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Christianity/Islam/Comparative Religion Frithjof Schuon Th is new edition of Frithjof Schuon’s classic work contains: Christianity a fully revised translation from the original French; an appendix of selections from letters and other previously unpublished writings; comprehensive editor’s notes and preface by James Cutsinger; Islam an index and glossary of terms. Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism “Schuon’s thought does not demand that we agree or disagree, A New Translation with Selected Letters but that we understand or do not understand. Such writing is of rare and lasting value.” —Times Literary Supplement C “I have met with no more impressive work in the comparative study of Oriental and hristianity Occidental religion.” —T. S. Eliot, Nobel laureate for literature, on Schuon’s fi rst book, Th e Transcendent Unity of Religions “[Schuon is] the most important religious thinker of our century.” —Huston Smith, author of Th e World’s Religions and Th e Soul of Christianity “In reading Schuon I have the impression that I am going along parallel to him, and once in a while I will get a glimpse of what he means in terms of my own tradition and experience.… I think that he has exactly the right view.… I appreciate him more and more.… I am grateful for the chance to be in contact with people like him.” —Th omas Merton (from a letter to Marco Pallis) / “[Schuon is] the leading philosopher of Islamic theosophical mysticism.” —Annemarie Schimmel, Harvard University I slam “[Th is] collection has some essays that will interest students engaged in the comparative study of … Islam and Christianity. More signifi cantly, it succeeds in achieving an appropriate juxtaposition of the thought of two important theological representatives: Luther and al-Ashari, and … is an important contribution in comparative religion.” —Journal of the American Academy of Religion Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998) is best known as the pre-eminent spokesman of the Perennial World Philosophy. He wrote more than 25 books on spirituality, comparative religion, and sacred art. Wisdom Frithjof Schuon World Wisdom $ 19.95 US World Wisdom The Library of Perennial Philosophy The Library of Perennial Philosophy is dedicated to the exposition of the timeless Truth underlying the diverse religions. This Truth, often referred to as the Sophia Perennis—or Perennial Wisdom—finds its expression in the revealed Scriptures as well as the writings of the great sages and the artistic creations of the traditional worlds. Christianity/Islam: Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism appears as one of our selec- tions in the Writings of Frithjof Schuon series. The Writings of Frithjof Schuon The Writings of Frithjof Schuon form the foundation of our library because he is the pre-eminent exponent of the Perennial Philosophy. His work illumi- nates this perspective in both an essential and comprehensive manner like none other. English Language Writings of Frithjof Schuon Original Books The Transcendent Unity of Religions Spiritual Perspectives and Human Facts Gnosis: Divine Wisdom Language of the Self Stations of Wisdom Understanding Islam Light on the Ancient Worlds Treasures of Buddhism (In the Tracks of Buddhism) Logic and Transcendence Esoterism as Principle and as Way Castes and Races Sufism: Veil and Quintessence From the Divine to the Human Christianity/Islam: Essays on Esoteric Ecumenicism Survey of Metaphysics and Esoterism In the Face of the Absolute The Feathered Sun: Plains Indians in Art and Philosophy To Have a Center Roots of the Human Condition Images of Primordial and Mystic Beauty: Paintings by Frithjof Schuon Echoes of Perennial Wisdom The Play of Masks Road to the Heart: Poems The Transfiguration of Man The Eye of the Heart Form and Substance in the Religions Adastra & Stella Maris: Poems by Frithjof Schuon (bilingual edition) Songs without Names, Volumes I-VI: Poems by Frithjof Schuon Songs without Names, Volumes VII-XII: Poems by Frithjof Schuon World Wheel, Volumes I-III: Poems by Frithjof Schuon World Wheel, Volumes IV-VII: Poems by Frithjof Schuon Primordial Meditation: Contemplating the Real Original Books Not Yet Published in English Autumn Leaves & The Ring: Poems by Frithjof Schuon Edited Writings The Essential Frithjof Schuon, ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr Songs for a Spiritual Traveler: Selected Poems (bilingual edition) René Guénon: Some Observations, ed. William Stoddart The Fullness of God: Frithjof Schuon on Christianity, ed. James S. Cutsinger Prayer Fashions Man: Frithjof Schuon on the Spiritual Life, ed. James S. Cutsinger Art from the Sacred to the Profane: East and West, ed. Catherine Schuon Christianity/Islam Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism A New Translation with Selected Letters by Frithjof Schuon Includes Other Previously Unpublished Writings Edited by James S. Cutsinger Christianity/Islam: Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism © 2008 World Wisdom, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in critical articles and reviews. Translated by Mark Perry, Jean-Pierre Lafouge, and James S. Cutsinger Published in French as Christianisme/Islam: Visions d’œcuménisme ésotérique Archè, 1981. