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No Peace Without Prayer

Encouraging Muslims and Christians to Pray Together; A Benedictine Approach

No Peace Without Prayer

Encouraging Muslims and Christians to Pray Together; A Benedictine Approach

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Paperback / softback

£18.99

Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 9780814638224
Number of Pages: 352
Published: 07/11/2013
Width: 13.7 cm
Height: 21 cm

Abbot Timothy Wright proposes sowing a small seed from which might grow a greater respect between the world's two largest religions, Christianity and Islam. Indeed, he believes that the seed has already been planted. Christians give unique value to their revealed Scriptures as the "Word of God." Muslims speak of the Qur'an as God speaking to them.

In No Peace without Prayer, Wright presents the case for developing this faith in the Word of God to establish groups of Christians and Muslims dedicated to sharing their respective "Divine Word" in ways that enhance the "other." This is not a tussle for converts but a way into greater mutual understanding-under the eye of the God who communicates this Word-to create a new shared memory. Such is a work of prayer, a prayer that could lead to greater peace. The key word, says Wright, is partnership, arising from their shared belief in the One God, creator of the universe, communicating with the human world and merciful to the repentant.

Contents

Acknowledgments   xi

PART 1 The Path to Dialogue: Why Walk It?
Chapter 1: Introduction   3
Chapter 2: The Author’s Journey   9
Chapter 3: A Brief Outline of Muslim and Benedictine Spiritualities   17
Chapter 4: The Healing of Negative Memories   29

PART 2 Finding a Way through Disputed Issues: Will They Do It?
Chapter 5: Christians and Muslims in a Dialogue of Spirituality   37
Chapter 6: What the Second Vatican Council Said: Interpreting Nostra Aetate   43
Chapter 7: Issues of Yesterday and Today   47

PART 3 Defining the Dialogue of Spirituality: Can They Do It?
Chapter 8: Memory: The Heart of a Dialogue of Spirituality   75
Chapter 9: “Remember God”: Living in the Presence of God, Muslims and Christians   85 
Chapter 10: Techniques for “Remembering God”: Muslim and Christian   89
Chapter 11: The Holiness of the Word: Muslim and Christian   101
Chapter 12: Engaging with the Word of God: Muslim and Christian   109
Chapter 13: Engaging with the Word as Revelation and Guidance: Muslim and Christian   115

PART 4 The Higher Forms of Spiritual Experience Compared: How Far Can They Get?
Chapter 14: Comparing the Mystical Life: Muslim and Christian   123
Chapter 15: Comparing Two Mystics: Råbi’a al-‘Adawiya Al-Qaysiyya and Paul Giustiniani, OSB   131
Chapter 16: Thomas Merton and Sufism: His Dialogue with Abdul Aziz   139

PART 5 God’s Revelation and the Human Response: Examples for Inspired Scriptures
Is This the Encouragement to Do It Now?   148
Chapter 17: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of God as Creator   149
Chapter 18: Adam: The First Human and the One Responsible for the First Sin   155
Chapter 19: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of God in Whom We Trust   169
Chapter 20: Joseph: An Example of the God Who Can Be Trusted   173
Chapter 21: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of God as the One Who Knows All   189 
Chapter 22: Noah: Believed in the All-Knowing God and Faced an Impossible Task with Confidence   193
Chapter 23: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of the God Who Guides   205
Chapter 24: Abraham: An Example of One Obedient to the Guidance of God, Even When It Does Not Seem to Make Sense   211
Chapter 25: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of God as a God of Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness   231
Chapter 26: Moses: The One Who Led the People away from Slavery and Then Persuaded God to Show Mercy, Compassion, and Forgiveness   237
Chapter 27: Affirming the Positive Echoes in the Understanding of God Who Gives Life after Death   255
Chapter 28: Jesus Christ: Muslim Prophet Raised to Heaven by God without Dying and Christian God-Made-Man Who Rose from the Dead  261

