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By Josef Linnhoff Editor’s Note: This post was contributed by Josef Linnhoff and is part of his doctoral research in Christian-Muslim Relations and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. The title is an inversion of the title from a previous publication from Dr Joshua Ralston, Director of the Christian-Muslim Studies Network. Students interested in applying for the degree programmes offered through the Christian-Muslim Studies Network may see the website for the School of Divinity or contact Dr Ralston directly. Few thinkers are…

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Nathan Dever, a masters student in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh. It is a critical reflection of a lecture by Dr Umar Ryad of KU Leuven. Over the last century, the field of Christian missions has undergone significant change. Today, many of the roles which missionaries used to play internationally are now performed by various other groups, often without any reference to religion.  Despite these changes, many of the questions…

Last week, we shared 5 1/2 books from Christian-Muslim Studies post-9/11. This week, we look at some non-academic fare. Below is a sampling of five contributions to Christian-Muslim Studies from novels and popular literature. 1) Baghdad Eucharist by Sinan Antoon (2017) A Catholic family navigates inter-generational conflict heightened by memories of an Iraq where peace seemed more promising.The story is set in a single day in Baghdad and offers a vivid picture of the struggle for life faced by all…

This is the first post on ‘What We’re Reading’, a quick survey of academic and other reads submitted by students and scholars associated with the Christian-Muslim Studies Network. Not all titles suit every bookshelf, but we hope to offer a sense of what is available within the growing field of Christian-Muslim Studies. The following are recent, self-contained offerings on religion, politics, and whatever comes with them. 1) Religions for Peace by Francis Arinze (2002) Context is always essential, but this…

Discussions of God in the world’s largest religious traditions brought scholars from around the globe to a two-day symposium hosted by the Christian-Muslim Studies Network in July. Delving deeply into one of the most publicly contentious and deeply theological issues of Christian-Muslim dialogue, the symposium ‘Speaking of the One God: Divine Essence, Attributes, and Names’  brought nearly 30 scholars to Edinburgh. ‘The Christian-Muslim Studies Network aims to connect those who are capable of the richly innovative, inter-disciplinary scholarship necessary for this…

The Christian-Muslim Studies Network is set to commence a lecture series in Christian-Muslim Studies for 2018. All lectures are held in the Senate room at the School of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh. Each commences at 14:30 with a reception and light refreshments to follow in Rainy Hall. Thursday, 8th March 2018: Prof Jon Hoover, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Nottingham ‘Ibn Taymiyya’s Theology: God, Time and Space’ Thursday, 22nd March 2018: Dr Richard Todd,…

The Middle East’s Christian communities frequently make headlines as they emigrate rapidly from from ancient homelands to Europe and the Americas.  The Christian-Muslim Studies Network and the Centre for the Study of World Christianity co-sponsored a discussion that explored the fate of those whose emigration led them to the United Kingdom. Dr Fiona McCallum, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of St. Andrews, presented findings from the Humanities in the European Research Area project, ‘Defining and Identifying Middle…

The Christian-Muslim Studies Network invites the public to New College, University of Edinburgh for a round table discussion that explores the role that Christian-Muslim conversation and shared action have had in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. The evening discussion will move beyond news headlines and simplistic views of Lebanon and offer first hand accounts  of the millenial old wisdom and recent experiences of inter-religious debate, conflict, and co-existence in the Middle East.  The centrepiece of the event, which begins…