Islam, Peace and Social Justice

A. Christian van Gorder received his doctorate in Muslim-Christian relations from the Queen's University of Belfast, Ireland. He is the author of 8 books and numerous articles in the field of world religions, with a particular emphasis on Muslim and Christian interactions. He has taught and researched Islam and Muslim-non-Muslim interactions for 12 years in the United States, lived for 6 years in Muslim communities in Asia, and conducted extensive research in Muslim communities throughout Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America. He is currently an Associate Professor of Religion at Baylor University.

This work would be useful for many courses on contemporary Islam, since each chapter provides a useful tour d'horizon of these contentious issues, with helpful bibliography. There is much of value in this exhaustively researched study.

• Acknowledgments and Dedication Foreword: Dr David M. ShenkIntroduction1. Islam's Divine Mandate for Ethical Action against Social Injustice2. Islamic Jihad and the Path of Peace3. Islamic Responses to Poverty and Economic Oppression4. Islamic Responses to Political Oppression5. Islamic Civil Rights and Individual Human Rights6. Genocide and Atrocity among Muslims7. Islamic Social Equality in Response to Racism and Slavery8. Sexual Injustice, Sexism, and Homophobia among Muslims9. Islamic Stewardship and Responses to Environmental Degradation10. Creating Multi-faith Social Justice PartnershipsConclusionGlossary of TermsEndnotesSelected BibliographyIndex