PART 6 Experience and Support for a Community in a Dialogue of Spirituality: Do They Encourage a Decision to Go Ahead?
Chapter 29: The Benedictine Experience in Algeria: The Example of the Trappist Community of Tibhirine   281
Chapter 30: Guidance for Those Approaching Dialogue   289
Chapter 31: The Role of Scriptural Reasoning in a Dialogue of Spirituality   293
Chapter 32: Spiritual Guidance: Muslim and Christian   297
Chapter 33: Community Prayer through the Day   301
Chapter 34: Insights from the Lived Wisdom of the Rule of Benedict Relevant to a Community in Dialogue   307 

PART 7 Seeking Inspiration and Encouragement: Can Anyone Inspire?
Chapter 35: Christian de Chergé and Islam: Teaching That Points to the Future   315
Chapter 36: No Peace without Prayer: Encouraging Muslims and Christians to Pray Together   325

Appendix: How Might We Start?   327
Bibliography   329
Index of Biographies   337

Timothy Wright

Abbot Timothy Wright presently teaches at Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois, and is the delegate of the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation for Monastic-Muslim Relations. He served as abbot of Ampleforth Abbey from 1997 to 2005, during which time he and Mohammad Ali Shomali organized a series of dialogues between Catholic monks and theologians and Shi’a Muslims from Iran.

"Recent Popes have called upon Catholics to get to know, understand, and respect Islam. All this in order to be better Catholics and partners in the future. Abbot Timothy received a commission from the Abbot President of all Benedictines to bring together people who were already in dialogue and friendship. This book amplifies his journey and the providential spiritual and cultural baggage he brought with him. It is a fascinating trip. "The book is based on his doctoral thesis about a new way of transcending the apparent chasm between those seeking God by contrasting paths. He proposes a community founded for a dialogue of spiritualties-Muslim and Christian. He kindly breaks his proposal out into thirty-six chapters, with clear titles, and thus the reader can pick and choose between the practical steps and the deeper contemplative traditions in each tradition. "The challenges to a peaceful future in our world are obvious. Abbot Timothy has essayed an imaginative step forward, based on his own experience and extensive contacts with unobtrusive dialogue groups in both hemispheres." Fr. Finbarr Dowling, OSB Pastor Marthasville, Missouri "Abbot Timothy proposes sowing a small seed from which might grow a greater respect between the world's two largest religions, Christianity and Islam. Indeed, he believes that the seed has already been planted. Christians give unique value to their revealed Scriptures as the 'Word of God.' Muslims speak of the Qur'an as God speaking to them. In No Peace without Prayer, Wright presents the case for developing this faith in the Word of God to establish groups of Christians and Muslims dedicated to sharing their respective 'Divine Word' in ways that enhance the 'other.' This is not a tussle for converts but a way into greater mutual understanding-under the eye of the God who communicates this Word-to create a new shared memory. Such is a work of prayer, a prayer that could lead to greater peace. The key word, says Wright, is partnership, arising from their shared belief in the One God, creator of the universe, communicating with the human world and merciful to the repentant." William Skudlarek Secretary General, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue The book is clearly written and accessible. It can serve as a good introduction for beginners to the beliefs and spirituality of Muslims in comparison to those of Christians. It is also something of a "how to" book on interfaith dialogue, offering practical tips on how to start up a dialogue of spirituality, and even how to conduct such a series of encounters. Philip Timko, OSB., St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle, IL, American Benedictine Review [No Peace without Prayer] concludes with a summary of qualities helpful to persons preparing to enter Muslim-Christian dialogue and offers practical suggestions for organizing an interreligious prayer group. The range of issues covered by the author makes the book of interest not only to Benedictines but to all persons interested in promoting better relations between the adherents of two of the world's major religions. Ovey N. Mohammed, SJ, Regis College, Toronto School of Theology, Toronto, Ontario, Worship The strength of this book lies in the lived experience of the Author. His own experience of dialogue and deep prayer life informs his discussion on every page. This book reminds us of the importance of spiritual practices because as we deepen our experience of the love of God, we become increasingly open to listen to and be touched by those in other faith traditions who carry with them a similar experience of the love of God. The book provides a path to dialogue and inspires hope for a better relationship between Muslims and Christians that might become a foundation for building peace in the world. Patricia Sharbaugh, Catholic Books Review