I’ve just finished reading Tim Dieppe’s book “The Challenge of Islam “. It would be helpful at the start to clarify what the book is and isn’t. If you are expecting a book that sets out to describe Islam and then develop a critique of the religion then you are going to be extremely disappointed.
Rather, Dieppe’s book is a collection of articles and essays responding to various issues in public life. This is unsurprising given Tim’s role as policy director for Christian Concern.
The result of this is that in one place we have articles engaging with some big hitter issues such as whether Islam is antisemitic, whether it is a peaceful religion, whether integration into UK society is possible and whether Sharia Law and Islamic finance should be provided for.
The book is also helpful because Tim has taken time to read the Quran and other Islamic texts so that in one handy place you have a reference work highlighting the key texts on some big issues. This may prompt your own questions about Islam. For example, Tim highlights that the Quran allows for later revelation to abrogate earlier texts. This does raise questions about how Muslims would square this with the idea of the Quran being an eternal revelation passed on to Mohammed. Note that this is also different to our understanding of Scripture being fulfilled in Christ. For Christians, God’s Word is not abrogated. Not the smallest bit is removed.
However, at least in part, the book suffers from being a collection of articles. We are missing both depth and breath in terms of its engagement with Islam. Whilst texts are quoted, we perhaps would want to see deeper engagement in terms of interpretation. We may do well for example to remember that some would select texts from the Bible to prove that Judaism and Christianity are violent. We need to treat Islam with the same care that we expect to be treated. This also reflects on solutions. For example, Tim recommends banning Muslims from receiving outside finance to build mosques etc. would we be happy to be prevented from providing finance to develop churches and Christian charitable work in other countries?
I also find his critique of multiculturalism a little strawman-esque. Multiculturalism may encourage a level of neutrality between cultures and it may mean seeking to build a culture that draws on those different cultural backgrounds. However, that does not in and if itself means either that all cultures are equal or that all aspects of a culture are good and equal. However, we as Christians who get the concept of common grace should be alert to the possibility that there may be good things in a culture.
I speak about the need to go wider but in a sense that isn’t the right words I use it because the book focuses on narrowly on public policy type matters. However, for those living, working, worshipping and witnessing in contexts with potential for significant engagement with Muslims there are other and perhaps more pressing challenges and opportunities. Tim distinguishes Muslims from Islam and in one sense that is right. There is a distinction but we also cannot over separate the two, Islam as a religion/ movement is made up of Muslims.
Yet, the book doesn’t really consider what daily engagement with Muslims is like and it fails therefore to really drive home the point that the real challenge of Islam is not for British culture but for the many Muslims who have not yet heard the Gospel and met with the risen Jesus. There is the true challenge and opportunity.
Faithroots 