Christianity in the Arab World By El-Hassan Bin Talal. London, SCM Press, 1998, 102 pp.

Abstract

As Prince Charles commented in his opening words, "Jordan has long been conspicuous
as a land of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths,"
a coexistence increasingly abused by extremists of all three faiths included in the phrase
Ahl al Kitiib (People of the Book). Prince Hassan 's original intent in writing this book was
to brief Muslim Arabs on the nature of Christianity and Christian religious institutions.
His major focus is on the historical development of the Eastern Christian traditions in the
Muslim Arab milieu and the standing of Christians in Arab society today. ft is his intention
to provide Muslim Arabs with accurate and concise information about the Christians
who historically have lived in their midst. The text was first published in English and
Arabic by the Royal Institute for Inter-faith studies in Amman, Jordan. and should be classified
under both historical and theological sections. It is in wide demand in the West
because of the paucity of easily accessible relevant information.
The Arab Christian tradition goes back to Christianity's very earliest days, antedating
Islam by those six centuries that witnessed the growth of Christian Trinitarian theology,
the spread of the Church, and the division of that Church into different communions.
Some of these historical communions have survived in the Arab world and bear titles that
usually are greeted with complete ignorance on the part of Christian tourists encountering
Christianity in Arab lands for the first time.
As an overall picture of the historical development of Christian doctrine, this book
presents the main features and arguments with exceptional clarity and a highly admirable
depth of understanding of extremely confusing issues. A more clear, precise, concise
gestalt picture of the subject does not exist, so far as I know. The reader can follow the
reasons for the various theological developments, the schisms that arose, and the passions
with which various positions and views were defended.
The text is academic, excellent at history and explanation, and displays a sensitive
awareness of words and concepts that require careful definition. The Prince has presented
the world of religious scholars and the issues that were so important to them that they
were (and remain) willing to sacrifice everything, even life. It does not show the world of
actual church people who regard themselves as the body of the living Christ, the devoted
followers who strive to live good, prayerful lives pleasing to God by imitating the way of
Jesus to the best of their ability. This is not a criticism, but I felt the book would have been
improved with a short section on Christian spirituality to counter all the nitpicking and
skullduggery that went on in the theological realm ...