Interfaith studies is a daring but very interesting field since it deals with the attempt to understanding other religions of the world. Sometime it can be very emotional and full of sentiments. However, the result is always that some sort of a dialogue is reached for the cohabitation. This study does not in any way seek uniformity or a unity of religions in terms of form, style or tenets. It rather seeks a common round table on which the world religions can come together to improve on life in the universe.
In this little book, the papers presented here are not official positions of any religion but the opinion of the writers.
It is therefore very important to read this work for the sake of understanding what the others have to say. We have considered the papers from all three perspectives of the Abrahamic faith, which discuss different topics according to how the authors viewed them. The papers also reflect different academic backgrounds and style and we therefore present them as faithfully as they were written by the authors. We wish you a great time as you share in this world of knowledge from the students who are the authors of the papers in this publication.
Table of Contents
1. Messianic Eschatologies In The Abrahamic Faiths. The Mission In The Future
2. A Summary Understanding Of The Spiritualitis Of The Abrahamic Faiths As Presented By Philip Sheldrake
3. Sabbath In Judaism And Christianity: Exploring The Significance Of Ecumenical Theology For Interreligious Dialogue
4. Recurrent Themes Within Interfaith Studies: The Christian understanding
5. Conversing With The Transcendent: Prayer As A Way Of Connecting With The Immanence Of God In Judaism And Islam
6. Christian And Muslim Responses To Global Injustice: Discipleship And Jihad In A New Light
7. God’s Name Is Mercy: Mercy In The Bible And Qur’an
8. Interfaith Opportunity. A Basic Interpretation Of Translations Of The Noble Quran On Relations Between Jews, Christians And Muslims
9. Abrahamic Hospitality
10. Comparing Beliefs And Practices About Purity And Impurity In Judaism And Islam
11. A Report On The Interreligious Situation In Cameroon And How It Relates To The Issue Of Migration.
Objectives & Core Topics
This compilation explores interfaith relations and shared values within the Abrahamic traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—by analyzing theological concepts, scripture, and contemporary social challenges. The work aims to foster mutual understanding and dialogue as a mechanism for cohabitation in a diverse world.
- Analysis of Messianic eschatology and its mission-oriented nature in Abrahamic faiths.
- Exploration of spiritual practices, including prayer, ritual purity, and Sabbath observance.
- Examination of the concepts of "discipleship" and "jihad" as frameworks for responding to global injustice.
- Interpretation of scriptural perspectives on hospitality, mercy, and inter-religious dialogue.
Extract from the Book
Messianic Eschatologies In The Abrahamic Faiths. The Mission In The Future
The terminology “Abrahamic faiths” refers to the three biggest religions in the world; Christianity, Islam and Judaism that claim a common origin from the figure of Abraham as a prototype. There are very many common issues between these three faiths and one of them is the fact that they all believe in the coming of a Messiah. The purposes for which these Messiahs are to come may differ according to the different faiths expressions but the common goal in all three faiths is that the Messiahs are to come for a mission. These missions are embedded in the hopes and anticipations of the various faiths and these missions are yet to be fulfilled. Thus we can refer to this situation as the Messianic eschatological missions in the Abrahamic faiths.
In this work, I have tried to depend on existing documents on the Messianic figures in the three faiths. The lectures in the 2015/2016 interfaith course has helped to develop this piece of work and most importantly, my discussion with the course attendants have boosted the confidence with which this paper is presented. Casual question-answer sessions during breaks and out of class gave me the full insight I needed to attempt into this topic. But the limitation of this paper is that it a glance over the issue of Messiahship in interfaith based on the limit I had.
Summary of Chapters
Messianic Eschatologies In The Abrahamic Faiths. The Mission In The Future: This chapter analyzes how the three Abrahamic faiths anticipate a Messiah for a future mission, highlighting shared goals despite differing expressions.
A Summary Understanding Of The Spiritualitis Of The Abrahamic Faiths As Presented By Philip Sheldrake: This chapter reviews Philip Sheldrake's framework for understanding Jewish, Muslim, and Christian spiritualities, emphasizing common themes like mysticism and world mission.
