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Medieval and Modern Concepts of Creation in the Abrahamic Faiths
Abdul B. Shaikh
University of Leeds
Comparative religion to a large extent still remains an under developed field in Western academia even to this day. Medieval and Modern Concepts of Creation in the Abrahamic Faiths aims to provide a better understanding of the Abrahamic religions namely, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It should be remembered that Abraham is widely revered and respected by the adherents of the faiths so much so that he has been bestowed the title ‘Father of Monotheism’. Studies in comparative religion have the ability to stimulate discussion and advance research with the main aim of fostering dialogue and mutual respect between the faiths. It is essential that the children of tomorrow see a bright future where mutual respect, tolerance and understanding is the order of the day rather than witnessing an environment dominated by suspicion, conflict and contempt based on misunderstandings.
This book is unique in many ways more than one that will come apparent in due course. One might at this point be inclined to ask why conduct such a study involving medieval and modern concepts of creation. One is of the view that such a study was required for a number of reasons that we shall outline in due course. Recent modern scholarship in the last fifty years has tended to focus upon the medieval concepts of creation and emanation in Judeo-Christian and Islamic philosophy and theology and as a result we find a plethora of treatises and works devoted to the above subjects. For example, writers such as Herbert Davison and Harry Austyn Wolfson as well as other academics devoted a great deal of time and energy in giving us access to knowledge about theology and philosophy that was previously only available to those who had a mastery of the Greek and Arabic language. Despite this significant contribution made by the aforementioned scholars, we find that the heirs to Wolfson and Davison have not emerged in the world of Western academia that are prepared to explore the new relationship between religion and modern science in the 21st century.
The author specialises in the field of comparative religion with particular attention placed on the Abrahamic faiths. He is presently lecturer in Islamic Studies in the Department of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Leeds.
ISBN 9783862880966. LINCOM Cultural Studies 06. 302pp. 2011.