Identity and Civilization: Essays on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - Softcover

Nisan, Mordechai

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076181356X ISBN 13: 9780761813569

Publisher: University Press of America, 1999

Synopsis

Identity and Civilization looks at Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as contemporary rivals in the political arena, focusing on the contemporary encounter between Israel and the Muslim and Arab peoples. Mordechai Nisan unearths the essential features of these religions and the communities that adhere to them, while clarifying the prominent political antagonism of recent history. He explores the role of the profound forces of faith and culture that provide the people in the Middle East with their integral identity and therefore shape the political situation. Nisan uses compelling intellectual arguments to expose the hard realities that must be understood by all parties before a successful peace can be achieved in that area.

About this title

About the Author:

Mordechai Nisan is a lecturer in Middle East Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the Rothberg International School.

Review:

...a most insightful addition to the study of the Middle East, the Islamic Arabic world, the Israeli-Arab conflict and the origins of the three great religions. (Books In Brief)

Nisan's 'civilizational' explanation of what happens repeatedly when Israelis, Arabs, and Americans negotiate seems far more plausible than the usual glib commentaries of political scientists and journalists whose memories rarely extend more than a year into the past. (gem)

Mordechai Nisan posits four layers of human reality: religion, philosophy, culture, and war. (Middle East Journal)

The book's strength - its extraordinary, brilliant, poignant, thrilling strength - is in the very personal witness of God's presence in the world. (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith)

Nisan succeeds in his attempt to help the reader become an insider to the Middle Eastern story and thus come to a deeper understanding of the present-day conflicts and problems. (Islam and Christian Relations)

In this informative and intriguing book, Nisan analyzes how the drastically different evolutions of contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Muslim civilization impact on the political and strategic struggles not only in the Middle East but elsewhere across the globe....Mordechai Nisan continues to distinguish himself as one of Israel's foremost political thinkers. (Americans For A Safe Israel)

...a most insightful addition to the study of the Middle East, the Islamic Arabic world, the Israeli-Arab conflict and the origins of the three great religions. (Books In Brief)

Nisan's 'civilizational' explanation of what happens repeatedly when Israelis, Arabs, and Americans negotiate seems far more plausible than the usual glib commentaries of political scientists and journalists whose memories rarely extend more than a year into the past. (gem)

The book's strength - its extraordinary, brilliant, poignant, thrilling strength - is in the very personal witness of God's presence in the world. (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith)

Nisan succeeds in his attempt to help the reader become an insider to the Middle Eastern story and thus come to a deeper understanding of the present-day conflicts and problems. (Islam and Christian Relations)

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of America
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 076181356X
• ISBN 13: 9780761813569
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232