Burying the Sword: Counteracting Jihadism with Interfaith Education This book analyzes the historical and political context in which various forms of violent extremism (jihadism) have emerged in the Middle East, Europe, and in Africa since 9/11/2001. The growth of the jihadism can be attributed in part to the oppressive regimes of the Middle East which have curtailed the democratic impulses of their youth. Alternative youth movements such as we saw in the Arab Spring can serve as a source of inspiration and model for renewal of these regions. The book also analyzes the role that technology can play in organizing future youth movements and serve as part of an interfaith educational program that has already been initiated in Kenya. New models of interfaith education in public and private schools throughout Africa are needed to counteract the growth of extremist ideologies among the youth of this region.
Why is it that Pope Francis is admired by so many? What gives him the uncanny ability to speak with young people in language familiar to them? In this book, John Raymaker and Gerry Gruzden explore the life and writings of Pope Francis which have a prophetic, visionary ability to speak to important issues of the day. The authors evaluate how Pope Francis’ encounters with religious leaders of other faiths have broken new ground to help unite mankind. They reach back into Christian history to explore the teachings of such Catholic mystics as Thomas Merton while also delving into the beliefs of Islamic and Buddhist mystics to demonstrate how well the pope is in touch with a spirituality that can speak to those seeking the truth. In its final chapters, the book examines how the pope endorses the work of Christians who live their faith in small Christian communities and reveals how such communities can strengthen parish life in various parts of the world. Like St. Francis, his namesake, and like Teilhard de Chardin before him, the pope has an appropriate vision to rebuild God’s Church in a transitional age. His writings have focused on caring for the earth and preaching the good news of the gospels in a way that and allows him to reach young people in need of joy as they face an uncertain future. He is the Conscience of the World.
In 2008, the authors wrote Steps toward Vatican III which explored developments occurring in the Catholic Church including its teachings on social justice, interreligious dialogue, and Small Christian Communities. This update of Steps explores how Pope Francis has developed such themes in original ways in his encyclicals and in his use of synodal consultations. For example, in his Encyclical Laudato Si, the pope seeks to lead us into the mysteries of the universe, of creatures, and the harmony of creation. It helps us reflect on the universal communion of nature. Calling for a global ecological policy and a cooperative approach, the pope warns us that unless we respect nature, the entire planet and humanity will face drastic consequences. In his meetings with economists and entrepreneurs, the pope has proposed a pact for renewing the economy to counteract the asocial aspects of modern business practices. He has discussed some of the most complex problems in today's world--from safeguarding the environment to courageously committing oneself to rethink the economic paradigms of our time. Young people, in particular, have responded with enthusiasm to Pope Francis’ initiatives. The book notes how some "traditional" Catholics have opposed the pope, but it argues that, in fact, the pope is more traditional than his critics for he insists on going back to Jesus' own teachings. The new ongoing crises such as the breakdown and rise of new ideologies, terrorism, massive advances in the sciences and in technology, as well as fundamental shifts in gender relations are further factors considered in the book. Indeed, the world is now radically different from the world of the early 1960’s when Vatican II Council was held. Due to these many radical changes, the book suggests the need for a Vatican III which would consolidate the Church’s global outreach on every continent.
Spirituality and Science: Greek, Judaeo-Christian and Islamic Perspectives shows that the historical origins of Western science lie in the medieval synthesis of Greek science and philosophy with the faith traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This synthesis is most evident in medieval medicine where the synergies of Greek philosophy and Greek science are most evident. The first such Western synthesis of medieval medicine took place in the eleventh cenury at the monastery of Monte Cassino when Constantine the African translated, for the first time, Arabic medical manuscripts into Latin. These manuscripts became the core of the first medical curriculum in the West called the Articella and formed the foundation for the first Western medical curriculum in Salerno. Other translations of Arabic science continued over the next century forming the basis for the medieval scientific curriculum in Astronomy, Chemistry, Surgery and Pharmacology. In the Golden Age of Islamic culture found in the Eastern and Western Caliphates centered in Baghdad and Cordoba during the ninth and tenth centuries, we find a great flowering of scientic studies. A synthesis occurred of Greek, Syriac and Arabic scientific insights and methods. These scientists and philosophers elaborated the rational implications of both faith and science. This harmony of the three pillars of medieval society, faith, philosophy and science, continued well into the medieval era in both the Islamic and Christian worlds and continued to be the case well into the Renaissance era in Western Europe. This book was written jointly by Christian and Islamic philosophers; it shows that Christianity and Islam played a key role in bridging the world of Greek philosophy and science with the Arabic and European intellectual traditions. This collaboration proved vital to the development of sicence in the medieval universities and the Scientific Revolution of the sixteenth and seventeetnth
