Early Christian-Muslim Debate on the Unity of God

Three Christian Scholars and Their Engagement with Islamic Thought (9th Century C.E.)
Erscheinungsjahr 2014
ISBN: 978-90-04-27838-7
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 21, 242 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 544 g

Reihe: The History of Christian-Muslim Relations

Early Christian-Muslim Debate on the Unity of God examines the writings of three of the earliest known Christian theologians to write comprehensive theological works in Arabic. Theodore Abu Qurra, Abu Ra'ita and 'Ammar al-Basri provide valuable insight into early Christian-Muslim debate shortly after the rise of the Islamic empire.
Through close examination of their writings on the doctrine of the Trinity, Sara Husseini demonstrates the creativity of these theologians, who make use of language, style and argumentation characteristic of Islamic theological thought (kalam), in order to help articulate their long-established religious truths. Husseini offers close analysis of the authors individually and comparatively, exploring their engagement with Islamic theology and their role in this fascinating period.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Husseini, Sara Leila

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Vergleichende Religionswissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religiöse Fragen und Debatten
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam: Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam und Weltreligionen, Weltethos
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Fundamentaltheologie, Dogmatik, Christologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein Christentum und Weltreligionen, Weltethos
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Natur und Existenz Gottes

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part 1 Three Arabic-Speaking Christian Theologians and Their Writings on the Doctrine of the Trinity (c. 800–850)

1 Historical and Intellectual Environment
Christians in the Islamic Empire: Historical Social and Linguistic Contexts
Historical Context
Social Context
Linguistic Environment
Christian Theologising on the Trinity
Philoxenus of Mabbug (d. 523)
John of Damascus (c. 675–c. 754)
Muslim Theologising on the Nature and Unity of God
Abu al Hudhayl (c. 750–c. 840)
Ibn Kullab (d.c. 855)
Nature of kalam
Muslim Criticisms of the Doctrine of the Trinity

2 Theodore Abu Qurra (c. 750–c. 830)
Background
Biography
Historical Context
Intellectual Context
Works Relating to the Trinity
Setting the Context
Relationship between Faith and Reason
Christianity as the True Religion
Explanation of the Trinity
Scriptural Proofs
Rational Analogies
Attributes of God
Response to Muslim Questions
Theodore Abu Qurra’s Understanding of the Nature of God

3 Abu Ra'ita Al-Takriti (c. 755–c. 835)
Background
Biography
Historical Context
Intellectual Context
Works Relating to the Trinity
Setting the Context
Agreement that God is One
Explanation of the Trinity
Types of Oneness
Absolute vs. Relative Names
Response to Muslim Questions
Abu Ra'ita’s Understanding of the Nature of God

4 'Ammar al-Basri (d.c. 840)
Background
Biography
Historical Context
Intellectual Context
Works Relating to the Trinity
Setting the Context
What can be Known about God
Criticism of the Teaching that God has no ‘Word’ or ‘Life’
God’s Relationship to His Word and Life
Explanation of the Trinity
Four ‘Categories’
‘One and Three’ is Not a Numerical Issue
Al-uqnum and the Relationship Between Substance and Hypostases
Biblical Proofs
Response to Muslim Questions
'Ammar’s Understanding of the Nature of God

Part 2 The Role and Function of Christian Explanations of the Trinity in Arabic

5 The Tools of Christian Arabic Apologetic and Polemic
Analogy and Metaphor
Scriptural Proofs
Terminology
Rational and Logical Proofs
‘The Unity of Species’
‘A Question for the Muslims’
‘The Headship of God’
‘Three is the Perfect Number’
The “Attribute-Apology”

6 Christian Theologians Employing Muslim Theology
Priorities, Emphases and Engagement with Islamic Thought
Abu Qurra
Abu Ra'ita
'Ammar al-Basri
The Role of Christian Arabic Works
Audience and Purpose
The Place of Early Christian Theology in Arabic

Conclusion

Bibliography
Bible of Qur’an Citations
Index of People and Places
Subject Index

Über Autor(innen)

Sara Leila Husseini, Ph.D. (2011), University of Birmingham, UK, is currently a Communications Advisor in Palestine. She has previously worked on interfaith projects in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.