Christian Theological Attitudes vis-a-vis Islam: The Effect on West- Muslim Relations

摘要

Since the end of the Cold War two debates have largely shaped Western views of Islam: Islam's relevance in statecraft and the potential 'clash of civilizations' between Islam and the West. Those joined in these debates argue that just as the West seeks to explain Islam's relevance and role in a potential 'clash of civilizations,' the West must also examine its own historical experience with religion and statecraft, and find ways of looking at itself through the eyes of the Islamic world. This thesis achieves this examination of historical experience and self-reflection by contributing what has long been missing from the debates: an understanding of Christian theological attitudes vis-a-vis Islam and the effect of those attitudes on West-Muslim relations, The argument presented is that while religion is generally forgotten in the West it remains a driving force in the Muslim world, where nearly everything has religious overtones. This thesis explores Christian theological attitudes beginning with the development of historical Orthodox Christianity, Christian theological objections to Islam, the application of theology in the greater context of West-Muslim relations as well as the current impact of Christian theological attitudes on Christian-Muslim relations and their impact on West- Muslim relations.