Beyond Secularism and Jihad? A Triangular Inquiry into the Mosque, the Manger, and Modernity

by Beaulieu, Peter D.

• ISBN13: 9780761858379
• ISBN10: 0761858377
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-07-13
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

Peter D. Beaulieu examines the challenge posed by-and to-modernity and historic Islam as they encounter one another. He compares the Western separation of Church and state with the unitary Islamic State, and explores the proposed cultural and societal principles of the Second Vatican Council as potentially influencing long-term events in both arenas. Beaulieu's research is comprehensive and richly documented, yet offers an accessible triangular inquiry into the mosque, the manger, and modernity. By restoring a place at the table for Trinitarian Christianity alongside the engulfing monotheism of Islam and the alternative skepticism of Western rationalism, this inquiry broadens the pallet of inter-religious and intercultural contact points. Beyond Secularism and Jihad? provides balanced attention to the differences as well as the similarities between Christianity, Islam, and modernity. An emerging theme is natural law, which is universal and intrinsic to all mankind and not confined to competing theologies. Neglected in the West that it helped create, natural law might contribute to the needed grammar for dialogue between the citizens in the West and the followers of Islam.

Author Biography

Peter D. Beaulieu holds a bachelor of architecture degree and an interdisciplinary doctorate in urban and regional planning in multicultural settings, both from the University of Washington. He served as an officer in the United States Navy and took part in the Apollo XI lunar spacecraft recovery mission. Beaulieu had a full career in collaborative public policy activities, including Asia-Pacific trade and logistics. He is a founding board member of the G. K. Chesterton Society of Seattle, a member of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, and a past member of the Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Seattle. His book, Kristi: So Thin Is the Veil (2006), honors his late wife and her inspirational battle with terminal cancer.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xv
New York to Rome and Istanbul	p. 1
Islam and the Map	p. 17
Life of Mohammed	p. 19
The Passion of Islam: Some Views	p. 35
The Crooked Lines of History	p. 51
Religion in History/Eternity in Time	p. 65
Islam: A Christian "heresy"?	p. 76
The Mosque: Shari'a and the World	p. 124
The Qur' an and the New Testament	p. 124
Submission and Freedom in the World	p. 155
Natural Law and Shari'a	p. 163
The Islamic State	p. 171
The Manger: The Human Person in the World	p. 216
"Separation" of Church and State	p. 218
Inward and outward Engagement: the Two Vatican Councils	p. 226
Human Dignity and the Common Good	p. 245
The Just War: Ideology or Discernment?	p. 262
Modernity: Monologues and Conversations	p. 302
The Third Encounter	p. 303
Mirror Twins: The Crises of Islam and Modernity	p. 312
Faith, Reason and Science	p. 330
Paradise Lies at the Feet of Mothers	p. 343
The Commandment of Love: A Muslim Request	p. 351
Present to the Presence	p. 379
More than Faith and Reason	p. 380
Intellect and Faith	p. 383
Will and Politics	p. 393
Memory and Images	p. 401
An Uncommon Word	p. 408
Bibliography	p. 437
Index	p. 445
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