Reviews: Islam and Christianity

 Notes and Commentary on: Islam and Christianity: A Comparative Missiological Analysis by RANDY THOMAS HARRIS 

(From a quick and superficial reading. I see there is a lot of Islamic stuff on their website - I have to review)

General:

1. More a BTh thesis than a Master's (maybe that is why it is called a "mini".

2. This info is basic and relatively known to informed Islamic evangelizers.

3. Omitting completely the SA context, although it's submitted to a South African Theological College.

4. No mentions of:(IPCI)

The Islamic Institute (Where you can order a free Quran) in Durban and 

5. Ahmed Debad (deceased) and his role and his Literature or Website in opposing and DAWAH.

Christianity/Church and the Bible in South Africa. (his apparent conversion at deathbed)

6. The visit of Anis Shorosh of  Islam Revealed: A Christian Arab's View of Islam, as arranged by AFM (Past Johan Carsens, etc.

7. The dialogue at Durban Stadium between Aghmed Debad and Josh McDowell (famous for Evidence that Demands a Verdict.

8. No articles or theses are quoted from South African soil or any other "incidents" in South Africa.

9. Gerrit Nehls (SA Mission to Islam) or his books or citation not mentioned "Comparing, Confusing, Considering and Concluding"

Nehls recommended an evangelistic approach is quite important for the Christian

10. John Gilchrist(SA), who wrote Our Approach to Islam, completely omitted, 

11. so is the famous American author and specialist Phil Parshall

12. No testimonies, visions, dreams, even current Muslim conversions and analysis to see important points that could help us with an evangelistic approach., "Finding Jesus" is not even mentioned. He did so much after his conversion in directing us (Christians) how to reach Islamic people.

13. The deceased author of ex-Islamic Nabeel Qureshi of Finding Allah, Finding Jesus, and No God but One.

14. Daniel Shayesteh and Nabeel T Jabbour books

15. Listing countries where it's is active underground and their successes and methods? (Iran is almost completely converted!)

16. No mention of Software or Quran or Hadith, or Traditions

17. Any discussion of interculturalism? (See below)

18. Prophetic implications and OT history are not touched on.

19. Most missing is any hint of the author's connection, experience, or engagement with Muslims!

20. No listing or mention of Missionary Organizations (Not even the Global one), if only South African) to the Muslims.

21. If any priority of discussion was given by the Lausanne Movement, SIM, 

22. Any Training School/Universities/College, etc.,  or material for this?

23. No Stats

24. "Missionary" is not clearly defined.

Bibliography:

I have about 14 Hard copy books and 47  other in ebooks on Islam and related subjects

25. No local sources - South African - Not even that an Afrikaans version of the Quran exists! 

26. No mention of The Mizzan-UI-Hagg - The balance of Truth by CG Pfander

27. God's War on Terror; Islam - Prophecy and the Bible by Walid Shoebat,

(There is a book and a Missionary Destiny of Islam in the End Times: Understanding God's Heart for the Muslim People by Faisal Malick ( founder of Covenant of Life Ministries and the Faisal Malick Foundation)  that details how God will use Islam (Ismael nation) to make Israel jealous.  

28. Journey Inside the Mind of an Islamic Terrorist (MA Gabriel), 

29. Controversy and/or origin of Quran/Allah as name and usage - not mentioned

30. No Journals (articles like in "Christianity Today" cited.

I would have liked to see (in a Master's)

Also above and:

31. Different groups within Islam and their differences

32. Any evangelistic approach/methodology to these different groups?

33. Include Apologetics and Reason/Logic argumentation (Answering Islam, etc.)

34. Growth, Influence, and Takeover in SA Politics and Government? (Why are the SA Government/ANC suddenly Anti Semitic/Jew/Israel?) (Especially the popularity of "Helping Hand" is SA)

I would have liked to see (in a Doctoral)

35. Bring as "Excursis" today's Middle Eastern conflict into play (Gasa, Hamas, ISIS, etc.)

36. Particularity question to be addressed. (Only get saved by Jesus?)

37. So-called contradictions: Bible and Quran

# Could be here as well.

38. The movement of "Chrislamism" and the uniqueness of Christianity

Conclusion:

39. Listing differences in a Missional thesis is not my way of thinking of answering the purpose(as he states) of this thesis. 

40. Surveying different approaches, lessons Learned, and maybe examples from current Missionary approaches

(International Mission Board- "Inspecting the Bridges We Use to Evangelize Muslims")

(There are many old school/outdated and new, like friendship Evangelization) and examples of Jesus, disciples and Early Christianity.

41. There also may be appropriate and practical examples of engaging with other "religions". Like I did with Vietnamese/Chinese "religions", especially in-culturalization and Roman Catholic and Pentecostalism/Charismatics.

So, I think, the SATS moderator/s are and were more lenient than me!

Maybe I will send this to SATS and/or Harris.

Your comments are welcome!

Abrie Theart

PS: All books or links available from me. See Book sites references in this blog.