Contextual Engagement with Islam

22 - 25 April 2025
INTENSIVE 
online optional

Suitable for those wanting to deepen their understanding and engagement with the Islamic world, this course explores the diversity of contextual issues related to Christian engagement with Islam from the early years of Islam until the present.  It observes theological and missional concerns by highlighting Christian responses to Islam from John of Damascus and Metropolitan Timothy of the Early Middle Ages to current interaction. It also reflects on perspectives of Islamic reformers towards the West and the Christian faith primarily during the periods of colonialism and decolonisation. Attention is also given to various expressions of Islam; the status of women in Islam; contextualisation in the intercultural world; and geo-political issues and contemporary trends related to current global engagement.

Please note you are expected to have a good level of English Language (equivalent to 7.0 IELTS) to participate in the course.

What You’ll Gain?

·         A systematic and critical understanding of diverse perspectives and practices within Islam over centuries.

·         Informed reflection of different Christian approaches to engaging Muslims from the Early Middle Ages until today.

·         Thoughtful evaluation of one’s own contextual practice in a complex and unpredictable intercultural missional landscape. 

·         Practical tools for engaging Islam in view of global contextual issues and contemporary trends and issues in discipleship that will inform current practice.

Why Do This Course?

·         Grow in sensitivity to a range of perspectives in engaging Islam with contextual, intercultural, and practical awareness.

·         Equip yourself with sensitivity and knowledge of diverse perspectives and practices within Islam

·         Develop practical tools for Christian engagement in view of contextual complexities, history and contemporary issues

·         Connect with a community of passionate and reflective practitioners with varied experiences in engaging Muslims

Course Tutor

Dr. L Mak’s (PhD) academic work relates to Western interaction with the Muslim world. He has extensive cross-cultural experience and has advised European and East Asian organisations and professionals in cross-cultural service for many years.

Please note you are expected to have a good level of English Language (equivalent to 7.0 IELTS) to participate in the course.

Library Resources

All Nations has one of the finest mission libraries in the country with over 50,000 volumes, over 12,000 eBooks and a wide range of journals and audio visual material.

For remote access students, readings are supplied by college online and any additional reading you would like from our library catalogue may be accessed by emailing our librarian.

What Students Say

“A good range of subjects, with good content and carefully chosen background reading. Very well taught, balancing relevant anecdotes, questions, range and depth of knowledge, and teaching methods. Well judged pace. Overall, an impressive course both in content and delivery”

“The discussion with people from all…different Muslim contexts, along with the …broad range of perspectives of Islam …provide lots of nuance and a roadmap for beginning to discern how we might individually engage with our own fields”.

“This course has given me a vocabulary for how to…ask questions about our context, and an understanding of the backdrop of different discussions, so that I can tease out my stereotypes and unconscious biases and misunderstandings from my engagement with my Muslim neighbours”.

“A well-structured approach to understanding lots of aspects of Islam, presented with variety and experience, and not being afraid of raising difficult issues or questions. I have gained a huge amount in knowledge and understanding to guide my further growth in these things into the future”.