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Schuon, Frithjof, 1907-1998. [Christianisme/islam. English] Christianity/Islam : perspectives on esoteric ecumenism : a new translation with selected letters / by Frithjof Schuon ; edited by James S. Cutsinger. p. cm. -- (The writings of Frithjof Schuon) (The library of perennial philoso- phy) Translated by Mark Perry, Jean-Pierre Lafouge, and James S. Cutsinger. “Includes other previously unpublished writings.” Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 978-1-933316-49-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Christianity. 2. Islam. I. Cutsinger, James S., 1953- II. Perry, Mark. III. Lafouge, Jean-Pierre, 1944- IV. Title. BR121.3.S3713 2008 261.2’7--dc22 2008003696 Cover Art: The Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Printed on acid-free paper in Canada. For information address World Wisdom, Inc. P.O. Box 2682, Bloomington, Indiana 47402-2682 www.worldwisdom.com CONTENTS Editor’s Preface vii Part One: Christianity On the Margin of Liturgical Improvisations 3 The Enigma of the Epiclesis 13 The Question of Protestantism 23 Part Two: Intermediary Problems The Problem of Moral Divergences 57 Alternations in Semitic Monotheism 65 Part Three: Islam The Idea of “The Best” in Religions 91 Images of Islam 115 Dilemmas of Muslim Scholasticism 133 Paradise as Theophany 169 Atomism and Creation 175 On the Divine Will 181 Appendix: Selections from Letters and Other Previously Unpublished Writings 189 The Spiritual Virtues according to Saint Francis of Assisi 209 Editor’s Notes 215 Glossary of Foreign Terms and Phrases 245 Index 257 Biographical Notes 267 EDITOR’S PREFACE We are pleased to present this new edition of Frithjof Schuon’s Chris- tianity/Islam: Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism. Widely regarded as one of the greatest spiritual writers of the twentieth century, Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998) was an authority on an extraordinary range of religious and philosophical topics, and his books have been praised by scholars and spiritual teachers from many different traditions. He was also the leading representative of the perennialist school of comparative religious thought. Deeply rooted in the sophia perennis, philosophia perennis, or religio perennis—that is, the perennial wisdom, perennial philosophy, or perennial religion, as he variously called it—Schuon’s perspective embodies the timeless and universal principles underlying the doctrines, symbols, sacred art, and spiritual practices of the world’s religions. Christianity/Islam, Schuon’s fourteenth major work, was pub- lished in Milan in 1981 by Archè Milano under the title Christian- isme/Islam: Visions d’œcuménisme ésotérique; an English translation by Gustavo Polit appeared with World Wisdom Books in 1985. The present edition is based on a fully revised translation of the original French. Among the special features of this new edition is an appendix containing previously unpublished selections from the author’s letters and other private writings. Throughout his life Schuon carried on an extensive correspondence, much of it in response to questions posed by the many inquirers and visitors, from a variety of religious back- grounds, who looked to him for advice; nearly two thousand of his letters have been preserved. He also composed nearly twelve hundred short spiritual texts for close friends and associates, compiled in his later years as “The Book of Keys”. These and other private writings often contained the seeds of ideas that were later developed into pub- lished articles and chapters, and it is hoped that the selections included here will afford the reader a glimpse into a new and very rich dimen- sion of this perennial philosopher’s message. The breadth of Schuon’s erudition can be somewhat daunting, especially for those not accustomed to reading philosophical and reli- gious works. The pages of his books contain numerous allusions to vii Christianity/Islam: Perspectives on Esoteric Ecumenism traditional theological doctrines, important philosophers or spiritual authorities, and the sacred Scriptures of the world’s religions, but a citation or other reference is not often provided. A series of editor’s notes, organized by chapter and tagged to the relevant page numbers, has therefore been added to this new edition. Dates are provided for historical figures together
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