Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World - Softcover

Ernst, Carl W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0748619593 ISBN 13: 9780748619597

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Recipient of the 2004 Bashrahil Prize for Outstanding Cultural Achievement in the Humanities An introduction to Islam, today the faith of more than a billion people, set in the context of world history and of religious studies. Carl Ernst brings together Islamic religious thought and lived experience to examine traditional spirituality and the contentious issues confronting Muslims today. His approach is balanced - both sympathetic and critical. Besides providing a guide to the fundamental aspects of Islam - its sacred sources, ethical systems and spiritual practices - the author encourages the reader to reflect on these topics. This compact introduction appeals to all those who want to understand both the historical aspects of Islam as well as the place of Islam in the contemporary world.

About this title

About the Author:

Carl Ernst is W.R Kenan Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Review:

A useful and thought-provoking addition by a specialist in the study of Islam. It is full of significant insights ! The book presents an interesting perspective for rethinking how contemporary Islam is taught in undergraduate level courses in the West and it is sufficiently rich in detail to provide a starting point for further reading. In seeking to restore a sense of proportion and balance to the image of Islam for his Western readers, Ernst gives proper weight to the layers of mystical humanism, philosophical speculation and hermeneutical flexibility that are no less a part of the Islamic tradition than the legacies of conquest and militancy. A major contribution to explaining the faith of Muslims to people in the West. -- Professor Francis Robinson, Royal Holloway, University of London It works splendidly as an introduction that can be used both in the classroom and for the general public. -- Professor Michael Sells, Haverford College, PA A useful and thought-provoking addition by a specialist in the study of Islam. It is full of significant insights ! The book presents an interesting perspective for rethinking how contemporary Islam is taught in undergraduate level courses in the West and it is sufficiently rich in detail to provide a starting point for further reading. In seeking to restore a sense of proportion and balance to the image of Islam for his Western readers, Ernst gives proper weight to the layers of mystical humanism, philosophical speculation and hermeneutical flexibility that are no less a part of the Islamic tradition than the legacies of conquest and militancy. A major contribution to explaining the faith of Muslims to people in the West. It works splendidly as an introduction that can be used both in the classroom and for the general public.

About this edition

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0748619593
• ISBN 13: 9780748619597
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272