Halal Monk. A Christian on a Journey through Islam. (ePub)

Winner of the Belgian Prize of the Religious Book 2015. (Audience award)

To acquaint himself with the soul of Islam J.Y. Atlas had openhearted conversations with influential Muslim scholars and artists. From Jakarta to New York and from London to Lahore, this Christian theologian met with imams and Sufis, academics and feminists, punkers and poets. The result is a book full of novel insights that will help us to transcend today's cultural and religious impasses.

Attempts of interfaith dialogue often stay away from the more difficult issues and remain somewhat superficial. With his 'Halal Monk' journey, Atlas wanted to go further. He wanted to get to the root of our current tensions. This book collects his most fascinating dialogues at the intersection of culture, society and religion. In between those conversations, some extra light is shed on key concepts of the Islamic tradition and their relevance for today's debates.

Topics as diverse as quranic exegesis, islamic mysticism and islamic feminism are all treated in a nuanced manner. Difficult subjects like islamic fundamentalism and jihad, aren't circumvented but placed within their context and clarified. Aspects of the islamic faith like sharia and ijtihad are explained and juxtaposed with the Christian tradition.

'Halal Monk: A Christian on a Journey through Islam' is one of the most insightful and honest books on Muslim culture, spirituality and theology. A must read for anyone who wants to have a better grasp of the place of islam in the modern world.

* Endorsements and reviews *

"We need many more books like this one. The reader emerges from this study with a real and fresh grasp of a tradition that is in movement, in dialogue with itself and so in transition." - Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.

"The interviews and reflections in this book offer sensitive, clear and extremely interesting insights into Islam and Islamic thought. The opportunity to 'listen in' on the author's conversations is a distinct privilege." - Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International.

"The book could not have been written any better by a Muslim - but then it is important that it was written by an upright, self-critical Christian. I will make the book a must-read for my students, both religious and non-religious." - Shaykh Bashir Ahmad Dultz, founding president and shaykh of the German Muslim League.

"Profound understanding among Muslims and Christians is critical for civil health of the 21st century, and this book points in a promising direction." - Rev. William E. Swing, Founder of URI and Former Episcopal Bisshop of California.

"Jonas succeeds in his quest to find common ground." - John Marks, Founder & Senior Advisor, Search for Common Ground