Stories between Christianity and Islam: Saints, Memory, and Cultural Exchange in Late Antiquity and Beyond

Stories between Christianity and Islam offers a new perspective on Christian-Muslim relations by examining the shared world of late antique and medieval Near East through the lens of storytelling. By studying the transmission of hagiographic stories between these two religions, the book demonstrates how storytelling was used to build identity, memory, and authority across confessional boundaries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Stories between Christianity and Islam present a fresh and intricate perspective on Christian-Muslim relations, shifting the attention away from debates about superiority, conflict, and appropriation towards the vibrant realm of connectivity and creativity. Within this narrative, the late antique and medieval Near East is perceived as a tapestry of stories intertwined by Christians and Muslims. Public storytelling played a pivotal role in these late antique Christian and early Islamic communities, where tales of saints were employed to interpret the past, comment on the present, and envision the future.

In her book, Reyhan Durmaz employs these stories to illustrate and examine the mutually reinforcing relationship between Christianity and Islam during the Middle Ages. Through a comprehensive exploration of storytelling in Late Antiquity and the mechanisms of hagiographic transmission between Christianity and Islam, Durmaz develops a nuanced comprehension of saints' stories as a means of fostering identity, memory, and authority across confessional boundaries.

This book offers a valuable contribution to the study of Christian-Muslim relations by shedding light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which these two religions have interacted and influenced each other throughout history. By delving into the realm of storytelling, Durmaz provides a fresh perspective that challenges traditional narratives and encourages a deeper understanding of the shared heritage and cultural richness of the Middle East.

Weight: 524g
Dimension: 238 x 161 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520386464