Muslims Ask, Christians Answer

If you are interested in facilitating dialogue with Muslims formally or informally-thus following the example of St. Francis-then this book should figure large in any preparatory reading you might do… The book goes one step further because not only does it encourage the (Christian) reader to reflect deeply on his or her own understanding of the essential theology of the Christian faith, it also encourages her or him to question their own presuppositions and stereotypes of Islam. .. I can heartily recommend it, indeed, I would go so far as to say that I would not now consider such an exercise without a copy of it to hand. It should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in facilitating dialogue with Muslims or, indeed, anyone with an interest in Islam.

Christian Troll has done it again. This little work exhibits his theological sophistication as a mature student of Islam in simple, superbly organised prose … Troll illuminates Muslim and Christian sources and traditions with exquisite fairness … He canvasses five key doctrinal issues … Christians seeking to learn more about Islam will take surprisingly fresh measure of their own tradition, and vice versa … Troll’s clarifications … can certainly help to undermine settled distortions, but nothing can substitute for actual dialogue between believing Christians and Muslims, which this fine study calls for. We will be better able to fulfil that responsibility – in the office or our neighbourhood – after learning from these pressing issues so superbly canvassed here.

Interreligious dialogue involves the sensitive asking of questions in order to achieve mutual understanding and respect. In this introductory text Father Troll shows himself to be a faithful Catholic practitioner of dialogue and an outstanding scholar of Islam.

Based on his decades-long experience living and teaching among Muslims, Fr. Troll answers questions asked by Muslims about the beliefs and practices of their Christian neighbors. He places each set of questions within the context of contemporary Muslim perceptions, along with their sources in Islamic scripture and traditions. Fr. Troll answers them following orthodox Roman Catholic and traditional Protestant teachings. Muslims Ask, Christians Answer is a must-read for both experts and casual readers alike.

For any serious-minded Christian who wishes to live harmoniously with our Muslim neighbours, it could be said to provide essential reading. This reading may require a degree of concentration, but the precise and methodical way in which the subject-matter is presented greatly facilitates this. Each chapter starts with a set of questions that Muslims often ask of Christians. We are then invited to consider the religious and cultural background that provokes such enquiries. We are then presented with the Christian answers. In addition to satisfying the interest and curiosity of others, the book does much to explain to Christians themselves many puzzling aspects of their own religion. This book provides essential reading for people of all faiths or none who wish to live together harmoniously in the multi-cultural environment which prevails in this country today.

Although this book is intended primarily for Christians, to enlighten them with regard to their own religion and to provide them with the information necessary to engage in dialogue with Muslims, it would also be a valuable book for Muslims to read in order to understand the differences between the two faiths. Each question is dealt with ably and diplomatically in clear prose understandable to the layperson, and the questions covered are certainly those that are mostly like to arise in conversations between members of the two groups. I would highly recommend this book for any library.