ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
MHTM/THEM 649 Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts
Instructor:
Joseph L. Cumming
joseph.cumming@aya.yale.edu
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts is an exploration of the theological issues historically central to
Muslim-Christian encounter, with examination of relevant Qur’anic texts in Arabic and in translation.
Focus will be on issues of Trinity, Christology and crucifixion/atonement, while also considering
prophetological, text-critical and ecclesiological questions. Lectures and readings will review patristic
Trinitarian and Christological debates which inform the context in which Islam arose, will examine the
Qur’anic texts which address these issues, will review early Islamic theological development (‘Ilm alKalam) and the light it sheds on these questions, will touch on some medieval examples of MuslimChristian dialogue on these issues, and will explore possible constructive proposals (including students’
own ideas) for the modern context.
OBJECTIVES




Understanding of theologically important Qur’anic texts
Understanding of the Islamic exegetical and theological tradition on these texts
Understanding of theological issues critical to Muslim-Christian understanding
Ability to articulate critical theological issues in terms which make sense to Muslims
TEXTBOOKS
Required reading texts:
Please bring the following items to each class session: The Holy Qur’an (parallel Arabic-English
edition); “Qur’anic Verses on Christian Doctrines” (handout from Course Reader); The
Chalcedonian Definition (handout from Course Reader); Communicatio Idiomatum (handout from
Course Reader), Christology Chart (handout from Course Reader).
1) Cumming, Joseph. Course Reader on the Qur’an and Christian Theology – includes a few of my
own articles, along with Muslim-Christian dialogues, polemics and treatises on Islamic
theological issues by Nestorian (Patriarch Timothy I), Eastern Orthodox (John of Damascus),
Roman Catholic (Thomas Aquinas) and Oriental Orthodox (Zakariya Butrus) thinkers, plus class
handouts, articles on the so-called “Gospel of Barnabas,” and other articles.
2) Any parallel Arabic-English edition of the Holy Qur’an. I recommend the translation by Abdullah
Yusuf Ali because it is popular with English-speaking Muslims, but feel free to choose any
translation you like in which the Arabic and English are printed side-by-side.
3) Watt, W. Montgomery. Islamic Philosophy and Theology. Edinburgh University Press, 1985.
4) Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines. New York: Harper, 1978.
5) McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. Qur'anic Christians: An Analysis of Classical and Modern Exegesis.
Cambridge University Press, 2007. N.B.: Under “Reading Option B” (see below) only two
chapters of this book are required reading.
6) Mallouhi, Christine. Waging Peace on Islam. IVP Books, 2002. N.B.: Under “Reading Option A”
(see below) this book is recommended, but not required.
1
MHT/THE 649 Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts
Joseph Cumming
Page 2
Reading Options “A” and “B”
Christine Mallouhi’s book Waging Peace on Islam does not deal primarily with issues of doctrine or
theology, but rather with the social, political and historical contexts which have shaped Muslim-Christian
dialogues and polemics on theological issues. At the beginning of most course lectures these same social
and historical questions will be addressed through brief devotional meditations on the social implications
for Muslim-Christian relations of the doctrines being studied in class. The take-home final exam will
include a 1-page essay question offering a choice of interacting with those in-class meditations or with
Mallouhi’s book or with both.
Students may choose either “Reading Option A” or “Reading Option B.” In “Reading Option A” the
Mallouhi book is not required (though it is recommended). Instead “Option A” students will read
additional material from medieval Muslim-Christian dialogues/polemics, as well as additional material on
the Qur’an’s view of Christians. Students choosing “Option A” will presumably choose on the abovementioned final exam question to focus on the in-class meditations, not on the Mallouhi book, but these
students’ answers to other exam questions should reflect their familiarity with the “Option A” additional
materials. In “Reading Option B” the Mallouhi book is required reading, but students will read fewer
pages from medieval Muslim-Christian dialogues/polemics and fewer pages on the Qur’an’s view of
Christians. “Reading Option B” involves about 140 pages more in total reading assignments than
“Reading Option A,” but Mallouhi’s book is considerably easier and faster to read than the additional
material in “Option A.”
BASIC OUTLINE
Lecture topics and required readings:
N.B.: If you have a different edition of the Montgomery Watt book, or of any of the other course books,
please confirm which page numbers in your edition correspond to those on the list below.
