Islam: Past, Present and Future

by Küng, Hans

• ISBN13: 9781851686124
• ISBN10: 1851686126
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-10-01
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Summary

The world's most renowned theologian turns his attention to Islam

For more than two decades the world's religions have been a central topic for Hans Kung. In books that have inspired millions throughout the world, he has pioneered work towards a new dialogue between cultures. Following bestselling volumes on Christianity and Judaism, here he turns his attention to Islam. Providing a masterful overview of Islam's 1,400-year history, Kung examines its fundamental beliefs and practices, outlines the major schools of thought, and surveys the positions of Islam on the urgent questions of the day. Deft, assured, and comprehensive, this is the only objective introduction to Islam by a renowned Christian theologian.

Author Biography

Dr. Küng is President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic (Weltethos). From 1960 until his retirement in 1996, he was Professor of Ecumenical Theology and Director of the Institute for Ecumenical Research at the University of Tübingen. He is a scholar of theology and philosophy and a prolific writer.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Against a Clash of Civilizations

A. Origin
I. A controversial religion
II. Problems of the beginning

B. Centre
I. God’s word has become a book
II. The central message
III. The central structural elements

C. History
I. The original Islamic community paradigm
II. The paradigm of the Arab empire
III. The classical paradigm of Islam as a world religion
IV. The paradigm of the Ulama and Sufi

D. Challenges of the present
I. Competition between different paradigms
II. Which Islam do Muslims want?
III. The Israel-Palestine conflict
IV. New approaches to theological conversation
V. Speculative questions
VI. From biblical criticism to Qur’anic criticism?

E. Possibilities for the future
I. Islamic renewal
II. The future of the Islamic legal order
III. The future of Islamic state order and politics
IV. The future of the Islamic economic and social order
V. Islam: a picture of hope