The Jihad of Jesus: The Sacred Nonviolent Struggle for Justice
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
We are caught up in the cycle of so-called “holy wars.” In The Jihad of Jesus, Dave Andrews argues that while this inter-communal conflict is endemic, it is not inevitable. Depending on our understanding, our religions can be either a source of escalating conflict or a resource for overcoming inter-communal conflict; and for our religions to be a resource for overcoming conflict, we need to understand the heart of all true religion as open-hearted compassionate spirituality. In the light of an open-hearted compassionate spirituality, we can reclaim the word “jihad” from extremists who have (mis)appropriated it as a call to “holy war,” and reframe it, in truly Qur’anic terms, as a “sacred nonviolent struggle for justice"; and we can reconsider Jesus, as he is in the Gospels, not as a poster boy for Christians fighting crusades against Muslims, but as “a strong-but-gentle Messianic figure” who can bring Christians and Muslims together. As this book shows, many Christians and Muslims have found Isa (Jesus) and the Bismillah (celebrating the mercy, grace, and compassion of God) as common ground upon which they can stand and work for the common good. The Jihad of Jesus is a handbook for reconciliation and action: a do-it-yourself guide for all Christians and Muslims who want to move beyond the "clash of civilizations,” join the jihad of Jesus, and struggle for justice and peace nonviolently side by side.
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”Dave Andrews [is] one of the leading prophetic voices of our
time."
--Mike Riddell, Pastor, Activist, Author
“Things I [have been] thinking, but had been afraid to say out
loud, Dave [has been] saying boldly. . . . He speaks to my soul in
a way that nobody else does."
--Brian McLaren, Pastor, Activist, and Author
“Dave’s reflections demonstrate that Muslims and Christians have
much to teach to and learn from each other . . . ."
--Halim Rane, Griffith Islamic Studies Research Unit, Brisbane,
Australia
“There is no doubt in my heart that the best way of building
bridges of understanding is through respectful dialogue. . . .
Dave’s approach will surely help us get closer to this noble
end."
--Mohamad Abdalla, Griffith Islamic Research Unit, Brisbane,
Australia
“I encourage all who are seeking to follow Jesus beyond the bounds
of institutional ‘Christianity’ to read and discuss this important
book."
--Wes Howard-Brook, Seattle University
‘Dave Andrews (is) one of the leading prophetic voices of our
time.’
Mike Riddell - Prominent Christian Pastor, Activist and Author of
Godzone and Sacred Journey - Spiritual Wisdom for Times
of Transition.
‘Things I (have been) thinking, but had been afraid to say out
loud, Dave (has been) saying boldly. Ideas I (have been)
tentatively considering, he has already been living for years. I’ve
seen the beautiful things he has been doing in a particularly
challenging neighborhood. You’ll see in Dave’s writings that he is
highly knowledgeable, not only from an academic standpoint, but
also from a grass-roots, experiential level. His writing on these
subjects grows from what he has done on the ground. He speaks to my
soul in a way that nobody else does.’
Brian McLaren - Prominent Christian Pastor, Activist and Author of
Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the
Road?
‘Dave Andrews is a man whose life reflects consciousness of God.
His personal piety, kindnesses to others and service to the needy
are manifestations of Dave’s God-consciousness. Dave’s reflections
demonstrate that Muslims and Christians have much to teach to and
learn from each other in respect to navigating a path towards God
and living according to God’s will.’
Dr. Halim Rane - Associate Professor, Griffith University, and
Deputy Director, Griffith Islamic Studies Research Unit (GIRU),
Brisbane, Australia.
‘Dave Andrews speaks and writes as a committed Christian actively
engaged in the lives of people of all faith traditions, especially
those marginalized by dominant cultures. His book situates
Christian-Muslim dialogue not in abstractions or dogma, but in the
practical concerns of people seeking dignity, respect and fullness
of life. I encourage all who are seeking to follow Jesus beyond the
bounds of institutional “Christianity” to read and discuss this
important book.’
Wes Howard-Brook, Seattle University, Author of ”Come Out, My
People!” - God’s Call Out of Empire in the Bible and
Beyond.
‘Dave Andrews is already known for his positive work with both
(Muslim and Christian) communities. Dave’s concern undoubtedly
stems from compassion, that which the Qur’ān refers to when it
declares: ’… After those [messengers] We sent Jesus the son of
Mary: We gave him the Gospel and put compassion and mercy into the
hearts of his followers…’ (57:27). There is no doubt in my heart
that the best way of building bridges of understanding is through
respectful dialogue. Meeting people and allowing for genuine and
respectful engagement helps us to grow and nurture our humanness.
Dave’s approach will surely help us get closer to this noble
end.’
Dr. Mohamad Abdalla - Associate Professor, Griffith University,
Director, Griffith Islamic Research Unit (GIRU) and Director,
Queensland node of the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic
Studies (NCEIS), Australia.
‘Dave Andrews is that rare mix - rigorous intellect, passionate
activist, theologian and artist, theorist and practitioner -
committed to real life at the sharp end. The Jihad of Jesus
is an essential read for anyone curious about “the central conflict
of our times” - about how two great Abrahamic faiths, rooted in
traditions of justice, love and peace, have motivated such
violence, wreaking havoc and destruction from ancient Crusades to
9/11, 7/7 and the War on Terror. Dave digs deep into the history,
culture and tradition of Islam and Christianity and the
implications of "the struggle” for both Christian and Muslim are
explored in detail, from the global story, right in to your
neighborhood. Dave works hard to rebalance distorted perspectives,
rediscovering the rudiments of faith and bringing fresh insights
(that) bring contrasting traditions and distinctive world-views
together, to inspire peace and development. This book (is) highly
recommended.’
