Ethic, will furnish a platform for engaging a host of contemporary concerns.
A Covenant for Globalization?
Robert Nelson Monday, 1 December 2008
A review of Globalization and Grace [God and Globalization, Volume 4], by Max L. Stackhouse.