Islam and Judeo-Christianity: A Critique of Their Commonality

The theme of Islam and Judeo-Christianity is the relationship between these three faiths under three headings that are often promoted as a basis for commonality between them (sons of Abraham monotheism and religions of the book). Ellul incisively critiques these expressions finding less common ground than is generally accepted and a pattern of conformism. The English edition of Islam and Judeo-Christianity includes a foreword by David Gill and Dominique North Ellul and Alain Besancons extensive foreword to the French edition of Islam and Judeo-Christianity (relocated to the appendices in this edition). The book also includes other writings on this theme by Ellul: Firstly chapter 5 from Elluls Subversion of Christianity where Islam is portrayed as a non-progressive totalitarian religion founded on the concept of divine right and credited with having introduced into Christianity the idea of holy war. Secondly Elluls foreword to The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam written by Bat Yeor (1985) which documents the conditions of Jews and Christians in Muslim society. Thirdly Elluls foreword to The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude also by Bat Yeor (1996) which further explores the history of Jews and Christians under Islam. Bruce MacKay has done the English-speaking world a great service in providing a flowing and eminently readable translation of Elluls critique of Islam and indeed of any facile eirenicism held toward it. Although having died over twenty years ago his work should not be dismissed as dated. His critical reflections resonate even more loudly in an age of rising Islamist extremism. Whether controversial or conventional Elluls critical analysis and reflection requires careful consideration by all. --Douglas Pratt Professor Religious Studies University of Waikato New Zealand The arrival of a new work by Jacques Ellul so long after his death is worth celebrating. . . . Ellul on Islam is crisply theological and provides some key insights into how Christians should respond to the high moral tone which Islam sometimes takes in the west. . . . It is a very useful addition to the Ellul corpus enabling us to see how he combined orthodox Protestantism with a rich social engagement. --Peter Lineham Professor of History School of Humanities College of Humanities and Social Sciences Massey University Albany New Zealand Bruce MacKay was born in South India the son of Open Brethren missionaries and with his family moved to New Zealand in 1960. He has trained and worked as a landscape architect recreation planner and ecologist in New Zealand and the UK. He currently works in New Zealand as an ecologist. He has three adult children also living in New Zealand.