Identity and Civilization: Essays on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

by Mordechai Nisan

Overview

Identity and Civilization looks at Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as contemporary rivals in the political arena, focusing on the contemporary encounter between Israel and the Muslim and Arab peoples. Mordechai Nisan unearths the essential features of these religions and the communities that adhere to them, while clarifying the prominent political antagonism of recent history. He explores the role of the profound forces of faith and culture that provide the people in the Middle East with their integral identity and therefore shape the political situation. Nisan uses compelling intellectual arguments to expose the hard realities that must be understood by all parties before a successful peace can be achieved in that area.

Author Biography: Mordechai Nisan is a lecturer in Middle East Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the Rothberg International School.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761813569
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	04/22/1999
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.92(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mordechai Nisan is a lecturer in Middle East Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the Rothberg International School.

Table of Contents

chapter 1 Introduction chapter 2 Religion: The Dialectical Relationship of Judaism with Islam and its Potential Significance chapter 3 Philosophy: An Ontological and Political Inquiry into Judaism chapter 4 Christianity and Islam chapter 5 Culture: Western Travelers in the Muslim Lands of the Middle East chapter 6 War: The Islamic Assault on the West and Israel chapter 7 Conclusion chapter 8 Epilogue chapter 9 Notes chapter 10 Selected Bibliography chapter 11 Index

Editorial Reviews

Nisan's 'civilizational' explanation of what happens repeatedly when Israelis, Arabs, and Americans negotiate seems far more plausible than the usual glib commentaries of political scientists and journalists whose memories rarely extend more than a year into the past.

The Jerusalem Post

The book's strength - its extraordinary, brilliant, poignant, thrilling strength - is in the very personal witness of God's presence in the world.

Perspectives On Science and Christian Faith

A collection of 22 essays centered around an exploration of the three religions and their political self-images. Nisan (Middle Eastern studies, Hebrew U., Jerusalem) explores a number of topics, but seems especially concerned with the preservation of the state of Israel against what he views as the implacably hostile world of Islam. Among the subjects he touches upon are a critique of Edward Said's , the ways in which the base philosophies of the religions manifest themselves politically, and the Christian West's view of the Middle East. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Mordechai Nisan posits four layers of human reality: religion, philosophy, culture, and war.

Middle East Journal

In this informative and intriguing book, Nisan analyzes how the drastically different evolutions of contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Muslim civilization impact on the political and strategic struggles not only in the Middle East but elsewhere across the globe....Mordechai Nisan continues to distinguish himself as one of Israel's foremost political thinkers.

Americans For A Safe Israel

...a most insightful addition to the study of the Middle East, the Islamic Arabic world, the Israeli-Arab conflict and the origins of the three great religions.

Books In Brief

Nisan succeeds in his attempt to help the reader become an insider to the Middle Eastern story and thus come to a deeper understanding of the present-day conflicts and problems.

Islam and Christian Relations

The book's strength - its extraordinary, brilliant, poignant, thrilling strength - is in the very personal witness of God's presence in the world.

Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith

Nisan's 'civilizational' explanation of what happens repeatedly when Israelis, Arabs, and Americans negotiate seems far more plausible than the usual glib commentaries of political scientists and journalists whose memories rarely extend more than a year into the past.

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