This book presents the proceedings of the fourteenth annual Building Bridges seminar, a gathering of scholar-practioners of Islam and Christianity for study of selected texts pertaining to a chosen theme. Part I includes two brilliant essays that set the context for the book: "Human Action within Divine Creation: A Muslim Perspective" by Mohsen Kadivar of Duke University and "On the Possibility of Holy Living: A Christian Perspective" by Lucy Gardner of Oxford. The rest of the book includes paired essays--one from a Muslim perspective, one from a Christian perspective--that introduce scriptural material with commentary to aid readers in conducting dialogical study. Contributors include Richard Bauckham of St. Andrews, Sohaira Azhir Siddiqui of Georgetown, Brandon Gallagher of Exeter, Maria Massai Dakake of George Mason, Velli-Matti K rkk inen of Fuller Theological Seminary, and Feras Q. Hamza of the University of Wollongong in Dubai, among others. In her conclusion, coeditor Lucinda Marshall digests the illuminating small-group conversations that lie at the heart of the Building Bridges initiative.

A record of the 2015 Building Bridges Seminar for leading Christian and Muslim scholars, this collection of essays explores the nature of divine and human agency through themes of creation’s goal, humankind’s dignity and task, and notions of sovereignty. Part I sets the context for the book with “Human Action within Divine Creation: A Muslim Perspective” by Mohsen Kadivar of Duke University and “On the Possibility of Holy Living: A Christian Perspective” by Lucy Gardner of Oxford University. The rest of the book includes paired essays—one from a Muslim perspective, one from a Christian perspective—that introduce scriptural material with commentary to aid readers in conducting dialogical study. In her conclusion, coeditor Lucinda Mosher digests the illuminating small-group conversations that lie at the heart of the Building Bridges initiative, conversations that convey a vivid sense of the lively, penetrating but respectful dialogue for which the project is known. This unique volume will be a valuable resource to scholars, students, and professors of Christianity and Islam.

"[Author] examines recent art, showing that its insignificance is due to the collapse of cultural values. At the same time Christians have lowered their aesthetic standards and failed to interact with contemporary culture. Ours is certainly a time for a response from Christian artist with the highest of aestihtic sensitivity"--Back cover.

(Peeters 1992)

Atheism, this book argues, is unbelievable. The universe's wonders couldn't have come about by chance, nor could natural selection alone have produced evolution. Therefore since evolution resembles the creative process, especially in using trial-and-error, God's creative activity is responsible and human creators reveal much about him. However that process is goal directed, so evolution must be as well. But the goal a Picasso or Darwin pursues is vague. They don't know exactly where they're going and make mistakes. So therefore must God. Thus Abra rejects the perfect God assumed by many religions and Intelligent Design. Why bring back God? To restore meaning and purpose to existence and gain faith's many benefits. To better explain how the universe, scientific laws and life itself came about, and living things' attractive but useless properties. Other discussions clarify both creativity and the creative God. Is there one kind of creativity or many? A sex difference? Are creators neurotic'...

This book focuses on the idea of the imago Dei to engaging theologically with artificial intelligence (AI). It reflects on how enormous progress in the development of AI has raised some challenges to Christian theology. Questions explored include: is AI created in the imago Dei? If so, does AI challenge the uniqueness of the human being as the imago Dei? If not, could AI be incorporated into human communities as a human companion in the same way as a natural human person? Would AI eventually develop to have human-level consciousness and be capable of performing liturgies and ethical actions? Bringing to light the radical distinction between the imago Dei and the imago hominis, the book constructs a theo-ontological foundation for AI and draws on the Reformed theology of archetype–ectype as a metaphysical tool to deploy a holistic account of the imago Dei in theology–AI dialogues. The author argues that the imago Dei is the signifier of the beginning both of God–human stories and stories of human ethical performances towards others. From the perspective of the image of the imago Dei, it can be argued that AI can somehow participate into the narration of these religious and ethical stories. This book will be of particular interest to scholars of theology and those working in the field of religion and science/technology.

The church and the contemporary art world often find themselves in an uneasy relationship in which misunderstanding and mistrust abound. Drawn from the 2015 biennial CIVA conference, these reflections from theologians, pastors, and practicing artists imagine the possibility of a renewed and mutually fruitful relationship between contemporary art and the church.