Organizer: The University of Edinburgh

Duration: 4 Weeks

Starting Date: February 15, 2021

On this innovative four-week course, you’ll be introduced to the academic study of Christian-Muslim Relations with the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. You’ll explore some of its key historical moments, compare the teachings of both the Bible and the Qur’an, will learn about the everlasting theological debates that concern the study, and will also decipher how politics and societies have been directly impacted by Christian-Muslim relations.

Explore the key theological debates between Christians and Muslims

You’ll gain insight into the major events and movements which have shaped the encounters between Christians and Muslims, from the rise of Islam (610-632CE) to the present day. You’ll then identify key areas of theological and religious commonality, and will discover what has caused disagreements and debates between Christians and Muslims throughout history.

Unpack the political and ideological contexts that have shaped Christian-Muslim relations. You’ll evaluate the role of religion and Christian-Muslim relations in different social and political contexts all around the globe, and will understand the main ideas and practices of both Christian and Muslim communities, and how social contexts can impact inter-religious encounters. Finally, you’ll develop an understanding of the roles that inter-religious dialogue and polemics (or contentious rhetorics) function in the formation of religions.

Topics covered in the course:

• History: Highlighting salient themes in the history of Christian-Muslim relations

• Scripture: Comparing the roles and narratives of the Bible and the Qur’an, particularly as they relate to Christian-Muslim relations

• Theology: Exploring some of the key theological debates between both communities, including polemical and irenic exchanges

• Politics: Unpacking the broader political and ideological contexts that have shaped (and that continue to reshape) Christian and Muslim encounters

Source: FutureLearn.com