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."-Dr. Philip Lewis, Church Times, April 2015"Islam, Peace and Social Justice takes on the ambitious and important task of promoting better relations among the major monotheistic traditions by providing a deeper understanding of shared social justice goals ... he demonstrates a rich knowledge of the Islamic holy texts, providing myriad arguments for how Islam's teachings and practice are in accord with social justice...Van Gorder clearly knows a great deal about the topic, tackles it with enthusiasm, and offers a truly impressive scope."-Andrew Bramsen, Journal of Church and State, Spring 2015"Van Gorder clearly knows a great deal about his topic, tackles it with enthusiasm, and offers a truly impressive scope."-Andrew Bramsen, Journal of Church and State, 57(2), Spring 2015"Islam, Peace and Social Justice is a timely reminder of the rich historical heritage and deep intellectual tradition of social justice and the quest for peace that has ever been part and parcel of the Muslim life of faith... He is accurate, sympathetic, realistic and clear. Punches are not pulled; neither are they recklessly thrown."-Douglas Pratt, Theology Vol 118, No. 5, 2015

• 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