Andy Turner - Community worker and Chair of Greenbelt - ‘Creating
Spaces Where Arts, Faith And Justice Collide’ - UK.
’I honestly believe (Dave) has the character that we should be
embodying - (better than a majority of Muslims) - and I think
that’s why he has this affect on us (not being Christian). Surely
refinement of character only comes with purifying one’s
understanding of religion. I’ve always been perceived by some as
’conservative’, but throughout his reflections (on the Bismillah) I
was in awe, because it was as if he was either reading my mind or
taking the words off my tongue. May Allah grant him eternal
happiness. Ameen.’
Riffat Gurdezi - Northside Da’wah Revival, Brisbane
Australia.
’The Jihad of Jesus is an engaging book which tackles
honestly and courageously some of the thorniest issues around
religion and political violence. It translates scholarly works into
fluent and moving language, provides a critical history of
Christianity and Islam, and encourages a re-reading of the original
intentions of these religious traditions which has the potential to
inspire many to move away from violence in their moral and
political struggles.’
Dr. Alexandre Christoyannopoulos - Lecturer in Politics and
International Relations, Loughborough University, Leicestershire,
UK.
’This book pulls no punches. It explains clearly some of the
difficult history of violence carried out in the name of
Christianity and Islam throughout the centuries. It should be read
by all those who want to dedicate themselves to the path of
peace.’
Andrew Pratt - Advisor and Coordinator, Inter-faith Work, Blackburn
Diocese,
and Former Chief Superintendent, National Community Tension Team,
UK.
’This is a greatly needed book. If Christians and Muslims could do
more struggling together for mutual understanding and for genuine
peace, the ’War against Terror’ could actually be won. Dave’s book
is one of the very few books available today that promotes a
solution right at the problematic root of the bitter fruit of
terrorism and counter-terrorism. This book gives us insight into
what types of blindness, ideology and cruelty underpin the clash
between the self-righteous overpowering global dominance of the
West, and deeply wounded Islamic piety. The West, and Western
Christians, must face our own demons and renounce of our global
imperialism and violence, and the Islamic world must likewise face
the fact that aiding and abetting the one-eyed violent fanaticism
of religious extremists simply keeps the cycle of horror going. The
common resources for genuine peace are already there, in
Christianity and Islam, in the non-violent struggle for justice of
the Messiah or Masih - known as Jesus to Christians and Isa to
Muslims. In The Jihad of Jesus, Dave Andrews points out how
both faiths have entrenched histories of rejecting Jesus/Isa as an
example of nonviolence whilst perpetrated horrifying violent
atrocities in the name of God. Equally, both Christians and Muslims
have astonishing exemplars of the kind of the radical, sacrificial,
non-violent reconciliation modeled by Jesus/Isa. The Jihad of
Jesus points us away from the ongoing cycle of violence
perpetuated in order to gain some illusory ’total victory’ over
’the other’, and towards reconciliation, collaboration and
transformation’.
Dr. Paul Tyson, Hon. Assistant Professor, Theology and Religious
Studies, University of Nottingham, UK, and Author of Returning
To Reality.
’Jihad is a much abused term but most Muslims know that the greater
Jihad is not to use force but to use what Gandhi called ’Soul
force’ to resist temptation and evil. In The Jihad of Jesus,
Dave Andrews gives us some important and tested observations on the
sources of violence and both the reason and the means for
resistance, and he does so by drawing on the wisdom of both Muslim
and Christian scholarship and experience. Dave Andrews books come
from the heart but also from open and hard-working hands: from his
own experiments in compassionate resistance to the violence of this
age. For purposeful interfaith engagement with the world as it is I
very much recommend this book.’
Dr. Keith Hebden - Editor of A Pinch of Salt, Author of
Seeking Justice, Pioneer Minister and ’Seeking Justice’
Advisor, Mansfield, UK.
’The Jihad of Jesus is a manual for waging jihad. And make
no mistake; Dave Andrews wants you to wage jihad. Not the violent
jihad of extremists; but a ’strong yet gentle nonviolent struggle’.
Dave’s model for this is Jesus: the jihad of Jesus. Drawing on the
teachings of both Christian and Muslim scholars and faith examples
from both traditions he presents Jesus as the supreme example of
jihad. This is challenging stuff. Dave does not shy away from the
litany of horror perpetrated in religions name. But just as you
want to turn away and scream ’enough!’ Dave leads the reader
towards a deeply compassionate and nonviolent reading of jihad,
teachings which are found in the Qur’an as well as the Bible. This
is a book that proceeds with that rare combination of care and
urgency. With Jesus as his guide Dave argues that the meaning of
jihad is to transform ourselves into living examples of love and to
fight injustice with the tools of nonviolent action. This is the
jihad that threatens tyrants and empires of all stripes. This is
the jihad we need.’
Dr. Jason MacLeod - Religious Society of Friends, Academic Advisor
for the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict, Washington
DC, USA.
Product Details
- Title : The Jihad of Jesus: The Sacred Nonviolent Struggle for Justice
- Author: Andrews, Dave
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2015
- ISBN: 9781498217750
Dave Andrews has lived and worked in intentional communities with marginalized groups of people in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India for forty years. He is a founder of the Waiters Union; an educator for TEAR Australia; a trainer for Praxis Community Co-operative; a teacher at Christian Heritage College; an elder emeritus for Servants to Asia's Urban Poor; and a member of AMARAH (Australian Muslim Advocates for the Rights of All Humanity). www.daveandrews.com.au