I have just read the proofs of a great book on Islam, Christianity and some new atheism! An intriguing mixture.
My commendation is to go on the book’s cover and has been sent to the publisher. I have accepted the invitation to launch the book next month and am looking forward to this privilege very much. The author, Bishop John Wilson, is my long term friend, encourager and mentor who led my ordination retreat and preached at my Ordination as Bishop of Tasmania in 2000.
It has been extraordinarily fulfilling to read and reflect on John’s book at the National Bishops Meeting where John and I laboured hard to get Muslim and Christian engagement on the national church’s agenda. I trust God will use this scholarly educator, a true bishop of the Church, to invigorate a gracious and wise discipleship lived at a time of Islamic and atheist resurgence – now there’s a story, and John Wilson tells it!
My commendation of the book follows;
Christianity alongside Islam by John W Wilson, Acorn Press, Brunswick East, 2010
An excellent book for the person who wants to know how to respond to questions about Islam. Is Islam: war, peace, political, pietistic? What does Islam say about Jesus, the Bible, human rights, women?
In interweaving these and other themes John Wilson File presents not just Islam and its similarities and differences with Christianity but the challenge that Islam brings for Christians to live more Christianly.
The teacher in John Wilson cannot resist engaging with the new atheism of Richard Dawkins and company – this provides an intriguing dimension to ‘Christianity alongside Islam’.
Historical stories, easy maps, photographs and ample footnotes for those who want to dig deeper all add to this outstanding book.
If you want to grow in your discipleship amidst the challenges of Islam (and atheism) then this is the book for you.
As the old saying goes: ‘Read, mark and inwardly digest’.
Tasmaniantimes.com posted a press release on 4 March for the launch of Christianity alongside Islam.
The Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower will launch John Wilson’s book Christianity Alongside Islam at 8pm on Tuesday 13 April at Glen Waverley Anglican Church, 800 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley.
The book, which is the fruit of ten years research, is an honest critique of Islam and Christianity and their impact on today’s world.
John Wilson asserts that Christianity and Islam both have a crucial role to play in the future of Western civilization.
He writes, “The book aims to challenge Christians, Muslims and even those without any profession of religious faith to consider afresh the foundations on which they stand and the content of their lives.”
Bishop Wilson asserts that Muslims and Christians alike must face the conflicts that currently divide our world with honesty and the courage to bring about real and lasting change.
He believes that, “Ignorance is not going to help us through the present crisis and to build a better world and better lives. It is written with the conviction that no person should count themselves as educated without a basic understanding of the core teachings of both Islam and Christianity.”
John 1 & John 2 at the book launch in Melbourne (photo added 16 April)
