Intoday’sworld,ChristianityandIslamarecapableofdialogue.Neitherfaithhasasinglereligiousestablishmentornarrowbeliefsystem,botharerainbowsoffaithandpractice.Thereisdifferenceandthereisdelightformanybelieversinbothtraditions.Tragically,thereisalsosomeexpressionofinstitutionaldivergence.InListeningtoIslamadevoutTrappistmonk,ThomasMerton,andadedicatedSufimystic,liveinintimateprayerfulrelationship.SayyidQutb,amajorideologueoftheMuslimBrotherhood,wasaliteraryeducationalistwhoseexpositionoftheQur’anisjustifiablyfamous,thoughhisversionofpoliticalIslamisoffensivetomanyMuslims.BishopKennethCraggisacarefultranslator,expositorandanalystoftheQur’anandmodernIslam.HehasdevotedmuchofhislifetotheArabiclanguageanditspeople.HespeaksofhimselfandhisMusliminterlocutorsasthosewhobelieveinoneGod.ZiauddinSardar,whodescribeshimselfas“ascepticalMusliminsearchofParadise“,writeswithremarkablefluencyonthecurrentconfrontationbetweentheWestandIslam.ThroughPraise,ReasonandReflection,thesefourdialogistsprovidecompellingevidenceofthecomplexities,differencesandrewardsofexchangingideasandopinionsonthedevelopmentandnecessityofIslamic-Christianinterfaithunderstanding.
