An interreligious dialogue on the central Christian and Islamic concepts of mercy and grace seeking to foster and model mutual respect for different faith traditions
The themes of divine mercy and graciousness are among the most foundational concepts in both the Christian and Islamic traditions and scriptures. "Mercy" might seem more prominent in Islamic discourse than in Christian; and "grace" might seem more prominent in Christian thought than in Islamic. Yet, in fact, they are both present in each tradition.
Mercy and Grace presents an interreligious dialogue based on the Building Bridges Seminar, conceived from a desire to foster understanding and cooperation between the Christian and Islamic faiths.
Table of Contents
Participants
Preface: Two Decades of Mutual Theological Hospitality: Reflections on the Twentieth Anniversary of the Building Bridges Seminar
Lucinda Mosher
Introduction
Part One: Muslim Perspectives on Mercy and Grace
1. Concepts of Mercy and Grace in the Muslim Tradition: An Overview Kenan Musić
2. Mercy, Grace, and Guidance: The Meccan Suras Maria Massi Dakake
3. The Meccan Suras on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Study
4. Mercy and Grace in the Medinan Qur'an: An Introduction Mahan Mirza
5. The Medinan Suras on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Study
6. Mercy and Grace in the Islamic Theological Tradition: An Overview Ramon Harvey
7. Mercy and Grace in the Prophetic Tradition: A Close Look at Selected Hadith Muhammad Modassir Ali
8. Selected Hadiths on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Study
Part Two: Christian Perspectives on Mercy and Grace
9. Concepts of Mercy and Grace in the Catholic Tradition: An Overview Julia Lamm
10. Mercy and Grace in the Old Testament: An Introduction Jacob Onyumbe
11. The Old Testament on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Study
12. Implicit Mercy and Ubiquitous Grace: Examples in the New Testament Gospel and the Letter of James Christopher M. Hays
13. The Gospels and James on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Study
14. Theology of Grace in Christian Tradition: Basic Affirmations and Debates Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
15. Paul on Mercy and Grace: Key Passages; Parallels with Teachings of Jesus Susan Eastman
16. New Testament Writings on Mercy and Grace: Texts for Studying Pauline Thought
Part Three: Reflection
17. Mercy and Grace in Virginia: Conversations during the Twentieth Building Bridges Seminar Lucinda Mosher
18. Cultivating Peaceful Proximity: A Scholar-Practitioner's Engagement with the Building Bridges Seminar Book Series Charles Tieszen
19. A Solid Contribution: An Assessment of a Volume in the Building Bridges Seminar Book Series
Syed Atif Rizwan
Reviews
"A group of leading global scholars have created a valuable resource exploring grace and mercy in the Christian and Muslim traditions and how these are essential in the search for global peace. The book is essential for anyone seeking to understand grace, mercy, and their place in interfaith relations."—Zeki Saritoprak, professor of Islamic studies and director of the Bediüzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, John Carroll University
"In an age of apathy and malice, Mercy and Grace covers a timely and welcome topic, treated thoughtfully by Muslim and Christian scholar-believers who are connected through deep study, authentic conversation, and real relationships. The book offers readers rich descriptions, not superficial treatments, of what the traditions actually say (in all of their intra- and interreligious diversity) about mercy and grace. The book doesn't just describe dialogue—it presents a model for how to do dialogue well. Yet another must read in the respected Building Bridges series."—Rita George-Tvrtković, consultor, Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, professor of theology, Benedictine University
About the Author
Lucinda Mosher is director of the Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies program and an affiliate of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. She is also senior editor of the Journal of Interreligious Studies. She has written several books and edited or coedited nearly twenty titles, among them The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies (2022).