Course Intro & Intro to Islamic Dogmatic Theology (‘Ilm al-Kalam):
Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd edition), “‘Ilm al-Kalam,” pp. 1141-1150 (in Course Reader) – 10pp.
Watt, W. Montgomery. Islamic Philosophy and Theology, pp. 1-68 – 68pp.
Subtotal: 78pp.
Intro to Qur’anic Exegesis (Tafsir):
Watt, W. Montgomery. Islamic Philosophy and Theology, pp. 69-110 – 42pp.
McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. Qur’anic Christians, Introduction and Chapter One – 36pp.
Subtotal: 78pp.
The Cross:
Cumming, Joseph. “Did Jesus Die on the Cross?” (in Course Reader) – 33pp.
Cragg, Kenneth. Jesus and the Muslim, pp. 166-188 (in Course Reader) – 23pp.
McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. Qur’anic Christians, Chapter Four – 31pp.
Subtotal: 87pp.
Trinity
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, pp. 83-136, 223-279 – 111pp.
Cumming, Joseph. Analysis of Seventh-Century Context for “Trinity” Verses (in Course Reader) – 30pp.
Butrus, Zachariah. “God is One in the Holy Trinity” (in Course Reader) – 17pp.
Subtotal: 158 pp.
MHT/THE 649 Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts
Joseph Cumming
Page 3
Trinity (conclusion):
Christology: Divinity, Humanity and Createdness:
Cumming, Joseph. “Sifat al-Dhat in Al-Ash‘ari’s Doctrine of God” (in Course Reader) – 39pp.
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, pp. 138-161, 280-295 – 40pp.
Subtotal: 79pp.
Christology: Divinity, Humanity and Createdness (cont.):
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, pp. 295-343 – 49pp.
Carmody and Clarke, Word and Redeemer (in Course Reader), pp. 1-9, 50-53, 82-103 – 35pp.
Subtotal: 84pp.
Christology: The Title “Son of God”:
Cumming, Joseph. “Kalam Allah in Islam and Christianity,” (in Course Reader) – 6pp.
Woodberry, J. Dudley. “The Muslim Understanding of Jesus,” pp. 1-7 (in Course Reader) – 7pp.
Cumming, Joseph. “What is the Meaning of the Expression ‘Son of God’?” (in Course Reader) – 6pp.
Sweetman. Islam and Christian Theology, Part I, Vol. I, pp. 42-83 (in Course Reader) – 42pp.
Sweetman. Islam and Christian Theology, Part I, Vol. II, pp. 225-237 (in Course Reader) – 13pp.
Subtotal: 74pp.
Text Criticism of Bible and Qur’an: Tahrif vs. Tabdil
Prophethood of Muhammad
Anderson, J.N.D. “The So-Called ‘Gospel of Barnabas’,” Islam in the Modern World, pp. 223-234 –
12pp.
Gilchrist, John. “Origins and Sources of the Gospel of Barnabas” (in Course Reader) – 16pp.
Thomas Aquinas, “Reasons for the Faith Against Muslim Objections,” pp. 1-15 ONLY (in Course
Reader) – 15pp.
John of Damascus. “Discussion of a Christian and a Saracen” (in Course Reader) – 8pp.
READING OPTION A: John of Damascus. “On the Heresy of the Ishmaelites” (in Course Reader) – 8pp.
READING OPTION A: “The Apology of Al-Kindi,” in Newman Early Muslim-Christian Dialogue, pp.
381-389 and 411-425 (in Course Reader) – 24pp.
READING OPTION B: Mallouhi, Christine. Waging Peace on Islam, pp. 11-75 – 65pp.
Subtotal: Option A – 83pp.; Option B – 116pp.
Major Historical Dialogues and Interfaith Treatises:
“The Dialogue of the Patriarch Timothy I and Caliph Mahdi,” in Newman, Early Muslim-Christian
Dialogue, pp. 174-246 (in Course Reader) – 73pp.
Subtotal: 73pp.
Ecclesiology and Ummatology: the “C4-C5 debate”:
Cumming, Joseph. “Muslim Followers of Jesus?” (in Course Reader) – 5pp.
Vatican II Statements on Muslims (excerpts from Lumen Gentium, etc., in Course Reader) – 3pp.
READING OPTION A: McAuliffe, Jane. Qur’anic Christians, Chapters Three, Five and Six – 80pp.
