Fall 2014/Sacramento

MR552

Tieszen

MR552: History of the Muslim-Christian Encounter (4 Units: 160 hours). Charles Tieszen.

DESCRIPTION: This course examines Muslim-Christian relations since the inception of Islam to the present times, with examples from around the world. It analyzes historical events and key people who shaped the relations between Christians and Muslims over the centuries and suggests how their legacy affects current interactions between Muslims and Christians. The course allows students to discover a variety of models and principles of Muslim-Christian encounters, with attention paid to the different historical and geopolitical contexts. Particular historical, ecclesiological, and theological issues will be addressed and guidelines for practical encounters explored. Students will have the opportunity to examine their own perceptions of the Muslim world and how it affects their interactions with Muslims.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) a critical understanding of the historical development of Muslim-Christian encounters; (2) an appreciation for how revealed and received texts shaped relations between Muslims and Christians; 3) the ability to draw principles, positively and negatively, from past Muslim-Christian interactions for a more constructive posture towards contemporary relations; and 4) the necessary skills to develop ideas and responses in light of present realities and challenges of the 21st century.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction. Classes will be a combination of lecture and seminar style discussion. In addition, there will be 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students will be required to read assigned texts in preparation for class and seminars and complete all assignments.

REQUIRED READING: 1,200 pp. required

Goddard, Hugh. A History of Christian-Muslim Relations. New Amsterdam Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-1566633406, Pub. Price $16.95 [196 pp. assigned].

Griffith, Sidney H. The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque: Christians and Muslims in the World of Islam. Princeton University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0691146287, Pub. Price $27.95 [179 pp. assigned].

Siddiqui, Mona, ed. The Routledge Reader in Christian-Muslim Relations. Routledge, 2013. ISBN: 978-0415685566, Pub. Price $49.95 [368 pp. assigned].

Smith, Jane Idleman. Muslims, Christians and the Challenge of Interfaith Dialogue. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195307313, Pub. Price $29.99 [170 pp. assigned].

Tolan, John V. Saracens: Islam in the Medieval European Imagination. Columbia University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0231123334, Pub. Price $33.00 [353 pp. assigned].

Other articles/documents as assigned and distributed by professor [100 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Omar, Irfan A., ed. A Christian View of Islam: Essays on Dialogue by Thomas F. Michel, S.J. Orbis Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-1570758607, Pub. Price $34.00.

________. A Muslim View of Christianity: Essays on Dialogue by Mahmoud Ayoub. Orbis Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-1570756900, Pub. Price $28.00.

Siddiqui, Mona. Christians, Muslims, and Jesus. Yale University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0300169706, Pub. Price $32.50.

Troll, Christian W. Dialogue and Difference: Clarity in Christian-Muslim Relations. Orbis Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-1570758560, Pub. Price $34.00.

Volf, Miroslav, Ghazi bin Muhammad, and Melissa Yarrington, eds. A Common Word: Muslims and Christians Loving God and Neighbor. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802863805, Pub. Price $14.00.

Zebiri, Kate. Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oneworld, 1997. ISBN: 978-1851681334, Pub. Price $55.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pp. required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4]. [80 hours].
2. Completion of four, 500-word critical review essays based on the textbooks by Griffith, Siddiqui, Smith, and Tolan (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4]. [16 hours].
3. Participation in a visit to a local mosque and cathedral, followed by the completion of a 750-word essay reflecting on the visit (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2 and 4]. [10 hours of Directed Learning Activities].
4. Research and write a 3,500-word essay on a topic pre-arranged with the professor (60%). [28 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the C3 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Serves as an MB501 substitute in the MAT, MATM, and MAICS Programs (Winter 2010). Counts toward emphasis in Islamic Studies.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None