JESUS Versus MUHAMMAD By Roman James: A Gospel For Mutual Understanding
By
Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam
3 January
2023
The Contrived Concept Of Exclusive Authority
Over Truth Often Employed By Clergy To Support Institutionalized Hegemony Of
Religion Wreaks Havoc In Mutual Understanding Of People
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Faith turns
violent and dogmatic when it preaches chauvinism and sovereign hegemony over
people. Rationality and common brotherhood are the first casualties when religion
is chiselled for hatred and bigotry. Although religions share common virtues
and fertile grounds for cooperation, in practice religions are observed in
inimical manner. The contrived concept of exclusive authority over truth often
employed by clergy to support institutionalized hegemony of religion wreaks
havoc in mutual understanding of people. This artificial, insular aloofness
causes mistrust and clash for superiority.
Abrahamic
religions are woven together by shared history and have lot more in common. But
as religions are employed as political tool all avenues for mutual
understanding are slammed. Even to listen to other faithful is prohibited.
Islam and Christianity are legatees of the same tradition and history. Muslims
believe in the religious texts of Christians, although somewhat different from
their Christian counterparts. But still not much effort is being made to bring
both religions together.
The book by
Roman James titled ‘JESUS versus MUHAMMAD’ tries to fill this knowledge
gap. The book is an objective comparison of belief systems of Islam and
Christianity to demonstrate common similarities in both religions. This is not
a polemic work to buttress one's prejudice about other religious ideas. This
book brings forth the ideas of both religions from reliable sources of
respective religions. Instead of trying to understand the other religion
through the prism of one’s own dogmas, by referring to authentic works of
Islam, the author has made a commendable effort.
At the very outset, the author has explained
the aims of the book. “The purpose of this book is threefold. First, to know
the basic facts of the two most outstanding personalities of our times – Jesus
and Muhammad. The second is to encourage the Muslims to open the gates of
Ijtihad (reform or rethinking of Islam) and religious freedom. The third is to
educate the Church about Islam to promote interfaith dialogue and
reconciliation.”
The book
has adopted an impressive way of presentation. The author uses the tabular
format to compare the beliefs of both religions. At the same place the beliefs
of both religions are presented, much to the convenience of the readers. This
enables the readers to critically examine the contents easily. Copious
quotations from authentic scriptures make the arguments of the book more potent
and genuine.
The
division of the book in different chapters is also to be reckoned for its
sensible organization. Beginning from the fundamentals of religion, the book
progresses to complex aspects of religion. The author has done commendable work
discussing threadbare the basics of religions before proceeding to more
polemical aspects of both religions.
The book is
a sincere attempt to highlight the similarities of both religions, but not
disregarding or ignoring the differences. The message of the book is that while
differences are few, resemblances are much more. Without any effort to defend
the differences, the book heralds possible convergence while respecting the
differences. The respect for another religion is prerequisite for successful
and effective interfaith religious dialogue. And in this respect, the book has
achieved a fascinating feat.
The book
has quoted splendidly from the works of liberal progressive Muslims and this
makes the book more appealing, particularly to the younger generation. While
the clergy uses the religions for vested interests, the liberal voices are
stifled. By giving adequate acknowledgement to moderate sections among Muslims,
the book's message is more effective. Moderate sections of both religions
should be engaged more for mutual understanding without the stumbling blocks of
conservative religious leadership.
At some
places the book has employed too explicit and accusatory language. In its over
enthusiasm to criticize traditional Muslim scholars, the author has used sharp
language. For example, while discussing the insistence of Muslim scholars on
the authority of Quran, the author says “Some Mullahs shout from the pulpit
that the Xerox copy of the Quran is in heaven”. This kind of haranguing
language dilutes the good intention of the author behind this fantastic work.
Had the author been modest in criticism, the book would have been more
acceptable.
Lack of
knowledge about Muslims have affected the integrity of the book. The author has
mixed the arguments of various sects without clarifying this. The general
orientalist view of Islam being a monolithic religion is badly mirrored
throughout the work. Just like Christian communities have denominations with
contrarian beliefs, the same is applicable to Islam too. This unacademic
mixture and presence of jumbled ideas might confuse some readers.
The general
orientation of the books is sincere academic comparison of both religions. But
at some places, it seems traces of author’s prejudices have crept in. By
bringing the name of Maulavi Sulaiman (Mario Joseph) to support author’s
arguments, the intentions of author have become dubious. As a Keralite, I know
how controversial this conversion was. It was injustice to the high-quality
content of the book to name the controversial televangelist.
But the
book is a new attempt to understand each other from their own scriptures. The
differences are inconsequential in people’s quest for mutual cooperation. The
author has made a great effort to facilitate mutual understanding among
Christians and Muslims. The efforts of the author should be translated into
practice by inculcating moderation and new interpretation of both religions.
Mr. Roman
James, the author, has done well to quote at length from the well-known
progressive Islamic website, NewAgeIslam.com, particularly from articles
by its founding editor, Mr. Sultan Shahin, to illustrate his points
about Islamic postulates. But it would be better if proper references and url
links are given so that the reader can go to the original articles and see the
context in which those remarks were made by Mr. Shahin.
All in all,
a pretty good effort made by the author and I would recommend this book
particularly to youths of both religions to go through it and enhance their
understanding of each religion. As I said before, the side by side
juxtaposition of different aspects of both religions in a table would be very
helpful to most Christians and Muslims who are largely ignorant about each
other's religion.
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A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir
V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance
journalist.
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/jesus-muhammad-roman-gospel-mutual-/d/128789