Some reflections on Christian and Islamic political thought

There is a widespread view that one of the essential differences between Islam and Christianity is their attitudes towards politics and the state: Christianity, it is argued, is not essentially concerned with these things but rather with spiritual matters, while for Islam politics and the state are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Main Author: Goddard, Hugh 1953- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge 1990
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Further subjects:B Theology
B concept of state
B Religion
B Transfer Theologie-Politik
B church-state relations
B Christianity
B Church history studies
B Theory of the state
B Islam
B State
B Verhältnis Staat-Kirche
B Church History
B political dimensions and consequences of theology
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:There is a widespread view that one of the essential differences between Islam and Christianity is their attitudes towards politics and the state: Christianity, it is argued, is not essentially concerned with these things but rather with spiritual matters, while for Islam politics and the state are an integral element of it. This paper argues that such a view neither accords with the historical evidence for the development of the two traditions nor takes account of the diversity that exists within them on this question: and it concludes that a more judicious description is that Christianity is concerned with politics, if not the state, while Islam is concerned with both and considers the state to be itself a religious institution.
ISSN:0959-6410
Contains:In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596419008720923