Oil And Water: Two Faiths One God
About this ebook
Listen to any news broadcast today and the message comes through loud
and clear: Islam is a religion of violence and behind every Muslim there
lurks a potential terrorist. Islam is a threat to values of the
Christian West. They are like oil and water. Clearly, they don't mix.
Oil & Water: Two Faiths One God confronts these popular
perceptions head-on. With keen insight and gentle understanding, it
explores the differences between Christianity and Islam, as well as the
many things these two enduring faith traditions hold in common -
including, first and foremost, their belief in and desire to be faithful
to the one, true God; their shared roots and scripture (from the Jewish
faith); and the spiritual values of peace and social justice.
Written for Christians by Muslim world-religions scholar Amir Hussain,
the book is divided into two parts. Part 1 provides an overview of the
Islamic faith and of the lives of Muslims in North America today.
Chapters focus on the place and identity of Muslims in society, as well
as on the importance and role of Muhammad, the Qur'an, and basic beliefs
and practices (The Five Pillars of Islam).
Having provided a foundation for understanding, the book moves on, in
Part 2, to explore key points for dialogue today, including issues of
violence and jihad, the roles of women and men, and the mystical
tradition within Islam. The final two chapters look at interfaith
dialogue and the practical aspects of being good "neighbours." In all of
this, the book invites the reader to a place of reconciliation, to a
place where the truth and value of each of these great faith traditions
can be recognized and honoured by the other. In the end, the metaphor of
oil and water is an interesting one for the reality of conflict and the
hope for reconciliation between Islam and Christianity today.
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About the author
"Dr. Amir Hussain is Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses on world religions. His own particular speciality is the study of contemporary Muslim societies in North America. Although born in Pakistan, Amir immigrated to Canada with his family when he was four. His academic degrees (BSc, MA, PhD) are all from the University of Toronto where he received a number of awards, including the university's highest award for alumni service. Amir's PhD dissertation was on Muslim communities in Toronto.
He has a deep commitment to students, and holds the distinction of being the only male to serve as Dean of Women at University College, University of Toronto. Before coming to California in 1997, Amir taught courses in religious studies at several universities in Canada. He is active in academic groups such as the Canadian Society for the Study of Religion and the American Academy of Religion (where he is co-chair of the Contemporary Islam consultation, and serves on the steering committee of the Religion in South Asia section). He is on the editorial boards of two scholarly journals, Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life and Comparative Islamic Studies. Amir is also interested in areas such as religion and music, religion and literature, religion and film and religion and popular culture. In 2008, he was appointed as a fellow of the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities.
Prior to his appointment at Loyola Marymount University, Amir taught at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) from 1997 to 2005. Amir won a number of awards at CSUN, both for his teaching and research. In 2001 he was selected for the outstanding faculty award by the National Center on Deafness. For the academic year 2003-04, he was selected as the Jerome Richfield Memorial Scholar. In 2008, Amir was chosen by vote of LMU students as the Professor of the Year. Amir's new book is an introduction to Islam for North Americans entitled Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God (Kelowna: CopperHouse, an imprint of Wood Lake Publishing, 2006). He is currently working on a scholarly book on Islam in Canada entitled Canadian Faces of Islam; and a textbook entitled Muslims: Islam in the West in the 21st Century."
