This blog is a bit different from usual. It provides a broader context for my writings on Islam.
There are two aspects to my speaking and writing on Islam. Some of this is for secular or multi-faith audiences: in such forums I do not assume the audience adheres to or even sympathizes with a Christian worldview. By and large this markdurie.com blog adopts this approach: virtually all my articles on Islam intended a more general audience end up on this blog, where they go out to around 650 people.
Although not assuming a Christian audience, my concerns here are almost always theological, as I seek to make Islamic ideology understandable, and its significance in shaping the behaviour of at least some people, not all of them Muslims. (My book The Third Choice takes this approach.) This perspective is important for understanding issues of human rights, war and peace, and human behaviour in general. Theological illiteracy is one of the crucial disabilities of modern western people in engaging with the world of Islam.
I am an academic by training and background, but a pastor by profession, and I also teach for specifically Christian audiences. (My other two books Liberty to the Captives and Which God? fit into this category.) Some of this teaching focuses on persecution of Christians. Other teaching has been concerned with evangelism: for example how to understand Islam in a way that puts presenting the Christian message in context. Some of this teaching has also been concerned with how to help people of Christian faith who are leaving Islam or who suffer fear of Islam or Muslims.
I have recently reorganized the videos at http://www.markdurie.com/videos-and-audios. At that site is a set of three lectures delivered at Calvin College which many have found useful in explaining Islam.
On the same web page there are also videos of two lectures presented at Moody Church in Chicago, which speak about persecution of Christians. One of these teaches on 'dhimmitude' and provides prayers for Christians in response to dhimmitude. Many people of Christian faith have found this an impacting and liberating message (which can also be found in more detail in the book Liberty to the Captives).
There are also links to other audios and videos, including talks at think tanks and for public forums including radio.
I also write on other topics besides Islam, including more general ethical issues, such as abortion, slavery and marriage. These writings tend to show up on my 'vicar's blog'.
I often preach at the church where I serve, and my sermons are regularly loaded on the church website at smac.org.au. Some are better than others.
Mark Durie is a theologian, human rights activist, Anglican pastor, a Shillman-Ginsburg Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and Adjunct Research Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at Melbourne School of Theology.
There are two aspects to my speaking and writing on Islam. Some of this is for secular or multi-faith audiences: in such forums I do not assume the audience adheres to or even sympathizes with a Christian worldview. By and large this markdurie.com blog adopts this approach: virtually all my articles on Islam intended a more general audience end up on this blog, where they go out to around 650 people.
Although not assuming a Christian audience, my concerns here are almost always theological, as I seek to make Islamic ideology understandable, and its significance in shaping the behaviour of at least some people, not all of them Muslims. (My book The Third Choice takes this approach.) This perspective is important for understanding issues of human rights, war and peace, and human behaviour in general. Theological illiteracy is one of the crucial disabilities of modern western people in engaging with the world of Islam.
I am an academic by training and background, but a pastor by profession, and I also teach for specifically Christian audiences. (My other two books Liberty to the Captives and Which God? fit into this category.) Some of this teaching focuses on persecution of Christians. Other teaching has been concerned with evangelism: for example how to understand Islam in a way that puts presenting the Christian message in context. Some of this teaching has also been concerned with how to help people of Christian faith who are leaving Islam or who suffer fear of Islam or Muslims.
I have recently reorganized the videos at http://www.markdurie.com/videos-and-audios. At that site is a set of three lectures delivered at Calvin College which many have found useful in explaining Islam.
On the same web page there are also videos of two lectures presented at Moody Church in Chicago, which speak about persecution of Christians. One of these teaches on 'dhimmitude' and provides prayers for Christians in response to dhimmitude. Many people of Christian faith have found this an impacting and liberating message (which can also be found in more detail in the book Liberty to the Captives).
There are also links to other audios and videos, including talks at think tanks and for public forums including radio.
I also write on other topics besides Islam, including more general ethical issues, such as abortion, slavery and marriage. These writings tend to show up on my 'vicar's blog'.
I often preach at the church where I serve, and my sermons are regularly loaded on the church website at smac.org.au. Some are better than others.
Mark Durie is a theologian, human rights activist, Anglican pastor, a Shillman-Ginsburg Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and Adjunct Research Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at Melbourne School of Theology.