Humanity

This is a record of the sixth Building Bridges seminar of Christian and Muslim scholars, convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the National University of Singapore, December 2007, and cosponsored by Georgetown University. As in previous seminars, an overarching subject of central interest to both Christians and Muslims was addressed by using the resources which each faith has to offer out of its own integrity, and formal and informal dialogue between the participants grew out of the structured presentations which are recorded here. Three primary questions emerged from the topic of humanity in context: What does it mean to be human? What is the significance of the diversity which is evident among human beings? And what are the challenges which humans face living within the natural world? The book focuses on the theological responses to each of these questions, drawing on the wealth of material found in both Christians and Islamic scriptures and traditions. While Part One lays out the three issues of human identity, difference, and guardianship, Part Two explores scriptural texts side by side, pairing Christian and Islamic scholars who examine such themes as human dignity, human alienation, human destiny, humanity and gender, humanity and diversity, humanity and the environment. In addition to a stellar cast of scholars, including Jane McAuliffe and Michael Northcott and Mona Siddiqui, the book includes an afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.