Topical

The BibleTexts.com Topical Index

The practice of religion in the Middle East

a historical perspective on a potentially explosive current issue

edited by Robert Nguyen Cramer (version 5.3.5.1)

CONTENTS

Christian history

Christian teachings

Islamic teachings

Proselytizing inappropriate

Relevant news

Main topical index

Christian history relevant to issues in the Middle East

Church teachings change on many issues after 313 A.D. -- including attitude towards enemies and church-state relationship (historical descriptions by several scholars)
Conversion (Bible dictionary definition)
History of missions to convert Native Americans (by Julia Roller)
Mission and Conversion: Proselytizing in the Religious History of the Roman Empire, by Martin Goodman (Oxford University Press, 1996). (A detailed book review of this book was done by David Potter, of the University of Michigan.)
Proselytism Challenges Christian-Muslim Consultation, by the World Council of Churches, 1999
Sharing the Book: Religious Perspectives on the Rights and Wrongs of Proselytism, edited by John Witte, Richard C. Martin , Martin E. Marty (part of the Religion and Human Rights Series, Orbis Books, December 1999)
Sharing and giving to the poor, as taught and practiced by the earliest Christians (link to webpage article)
Sharing and giving to the poor, in the Christian churches of Paul's day (link to webpage transcription of a talk by Dr. Helmut Koester of Harvard Divinity School)
War motivations and postwar initiatives: Spanish-American War and "economic imperialism" - (historical descriptions by religious historian Robert Peel, including insights regarding religious promotion during the Boxers' Rebellion in China. This includes insights on Mary Baker Eddy's continuing struggles with the issues of war and imperialism.)

Christian teachings relevant to issues in the Middle East
- Give to the poor (references)
- Golden Rule (references)
- Good will toward men (references)
- Love in action - How should a church "promote the welfare" of a community? - (a webpage article)
- Merciful...obtain mercy (references)
- War, early Christians' teachings on (excerpts from the writings of 16 leading Christians before 313 A.D.)
Islamic teachings
- Books on Islam and Muslim Issues (BibleTexts.com bibliography)
- Ishmael (Bible dictionary definition)
- Islamic teachings (link to IslamiCity.com)
- Islamic teachings (link to Dawah2000.org)
- Jihad (definition)
- Parable of "Good Samaritan" with a modern application (text of and commentary on Jesus' parables)
- Was the Prophet Muhammed referenced in the Bible? (BibleTexts.com response to question)
Proselytizing and seeking Islamic converts to Christianity in the Middle East-- inappropriate and unwise
- Conversion (Bible dictionary definition)
- A crusade after all? - Some Christians' plans to tie aid to evangelism pose dilemma for Iraqi reconstruction. By Jane Lampman (TCSM, 4/17/03)
- History of missions to convert Native Americans (by Julia Roller)
- Indonesia Muslims Warn Against Evangelism - (Yahoo, 1/14/05)
- Mission and Conversion: Proselytizing in the Religious History of the Roman Empire, by Martin Goodman (Oxford University Press, 1996). (A detailed book review of this book was done by David Potter, of the University of Michigan.)
- Proselytism Challenges Christian-Muslim Consultation, by the World Council of Churches, 1999
- Sharing the Book: Religious Perspectives on the Rights and Wrongs of Proselytism, edited by John Witte, Richard C. Martin , Martin E. Marty (part of the Religion and Human Rights Series, Orbis Books, December 1999)
- War motivations and postwar initiatives: Spanish-American War and "economic imperialism" - (historical descriptions by religious historian Robert Peel, including insights regarding the promotion of Christianity during the Boxers' Rebellion in China.)
- Witnessing vs. Proselytizing - A rabbi's perspective on evangelism targeting Jews, and his alternative (ChristianityToday.com)
- The standard of early Christians -- charity with no strings attached and no publicity:
  
  When you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. (Jesus, Mat 6:2-4, TEV)
Some other relevant news articles

Evangelicals condemn anti-Islamic remarks - Leading evangelical Christians for the first time have publicly condemned assaults on Islam by the Rev. Franklin Graham and other fellow religious conservatives. By Rachel Zoll, AP Religion Writer (Yahoo, 5/8/03))
Iraqi Christians wary of Islamists - Christians worry they will lose religious freedoms if Islamic fundamentalists gain power post-Hussein. By Peter Ford (TCSM, 4/21/03)
Iraq Conflict Feeds International Terror Threat, according to CIA - "Zarqawi has sought to bring about the final victory of Islam over the West, and he hopes to establish a safe haven in Iraq from which his group could operate against 'infidel' Western nations and 'apostate' Muslim governments," Goss said. (Yahoo, 2/16/05)
Sure it's fiction. But many Turks see fact in anti-US novel - US troops stage a surprise attack. Reeling, Turkey turns to Russia and the European Union, who turn back the American onslaught. This is the plot of "Metal Storm," one of the fastest-selling books in Turkish history. The book is clearly sold as fiction, but its premise has entered Turkey's public discourse in a way that sometimes seems to blur the line between fantasy and reality. By Yigal Schleifer (TCSM, 2/15/05)

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Copyright 1996-2005 Robert Nguyen Cramer
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Top of Page	Copyright 1996-2005 Robert Nguyen Cramer	Main topical index
editor@bibletexts.com	Copyright 1996-2005 Robert Nguyen Cramer	www.bibletexts.com