Islam The West And Tolerance

This book provides an honest assessment of the contemporary relationship between Western and Islamic cultures and puts forth the cross-cultural idea of tolerance as one invaluable approach for affecting peaceful coexistence. For a sustainable coexistence to occur between Western and Muslim worlds, a disposition of tolerance toward otherness must be developed that permeates all levels of society, from local to global engagements.

This timely comparative study presents a succinct analysis of select writings and practices of tolerance in Western and Islamic histories to show how a mutually esteemed conception of tolerance is discernable and absolutely essential in a world of lasting difference. Review: a well-balanced account of the many contribut8ions that voices from the West and the Islamic worlds have made to the development of concepts of tolerance and inclusion...a wide range of audiences will be interested in this book, which represents a significant contribution to the current debate on the relationship between Islam and the West. -- Global Change, Peace Security Aaron Tyler has produced a major contribution to the emerging literature in both comparative political thought and the foundations of religious and cultural toleration.

His book successfully brings to light the respective intellectual strengths and weaknesses of the Western and Islamic source materials for toleration, without seeking to promote one position to the exclusion of the other. This work will surely be cited and debated by scholars for a long time to come. --Cary J.

Nederman, Professor of Political Science, Texas A M University