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OPENING THE DOOR TO UNDERSTANDING

DR. ANDY BANNISTER AND DR. TANYA WALKER

1 ISLAM inCONTEXT

ISLAM inCONTEXT

FORWARD I am thrilled to read the work of these excellent young scholars on the issues and needs relating to our need for understanding and communicating with . Both have demonstrated, not only a personal and practical commit- ment to Muslims, but an intellectual and honest approach to seriously seeking to understand what Islam teaches and what Muslims believe. What you will read here, is the fruit of and does justice to the gravity of the topic being explored. I commend this booklet as a “must” read, as it covers vital issues and essential territory in the core differences between Islam and Christianity. I thank both Tanya and Andy for this good work and it is my hope that it gets a wide circulation and readership. Please read it with care and compassion, weigh the implications of all that is said and unpacked, and

Dr. Stuart McAllister RZIM North American Director

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ISLAM inCONTEXT

The Nature of : Foundational Differences in by Tanya Walker 6.

Understanding and Reaching Muslims by Andy Bannister 19.

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The Nature of God: Foundational Differences in Christianity and Islam by Tanya Walker

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The Nature of God: Foundational Differences in Christianity and Islam

‘… the whole faith of Islam is not another way to God, but the way to another God’1

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1The Moslem Doctrine of God, 2Relevance Or the -

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The God Who Is Relational

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3 - - 4A Faith For All Seasons 5- - - ISLAM inCONTEXT

The God Who Has Made Himself Known

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6Unspeakable

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7Christian Mission and Islamic Da’wah: Proceedings of the Chambesy Dialogue Consultation A Faith for All Seasons 11 ISLAM inCONTEXT

The God Who Is Love

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- - that a most awesome exchange is ours–we share in the resurrec-

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The Call of the Mina- ret

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The God Who Experiences Suffering

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11 12Ghazali’s Unique Unknowable God 37. 14 ISLAM inCONTEXT

- heart response on his part.13 14-

13 14The Moslem Doctrine of God 15 ISLAM inCONTEXT

The God Who Is Holy

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15The Moslem Doctrine of God 16 16 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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Concluding Thoughts

17Revelation? Do We Worship the Same God? - 17 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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ISLAM inCONTEXT

Understanding and Reaching Muslims by Andy Bannister

ISLAM inCONTEXT

Understanding and Reaching Muslims

- - dozens of questions - I discovered apologetics

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Islam Muslims - compas- sion

Islam and Communicating Cross-Culturally

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Mutual Misconceptions: The Importance of Understanding

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- western society are an argument against Christianity? -

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- who is- -

misinformation is with true information

2The Historical Reliability of the 25 ISLAM inCONTEXT

- - - somewhat easier.

The Beginnings of Islam: and Pre-Islamic Arabia

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3 The Life of Muhammad In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire 26 ISLAM inCONTEXT

Muhammad’s Prophetic Career

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Lessons From History

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complement replace them.

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4 Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices ISLAM inCONTEXT

Muslim Belief and Practice

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- - content. Islam uses the same words

Belief in God ()

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, ; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.

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oneness-

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Belief in

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realm.5

Belief in Scripture

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5 and Angels 31 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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Belief In Prophets

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Belief In The Day Of Judgement

6Answering Islam: The Crescent in the Light of the Cross The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity- What Is Scripture? A Compara- tive Approach Islam and the West: The Making of an Image 32 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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Issues Facing Islam Today

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moderationradicalism - 33 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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- Sha- riah

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7 Young, British and Muslim 34 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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Engaging in Evangelism and Dialogue

go where Muslims are

Islam in Britain 35 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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be honest about the differences between Islam and Christianity - - 36 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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don’t be afraid of disagreement. - - tolerateunderstand - 37 ISLAM inCONTEXT

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In Conclusion

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Islam in Context Answering IslamThe Crescent in the Light of the Cross- Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices - Reaching Muslims: A One-Stop Guide for ISLAM inCONTEXT

ISLAM inCONTEXT

ISLAMCONTEXT

We are so pleased and excited to have both Dr. Andy Bannister and Dr. Tanya Walker as part of our RZIM global team. They are prepared and eloquent and ready to engage the culture in an array of issues, particularly those that pertain to the worldview of Islam. I am glad they have collabo- rated to provide this helpful resource. You will enjoy the read.

~Ravi Zacharias

OPENING THE DOOR TO UNDERSTANDING

Dr. Andy Bannister is the Canadian Director and Lead Apologist for RZIM Canada. He speaks throughout Canada and North America, as well as further afield. Andy is also a visiting lecturer for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Andy has a BA (Hons) in and a PhD in from London School of Theology (Brunel University) where he taught as a visiting lecturer for several years before joining the RZIM team. Andy is married to Astrid. They live in Toronto and are expecting their first child.

Dr. Tanya Walker is an Apologist for RZIM Europe, and a guest lecturer at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Following her undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Christ Church, Oxford University, Tanya worked in the charity sector in a variety of public policy and media communications roles. More recently, her MA has been in the field of Islamic studies, and her PhD research has focussed on the political and sociologi- cal implications of Islamic law in the West. Tanya speaks in a range of settings, seeking to share both the beauty and the credibility of the Gospel. She is married to Toby and they are based in London.

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