Sabbath In Judaism And Christianity: Exploring The Significance Of Ecumenical Theology For Interreligious Dialogue: This chapter explores how the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's Sabbath theology might offer insights for broader Jewish-Christian dialogue.
Recurrent Themes Within Interfaith Studies: The Christian understanding: This chapter examines biblical texts like Acts and Genesis to explore Christian understandings of God, humanity, and the call to neighborliness.
Conversing With The Transcendent: Prayer As A Way Of Connecting With The Immanence Of God In Judaism And Islam: This chapter analyzes the Amidah and the Fatiha to show how prayer allows adherents to connect with God's transcendence and immanence.
Christian And Muslim Responses To Global Injustice: Discipleship And Jihad In A New Light: This chapter explores how the concepts of discipleship and jihad can serve as frameworks for Christians and Muslims to address global social injustice.
God’s Name Is Mercy: Mercy In The Bible And Qur’an: This chapter investigates the attribute of mercy in the Bible and Qur'an, arguing that it is central to God's nature and the reason for creation.
Interfaith Opportunity. A Basic Interpretation Of Translations Of The Noble Quran On Relations Between Jews, Christians And Muslims: This chapter provides a basic, translation-based interpretation of how the Qur'an addresses relations with Jews and Christians.
Abrahamic Hospitality: This chapter discusses the concept of hospitality as a sacred duty shared by all three Abrahamic faiths, using the figure of Abraham as a primary model.
Comparing Beliefs And Practices About Purity And Impurity In Judaism And Islam: This chapter compares the rituals and theological rationales behind concepts of ritual purity and impurity in Judaism and Islam.
A Report On The Interreligious Situation In Cameroon And How It Relates To The Issue Of Migration: This chapter provides an overview of the complex interreligious dynamics in Cameroon and discusses how these are impacted by and impact migration.
Keywords
Abrahamic faiths, Interfaith dialogue, Messiah, Eschatology, Spirituality, Prayer, Discipleship, Jihad, Social justice, Mercy, Hospitality, Ritual purity, Migration, Cameroon, Religious cohabitation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The book focuses on interfaith studies within the Abrahamic traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—analyzing shared themes, spiritual practices, and responses to contemporary global social challenges.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The primary fields include Messianic eschatology, spiritual and liturgical practices, concepts of justice and discipleship/jihad, the attribute of mercy, and the role of hospitality in inter-religious cooperation.
What is the main objective of this work?
The main objective is to demonstrate that despite doctrinal differences, the Abrahamic faiths share foundational values and goals, such as the mission to work for justice and peace, which can be utilized for meaningful inter-religious cohabitation.
What scientific methods are utilized by the authors?
The authors primarily employ document and literature analysis, comparative theological studies, and personal observation or field reports, particularly in the contexts of interfaith programmes and specific geographical regions like Cameroon.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the book?
The main body covers a wide range of topics, including the Messianic expectations across faiths, a comparative study of the Amidah and Fatiha prayers, an analysis of discipleship versus jihad in social justice activism, the role of mercy, and practical issues like migration and purity rituals.
How would you characterize the primary keywords?
The work is characterized by keywords such as interfaith dialogue, Abrahamic faiths, spirituality, social justice, hospitality, and religious cohabitation.
How does the author of the report on Cameroon connect religious tension to migration?
The author argues that religious tensions and the resulting conflicts have forced populations to leave their homes, creating a refugee crisis, while simultaneously, migration brings new doctrinal tensions that challenge peaceful inter-religious coexistence.
What does the book suggest about the concept of "Jihad" in a modern context?
The text highlights that contemporary Muslim leaders are reclaiming "jihad" as a vehicle to inspire followers to struggle for human rights, dignity, and justice, interpreting it as both an internal struggle against ego and an external struggle against social evils like poverty.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Emmanuel Wayi Mico (Herausgeber:in), Elliot Steinberg (Herausgeber:in), 2016, Voices in Interfaith Studies. An Abrahamic Reflection, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/351984
