Source: Frienemies Books
Of Strangers & Enemies: A Pathway to Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, by J. Robert Eagan. Frienemies Books, 2016. 206 pages.
Of Strangers & Enemies explores what we can do in our daily lives to break down the divisions between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. History and Scripture, personal stories, and conversations illustrate what it is that creates these divisions, how to identify them within ourselves, and how to overcome them.
Much of this thoughtful book is composed of a survey of what the texts and traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each have to say about their followers’ interactions with neighbors, strangers, and enemies. The author calls us to imagine what it would look like if we all lived according to the best our religions have to offer.
Writing to Christians, Eagan proposes we pursue peace through “dialogical friendships”: not merely tolerating differences as if they do not matter but engaging one another in relationship that seek understanding and peace in our multi-faith world. The author shares his own journey and present struggles as well as making helpful suggestions for ways to connect across religious lines.
This book is self-published and has some ambitious goals; the results are a bit uneven. And some might find find its call to peace rather than evangelism a kind of falling short. If, however, you are up for reconsidering your own response to Muslim neighbors (or interested in strategies to see Muslims as neighbors instead of strangers or enemies), this book might be a great choice for you. A good read for Ramadan, which is just around the corner.
» Learn more or purchase from Amazon for US$8.99 (Kindle) or US$12.99 (paperback). See also the author’s website and check out his blog and podcast. Among other things, Eagan is cofounder of SE7EN FAST, a national event designed to get non-Muslims and Muslims in the same room to break bread together in the name of peace. See, for example, a recent article on how to host an interfaith iftar (fast-breaking) party (partnering with a ministry called Shoulder to Shoulder).