Introduction to Monotheism: Comparative Study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
This academic textbook provides a comprehensive examination of the three major monotheistic religions, exploring their shared heritage and distinctive characteristics. Written by three specialist authors with extensive teaching experience in their respective fields, this resource serves students and scholars seeking to understand the foundations and contemporary expressions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Thematic Approach to Comparative Religion
The textbook employs a thematic structure that facilitates understanding of both commonalities and differences across the three traditions. Each chapter examines key concepts including scripture, creation, covenant and identity, ritual practices, ethics, community structures, redemption, salvation, and life after death. Additional coverage addresses contemporary issues of gender, sexuality, and marriage within each religious tradition.
Historical and Contemporary Dimensions
This introduction balances historical foundations with modern expressions of monotheistic faith. The authors demonstrate how geographic and cultural contexts shape religious practice, examining differences between Israeli Judaism, Latin American Christianity, and British Islam. This approach provides students with insight into how ancient traditions adapt to contemporary environments while maintaining core theological principles.
Comprehensive Learning Resources
The textbook includes over 30 images, a detailed map, and a timeline to support visual learning and chronological understanding. Each chapter concludes with afterthoughts and critical questions designed to encourage analytical thinking and classroom discussion. These pedagogical features make the text suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in religious studies, theology, and comparative religion.
Expert Authors
Amanullah De Sondy is Head of the Study of Religions Department and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at University College Cork, Ireland. He has taught Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow, UK, and the University of Miami, USA. He is the author of The Crisis of Islamic Masculinities (Bloomsbury, 2014) and has been contributing to BBC Radio Scotland's "Thought for the Day" for over ten years.
Michelle A. Gonzalez is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Scranton, USA. She is the author of Sor Juana: Beauty and Justice in the Americas (2003), Afro-Cuban Theology: Religion, Race, Culture and Identity (2006), Created in God's Image: An Introduction to Feminist Theological Anthropology (2007), Caribbean Religious History (2010) and Shopping: Christian Explorations of Daily Living (2010).
William S. Green is Professor of Religious Studies and the Fain Family Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Miami, USA. He edited The Journal of the American Academy of Religion, is Associate Editor of The Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion (1995), Co-Editor of The Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period (1996), and Co-Editor of The Encyclopedia of Judaism (2005).
