Arab Theology and the Origins of Religious Violence

 

Author: Youssef Ziedan

In this book, Youssef Ziedan traces the most important ideas that shaped the perceptions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims regarding humanity's relationship with the Creator. Consequently, he examines how Christian theology and Islamic Kalam (dialectical theology) evolved into theological visions whose stages are difficult to separate! The book discusses, analyzes, compares, and traces the development of theological ideas in both Christian and Islamic contexts. This is done with the aim of understanding the hidden links between the traditional historical stages, referred to as Jewish history, Christian history, and Islamic history! Starting from a different perspective on all these histories, considering them as one history primarily connected to geography and governed by the same mechanisms, it is essential to understand the nature of their operation in the past and present. This leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the connection between religion and politics, and the violence that this single culture has not and will not be free from, as long as it lives in isolated islands.