Diversity of Islam Mission and Significance of Religious Studies: Missions of Understanding, Reconciliation and Dialogue
This paper is intended to explore three models of Islam mission from a perspective of religious studies. Instead of traditional overemphasis on sudden conversion, these new models seek for social transformation. among Muslims. Due to the prejudice and misconception of Islam, we often fail to understand Muslims from their points of view. The comparative studies of the Bible and Qur'an and the field research and interview of Mosque and Muslim communities help us to understand Islam sympathetically. Traditional studies of Christian-Muslim relations pay more attention to similarities between Islam and Christianity than differences. In order to enhance openness to Islam, partners in dialogue should be honest to their own faiths. Sharing faith with partners will lead to the mission of dialogue. This dialogue is not a tool for evangelism but the mission itself. World Council of Churches and Roman Catholics have particular guidelines for Islam mission. In conclusion, mission studies includes religious studies. Various methods of religious studies will strengthen Islam mission and its strategies in different areas.