Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 10:2 (Spring 2001)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Book Reviews

What You Need To Know About Islam And Muslims, George W. Braswell, Jr. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. $9.95, paper, 183 pages

One of the most discussed topics in the closing years of the twentieth century was the soaring population of the world. At the dawn of the new millennium, our planet is now the home of more than six billion people. An equally important phenomenon has been the migration to the Western countries of a great number of people from what used to be known as the mission fields of Asia and Africa. This fact demands our attention since some of our neighbors are followers of one of the major world religions. Lately, Muslims have become quite visible in our metropolitan areas due to a great influx of immigrants from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Furthermore, they have gained quite a few converts, especially among African-Americans. Soon they may overtake the Jewish population and become the second largest religious community in North America. While there is no dearth of literature in English on Islam, most of such works are written by secular authors who have no interest in missions to Muslims.

This is why this latest book by George W. Braswell, Jr., on Islam and Muslims is such a welcome event. In 1996, he published a similar work, Islam: Its Prophet, Peoples, Politics

and Power. The author is professor of missions and world religions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In the fourteen chapters of his book, Dr. Braswell treats the following topics: The Muslims Are Coming; Muhammad: Prophet, Ruler, Commander in Chief; Believe Correctly, for the Quran Says So; Living the Good Life: How to Get to Heaven; A Whirlwind Beginning: A Global Expansion; Are All Muslims Alike? Unity And Diversity; Sitting at Table with Muslims; Muslims and Some Big Issues; The Clash of Two Giants: Christianity and Islam; Islam’s View of Jesus and Christians; Christian Responses to Muslim Denials; Jesus and Muhammad; The Christians Are Coming; Muslims in the United States.

So it is no exaggeration to say that the scope of this book is encyclopedic. Everything you need to know about Islam and Muslims is right here at your fingertips. The “You” in the title of the book, is obviously the American Christian who values his or her faith as based on the Holy Scriptures, and who needs help to properly engage in missions. In this age of globalization, Muslims and other followers of world religions, have become our new neighbors. We have a golden opportunity to meet Muslims and share with them the authentic good news. But it is not an easy task, for unlike the followers of other religions, Muslim...

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