Christianity Encounters Islam: Iran and Beyond (original) (raw)

1983, Missiology: An International Review

The Muslim seminary attached to the University of Teheran was a beehive of religious study and prayer. I happened to be the only American and non-Iranian professor on the faculty. Also, since I was the only Christian, I was big game for Muslim proselytism. But beneath the teaching and learning interchange between the young Ayatollahs and me, there was respect and appreciation for who we were and for friendship. T h e competitive spirit was constant. Constantly the questions came to me, "Do you Christians obey God more than we Muslims do? Do you give more than we give? Do you fast more than we do? Do you pray more than we pray? Do you work forjustice and righteousness more than w e do?" Today, Christianity and Islam are competitors in the global marketplace. T h e y compete f o r territories, buildings, memberships, monies, prestige, and often for political and economic power. Frequently, these two competitors have portrayed for the world's consumption the affluence of the religious elite, the mean streak of its leaders, a n d the outlandishness of its empires and values. Too often we are reminded of the early military expansion of Islam, of the bloody and ruthless clashes between Christians and Muslims during the medieval ages, and of the witch hunts, inquisitions, and hostilities between the two in Spain, Lebanon, the Philippines, George Braswell, Jr., currently Professor of Missions and World Religions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, served as a missionary in Iran from 1967-1974. During this time he was on the faculty of the University of Teheran (1 968-73) and also taught at Damavand College (1 973-74).