About the Book
In the twenty-first century, no one can ignore the complex paradigms connected with the precarious relationship between Christians and Muslims all over the globe. Since the seventh century, Christians and Muslims have interacted with one another in a variety of ways. This relationship is sated with both meaningful engagements and baffling ambiguities, running the gamut of constructive dialogue, lethargic encounters, open conflicts, and internecine violence. Nowhere is the need for interreligious cooperation, dialogue, and understanding more pressing than in the Christian and Muslim communities, which constitute approximately 60 percent of the world’s population. Fractured Spectrum: Perspectives on Christian-Muslim Encounters in Nigeria deals with an important African dimension in Christian-Muslim relations. Nigeria, with its equal populations of Christians and Muslims, provides an auspicious case study for understanding the cultural, social, theological, economic, and political issues involved in Christian-Muslim encounters. The essays in this book, written by Christian and Muslim scholars who are actively engaged with the Nigerian context, examine some of the issues germane to Christian-Muslim relations in Nigeria.
Table of Contents:
Contents: Akintunde E. Akinade: Introduction: Sacred Rumblings: Reflections on Christian-Muslim Encounters in Nigeria – Matthew Hassan Kukah/Kathleen McGarvey: Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Nigeria: Social, Political, and Theological Dimensions – Afis O. Oladosu/Habibah O. Uthman-Oladosu: The Cross, the Crescent, and the Media in Nigeria – Asonzeh Ukah: Born-Again Muslims: The Ambivalence of Pentecostal Response to Islam in Nigeria – Enoch Olujide Gbadegesin: Critical Analysis of Christian-Muslim Relations and Space Contestation in Nigeria – Ibrahim Olatunde Uthman: Muslim/Christian Encounter in Nigeria and Yoruba Muslim Educational Jihād – Joseph Kenny: Islam in Nigeria Through Fifty Years of Independence – M. O. Raheemson: Promotion of Religious Peace and Harmony in Nigeria: An Islamic Perspective – Jacob Kehinde Ayantayo: Trust and Confidence Building in the Management of Interreligious Conflicts in Nigeria – Olumuyiwa Olusesan Familusi: A Survey of Unhealthy Inter-Religious Relations in Nigeria – Yushau Sodiq: Muslim Perception of Christians and Christianity in Nigeria – David O. Ogungbile: Space Contestation and Religious Identity Among Christian and Muslim Students in Nigerian Universities.
About the Author :
Akintunde E. Akinade is Professor of Theology at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar. He received his PhD in ecumenical studies at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. He is the editor of A New Day: Essays on World Christianity in Honor of Lamin Sanneh (Lang, 2010), co-editor (with Dale T. Irvin) of The Agitated Mind of God: The Theology of Kosuke Koyama, and co-editor (with David Ogungbile) of Creativity and Change in Nigerian Christianity. He is presently working on a book on West African religious history. Akinade serves on the Editorial Board of The Muslim World, Religions, The Trinity Journal of Theology, The Living Pulpit, and Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae. He is also the book review editor for The Journal of World Christianity. Within the American Academy of Religion, he serves on the Committee on The Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession.
Review :
«‘Fractured Spectrum: Perspectives on Christian-Muslim Encounters in Nigeria’ is an intellectually exciting and engaging book that probes interreligious dialogue among Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. The essays in this book bring new and fascinating perspectives as the researchers reposition interreligious dialogue and tension in the cultural, social, political, gender, and economic atmosphere of Nigeria. These creative and provocative essays offer a new understanding of the Nigerian situation that could establish possibilities for dialogue and peaceful co-existence. Everyone interested in the current dynamics of interreligious dialogue and contestation in Nigeria and Africa must read this book.» (Elias Kifon Bongmba, Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair in Christian Theology and Professor of Religious Studies, Rice University, Houston, Texas)
«The fractures about which some of the contributors to this book write about are real indeed – always potentially imploding toward another clash of civilizations or an apocalyptic doomsday. However, the commitments both Muslims and Christians show in these pages to nurturing interreligious civility across the Nigerian landscape are palpable and commendable for the global Muslim-Christian encounter. Everyone who is concerned about the present and future of Muslim-Christian relations should read this book.» (Amos Yong, J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology, Regent University School of Divinity, Virginia Beach, Virginia)
«Forceful and nuanced, this book interprets the complexities of the co-existence of Christianity and Islam in contemporary Nigeria. Without being pedantic, the book is a wake-up call to the seriousness of harmonious relationships and mature differentiation of religions, that will not be contaminated by partisan politics. This is an excellent book that takes the Nigerian reality seriously.» (Caleb O. Oladipo, Duke K. McCall Professor of Mission and World Christianity, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Virginia)
«Christian-Muslim dialogue is a trendy topic, but only a very few meet the intellectual and historical standards and many fail the ethical criteria. 'Fractured Spectrum', however, is a highly knowledgeable and critical book with insight and rigour which give us hope and provide signposts toward a path of religious peace and harmony […] Given the awful bloodshed and chaos in Northern Nigeria, this book is a sign of great hope and of high paradigmatic value. I recommend this book as being of singular value for those interested in Christian-Muslim relations and who search for a just, pluralistically participatory, and diversely sustainable present with hope for the future.» (Charles Amjad-Ali, The Martin Luther King, Jr., Professor of Justice and Christian Community and Director of Islamic Studies, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota)
