Here is the Taylor Seminary / Wahl Centre Crucial Conversations Dialogue that I moderated in April between Christian apologist Andy Bannister and Muslim Imam Sherif Ayoup. It’s a fascinating exchange with two very intelligent and articulate individuals:
Islam
93. Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? A conversation with Andy Bannister
In December 2015, Wheaton College Professor Larycia Hawkins expressed her support for Muslim Americans in a Facebook post. She wrote: “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.” The impact of Professor Hawkins’ […]
Christianity and Islam: A Bold Cup Conversation
Islam is the second largest religion on earth. And these days it is the religion most likely to occupy the headlines. From ISIS and Al-Qaeda to burqas and immigration bans, some worry about a clash of civilizations. But Islam is not simply a religion of political and cultural controversy. It is also increasingly the religion of […]
A busy weekend of dialogue on Islam and atheism
On Friday night I had the privilege of serving as the moderator in the second installment in the Taylor Seminary/Wahl Centre “Crucial Conversations” series. (The first installment was my dialogue with atheist Justin Schieber which you can watch here.) This time the dialogue featured Christian apologist Andy Bannister and local Muslim Imam Sherif Ayoup discussing the […]
Islam and Christianity in Dialogue
In two weeks (April 8th) Taylor Seminary in Edmonton will be hosting an evening of dialogue between Christian apologist Andy Bannister and Muslim Imam Sherif Ayoup. (And I’ll be moderating!) In an age of increased fear, misunderstanding, and polarization, dialogue is more important than ever, so I’m delighted to be participating in this event. The time for building […]
Muslims, Christians, and Worship of the Same God: A quick response to the Unbelievable debate
I just finished listening to the February 27th edition of “Unbelievable” which featured a dialogue and debate between Joseph Cumming and Nabeel Qureshi on the question “Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?” Cumming argued “yes” and “no” while Qureshi argued a more unequivocal “no”. The discussion started off on a promising note with Cumming helpfully clarifying the […]
A Modest Defense of Wheaton College’s inquiry into Larycia Hawkins
There is now a massive body of literature analyzing the Larycia Hawkins debacle from various angles. In this article I want to say just a brief and modest word of defense for Wheaton College. In particular, I want to focus on her most controversial statement from her December 10th post: “And as Pope Francis stated […]
Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? A Question Explored Through Sheep and Goats
It’s been about a week since Wheaton College political science professor Larycia Hawkins was launched into the spotlight after she was suspended by Wheaton College, in part because she declared: “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, […]
Jerry Falwell Jr: Jesus follower … or hate monger?
As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It turns out that the intolerant spirit of Jerry Falwell (d. 2007) lives on in his son, Jerry Jr., who also happens to be the President of Liberty University, the school his father founded. (University presidencies that pass from father to son? Is […]
The irrational fear of Islam, or why “radical Islam” is like the Ebola virus
With the most recent terroristic act in San Bernardino at the hand of Muslim Syed Farook and his wife, one can anticipate the fear and paranoia about “radical Islam” will continue to grow. To be sure, like any other radicalized ideology, radical Islam is a reality against which one must be vigilant. However, I worry that […]
14. Is Allah the god of the Bible?
In this episode of the 59 Second Apologist we address the question of whether Allah is the god of the Bible. I begin by pointing out that this question is ambiguous. Next, I briefly summarize the significance of two possible interpretations: linguistic reference and salvation.
59. A Response to Bill Maher on Religion and Free Speech
In this podcast I offer a response to Bill Maher’s recent incendiary comments against Islam. While Maher attempts to position himself as a defender of the true spirit of liberalism and free speech, I argue that his understanding of free speech is egregiously truncated and produces rhetoric which foments misunderstanding, demonization, and the eroding of […]
How to burn a Qur’an (and get CNN to report it)
It is a tiny church of fifty members in Gainesville Florida, but the D___ W____ O_______ C_____ found a way to put itself on the map: threaten to burn copies of the Qur’an on September 11th in protest of the “evil of Islam”. But this story isn’t about the evil of this wackadoodle group, and […]