Spirituality and Science: Greek, Judeo-Christian and Islamic Perspectives shows that the historical origins of Western science lie in the medieval synthesis of Greek science and philosophy with the faith traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This synthesis is most evident in medieval medicine where the synergies of Greek philosophy and Greek science are most evident within the monotheistic faith traditions. The first such Western synthesis of medieval medicine took place in the eleventh cenury at the monastery of Monte Cassino when Constantine the African translated, for the first time, Arabic medical manuscripts into Latin. These manuscripts became the core of the first medical curriculum in the West called the Articella. Other translations of Arabic science continued over the next century forming the basis for the medieval scientific curriculum in Astronomy, Chemistry, Surgery and Pharmacology. In the Golden Age of Islamic culture found in the Eastern and Western Caliphates centered in Baghdad and Cordoba, during the ninth and tenth centuries, we find a great flowering of scientic studies and a synthesis occurring of Greek, Syriac and Arabic scientific insights and methods of understanding the rational implications of both faith and science. This harmony of the three pillars of medieval society, faith, philosophy and science, continued well into the medieval era in both the Islamic and Christian worlds and continued to be the case in many areas of science until the Renaissance era in Western Europe. This book was written jointly by Christian and Islamic philosophers; it shows that Christianity and Islam played a key role in bridging the world of Greek philosophy and science with the Western intellectual tradition developed in the medieval universities and laying the foundation for the great scientific discoveries of the sixteenth and seventeetnth centuries.
Burying the Sword: Counteracting Jihadism with Interfaith Education This book analyzes the historical and political context in which various forms of violent extremism (jihadism) have emerged in the Middle East, Europe, and in Africa since 9/11/2001. The growth of the jihadism can be attributed in part to the oppressive regimes of the Middle East which have curtailed the democratic impulses of their youth. Alternative youth movements such as we saw in the Arab Spring can serve as a source of inspiration and model for renewal of these regions. The book also analyzes the role that technology can play in organizing future youth movements and serve as part of an interfaith educational program that has already been initiated in Kenya. New models of interfaith education in public and private schools throughout Africa are needed to counteract the growth of extremist ideologies among the youth of this region.
In 2008, the authors wrote Steps toward Vatican III which explored developments occurring in the Catholic Church including its teachings on social justice, interreligious dialogue, and Small Christian Communities. This update of Steps explores how Pope Francis has developed such themes in original ways in his encyclicals and in his use of synodal consultations. For example, in his Encyclical Laudato Si, the pope seeks to lead us into the mysteries of the universe, of creatures, and the harmony of creation. It helps us reflect on the universal communion of nature. Calling for a global ecological policy and a cooperative approach, the pope warns us that unless we respect nature, the entire planet and humanity will face drastic consequences. In his meetings with economists and entrepreneurs, the pope has proposed a pact for renewing the economy to counteract the asocial aspects of modern business practices. He has discussed some of the most complex problems in today's world--from safeguarding the environment to courageously committing oneself to rethink the economic paradigms of our time. Young people, in particular, have responded with enthusiasm to Pope Francis’ initiatives. The book notes how some "traditional" Catholics have opposed the pope, but it argues that, in fact, the pope is more traditional than his critics for he insists on going back to Jesus' own teachings. The new ongoing crises such as the breakdown and rise of new ideologies, terrorism, massive advances in the sciences and in technology, as well as fundamental shifts in gender relations are further factors considered in the book. Indeed, the world is now radically different from the world of the early 1960’s when Vatican II Council was held. Due to these many radical changes, the book suggests the need for a Vatican III which would consolidate the Church’s global outreach on every continent.
Why is it that Pope Francis is admired by so many? What gives him the uncanny ability to speak with young people in language familiar to them? In this book, John Raymaker and Gerry Gruzden explore the life and writings of Pope Francis which have a prophetic, visionary ability to speak to important issues of the day. The authors evaluate how Pope Francis’ encounters with religious leaders of other faiths have broken new ground to help unite mankind. They reach back into Christian history to explore the teachings of such Catholic mystics as Thomas Merton while also delving into the beliefs of Islamic and Buddhist mystics to demonstrate how well the pope is in touch with a spirituality that can speak to those seeking the truth. In its final chapters, the book examines how the pope endorses the work of Christians who live their faith in small Christian communities and reveals how such communities can strengthen parish life in various parts of the world. Like St. Francis, his namesake, and like Teilhard de Chardin before him, the pope has an appropriate vision to rebuild God’s Church in a transitional age. His writings have focused on caring for the earth and preaching the good news of the gospels in a way that and allows him to reach young people in need of joy as they face an uncertain future. He is the Conscience of the World.
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