The Cross and the Crescent: The Dramatic Story of the Earliest Encounters Between Christians and Muslims

Richard Fletcher is an emeritus professor from York University, whose The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity is a classic in the field of theological history. His short account of Christian / Islamic relations is similarly fascinating. Fletcher begins with a broad commentary on the dogmatic differences in religious texts: the Qu'ran, like the Bible is "revealed" knowlege - an understanding of man's role in the world through divine revelation. However, Fletcher points out, the nature of these revelations are telling: whereas the liturgical texts of Christianity are a "mass of myth, history, law, poetry, counsel ... no less than four versions of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, each one slightly different from the other three, ... and a work of apocalyptic prophesy unveling the imminent end of the world ..." Islam is much more doctrinally strict, without many of the ambiguities, contradictions and obscurities that Christianity has. The nature of Christian thought, then, is rooted in disagreement, debate and argument while the controversies of Islam primarily focus on the source of authority over the Islamic community (both politically and doctrinally.) These fundamental differences have shaped with ways in which followers of these brethern religions shape their view of the world. From here, the interactions between Islam and Christianity are explored in greater detail, Fletcher explaining how these religious perceptions shaped the ways in which these two communities saw each other. What I found particularly interesting was the co-existance of Christian and Muslim on the "frontiers" - in Iberia, Anatolia and (later) the Balkans, and how these groups interacted and responded to one another. For example, while Christians are "People of the Book" (and thereby tolerated under Islamic law), there were varying degrees of tolerance over time - from Christians and Jews acting as bureaucrats in the Ummayad dynasty (early in Islam's history) to their place as very much second-class citizens after the Mongol conquest. Of course, such toleration was hardly the norm within Christendom, although I was suprized to learn of how much coexistence was the norm in Iberia before the Reconquista. Much of the book details the cultural, economic and especially intellectual interchange between communities in the middle ages. One point Fletcher makes almost in passing (and this is unfortunate), is that for much of Islam's early history, it was aloof of Christendom, instead looking East. The result was that the Muslim world was largely unaware of the developments being made in Europe (economically and politically) that eventually caused the Christian West to economially (and to a large extent in the 19th century, politically) eclipse the Muslim East. This, in part, lies at the root of Islamic disaffection with the West and its modern secularism. That it "could not be any other way than" what is was is moot - but a point that I wish he had address

Although difficult reading at first, the meaning soon became clear about the subject. The recurring method of presentation in each chapter helped.

I became with Richard Fletcher's book as a result of a very favorable book review, and quickly realized why the review was so positive. When I finally located it, I was surprised how small it was. Nevertheless, Fletcher presents a concise and highly readable analysis of Islamic-Christian relations since the founding of Islam. One aspect of the book I found especially fasinating was the relationship between "Eastern" christian churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Often, the Eastern churches (i.e., Armenian, Coptic, Greek Orthodox, Syrian, to name a few) were treated with as much suspicion by the west as Islam. Fletcher's discussion of the crusades was also fascinating. To say that the subject of this book is timely and historically important is, of course, an understatement. Probably most Americans would learn something important about our Islamic neighbors at this time of war, hatred, bloodshed and misunderstanding. As we begin nation building in Iraq, or Iran or eslewhere in the middle east, as we watch the death toll mounting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we will need as much information as we can gather to promote peace. This book is a great place to start.

With research including the true story behind the El Cid legend and on Christian Conversion of Barbarians, as well as Moorish Spain, Fletcher has special experience to bring to the task at hand. Emphasizing Christian-Muslim relations in Spain he provides balance and great interest with wise observations and fascinating examples. He does not idealize or demonize either but presents an interesting story and sound basis for understanding the era before the Reformation and an example for approaching interfaith history more generally.This is an outstanding and readable book that maintains perspective and is soundly rooted in scholarship

This is probably the only book that you need to read regarding the social relationships, commerce, science/philosophy that happened in the Mediterranean world for 1000 years. I really enjoyed it. And this time there are footnotes to the quotes, and a small further reading section that lists about 5 books for each chapter. Two of the suggested books are used in the book itself.