READING OPTION B: Mallouhi, Christine. Waging Peace on Islam, pp. 77-183 – 107pp.
Subtotal: Option A – 88pp.; Option B – 115pp.
Miscellaneous Issues & Review:
READING OPTION A: McAuliffe, Jane. Qur’anic Christians, Chapters Seven, Eight, Nine and
Conclusion – 89pp.
MHT/THE 649 Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts
Joseph Cumming
Page 4
READING OPTION B: Mallouhi, Christine. Waging Peace on Islam, pp. 185-343 – 159pp.
Subtotal: Option A – 89pp.; Option B – 159pp.
Total reading pages for course:
Reading Option A: 971pp.
Reading Option B: 1101pp.
METHODOLOGY
Lecture, discussion, group study of Qur’anic texts, and an in-class debate on the “C4-C5 issue.”
Take-home, open-book final exam on the central theological issues examined in this course.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Reading assignments:
See above (under “BASIC OUTLINE”) for a complete list of reading assignments and the topics with
which they are correlated.
The following readings should be completed BEFORE the course session begins:
1) Montgomery Watt – All assigned pages
2) J.N.D. Kelly – All assigned pages
3) Jane McAuliffe – Introduction and Chapters One and Four
4) Joseph Cumming – All assigned pages
5) Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd edition), “‘Ilm al-Kalam,” pp. 1141-1150 (in Course Reader)
6) Cragg, Kenneth. Jesus and the Muslim, pp. 166-188 (in Course Reader)
7) Vatican II Statements on Muslims (excerpts from Lumen Gentium, etc., in Course Reader)
Other readings may be completed before, during or after the course session.
Writing assignments:
Students can choose between two options for their writing projects for the course:
1) A 12-14 pp. research paper on a topic related to the theme of the course, or
2) Doing BOTH of two smaller projects:
a. A short paper (~4pp.) on your choice of Trinity, Christology, Cross or
ecclesiology/ummatology, demonstrating critical reflection on readings and lectures on
this topic.
b. A detailed, annotated chart or creative presentation of Qur’anic verses which address
Christian doctrine. Designed to be a reference tool or teaching tool for your future
ministry or future research. Further guidelines will be given in class. Project should
reflect 15-20 hours’ work.
Due date: August 8, 2013.
Final exam:
Take-home, open-book final exam. Several essays, totaling ~10 pages, drawing on course readings and
lecture notes. Due date: July 31, 2013.
MHT/THE 649 Christian Theology in Islamic Contexts
Joseph Cumming
Page 5
GRADING PROCEDURE
Grading formula:
Final exam: 40%; final writing assignment(s): 40%; class participation: 20%.
Requests for deadline extensions made BEFORE due dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please do NOT allow a due date to slip past without communicating in advance about any problems you
may have in meeting a deadline.
Coursework should be submitted in electronic form via email to joseph.cumming@aya.yale.edu and
should not be considered to have been received unless you receive a reply from me indicating that I have
received your work.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Recommended reading texts:
1) Sweetman, J. Windrow. Islam and Christian Theology. Cambridge: James Clarke. 2002 [1945- ].
2) Robinson, Neal. Christ in Islam and Christianity. NY: State University of New York Press, 1991.
3) Gaudeul, J. M. Encounters & Clashes: Islam and Christianity in History. Rome: Pontificio
Istituto di Studi Arabi e d’Islamistica, 1998.
4) Khalidi, Tarif. The Muslim Jesus. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ Press, 2001.
5) Zahniser, A.H. Matthias. The Mission and Death of Jesus in Islam and Christianity. Maryknoll:
Orbis, 2008.
6) Leirvik, Oddbjorn. Images of Jesus Christ in Islam. Uppsala: Swedish Institute of Missionary
Research, 1999.
7) Cragg, Kenneth. Jesus and the Muslim. London: Allen & Unwin, 1985.
8) Newman, N.A., ed. The Early Christian-Muslim Dialogue. Hatfield, PA: Interdisciplinary
Biblical Research Institute, 1993.
9) Watt, W. Montgomery. The Formative Period of Islamic Thought. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press, 1973.
10) Watt, W. Montgomery. Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press, 1970.
11) Parrinder, Geoffrey. Jesus in the Qur’an. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.
SPECIFIC DATA
Prepared by Joseph and Michele Cumming, March 18, 2013.