Catharina Rachik - Böcker

The second volume of the series "Key Concepts in Interreligious Discourses" points out the roots of the concept of ''human rights'' in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It shows how far the universal validity of ''human rights'' opposes in some crucial points with religious traditions. The volume demonstrates that new perspectives are introduced to the general discussion about human rights when related to religious traditions. Especially the interreligious viewpoint proves that a new kind of debate about human rights and its history is necessary.

The concept of justice is a fundamental tenet of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, exerting a profound influence on their respective theological, ethical, and social perspectives. The pursuit of a just world is a central concern of these religions, with a particular emphasis on human responsibility, compassion, and mercy. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the understanding of justice in each one of the three religions, elucidating the similarities and differences between them. Each chapter provides perspectives on justice in the respective holy scriptures, as well as key classical and traditional views on the topics of divine-human relations and social and political justice issues. Additionally, modern interpretations are presented, including the tension between freedom and religious duties and responsibilities of individuals and among societies. Given the paucity of literature on this topic, this book offers a rare and essential contribution to understanding justice in the context of the monotheistic faiths.

Tolerance as a universal value of modernity is not usually associated in popular consciousness with religion, which is often regarded as inherently intolerant. This volume addresses the hermeneutics of tolerance as it pertains to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each author offers a distinctive theological interpretation of traditional sources, elucidating the potential and limitations of tolerance in the monotheistic thought. Additionally, the book presents examinations of the promotion of tolerance in diverse historical and cultural contexts, illustrating both similarities and differences between the three religions. The evidence presented in this volume demonstrates that tolerance occupies an important place in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The present volume of the series Key Concepts in Interreligious Discourses explores various conceptions of evil in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, including key terms from their respective sacred texts, major theodicy discussions and contemporary developments. Throughout history and even today, religious scholars and believers have struggled with the question of the origin of evil and how a benevolent God can allow evil to exist in the world. Why does a compassionate God not prevent deadly diseases or natural disasters? What do religions define as evil, and is God responsible for or even the creator of this evil? The articles, written by distinguished scholars in their respective fields, offer a variety of answers to such existential questions. The articles address topics such as the origin of evil, the responses to evil in sacred texts and religious traditions, and the role of human agency. Each author offers a critical analysis of these topics as well as recommendations for future research. The volume also highlights commonalities and differences among the three monotheistic religions.

This volume examines the concept of faith in the three monotheistic traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—through close readings of sacred texts, theological reflection, and historical development. While the Hebrew term emunah, the Greek pistis, and the Arabic īmān differ in semantic nuance and theological usage, they all express a fundamental human disposition of trust, commitment, and orientation toward the divine. The Jewish tradition emphasizes emunah as steadfastness and covenantal reliability, deeply embedded in communal memory and liturgical practice. Christian theology understands pistis as both personal trust in Christ and assent to revealed truth, shaped by doctrinal traditions and ecclesial interpretation. In Islam, īmān is a rich and multilayered concept that integrates inner conviction, verbal affirmation, and righteous action. Together, the three contributions demonstrate how faith functions not merely as belief but as an embodied, lived, and ethically charged dimension of religious life. The volume offers critical insights into shared structures and enduring differences, providing a valuable contribution to interreligious understanding and theological discourses.