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1 “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Lk. 6:31). Seek to understand others as you would have them seek to understand you. Teach about others as you would have them teach about you. This might be seen as the underlying principle of the articles in this collection. This book represents a half-century: the half-century that saw the biggest change in Christian attitudes to Islam in history, the half-century between the youngest and the oldest of our contributors, and the half-century of their lives that many of these writers have committed as Christian students of Islam and as servants in the cause of Christian–Muslim relations. This new epoch was ushered in by the Second Vatican Council (also known as Vatican II), developments under the auspices of the World Council of Churches and the shifts that took place in Christian ideas of mission. It coincided with the decades after the European powers’ withdrawal from colonialism and the significant increase in settled Muslim communities across Europe and North America. The majority of those who have contributed to this book are now seventy or older, hence the reason why we felt the need to get their experiences on record before Introduction Christian W. Troll and C. T. R. Hewer 2 Christian W. Troll and C. T. R. Hewer they die. When a new generation sees the need, they will have a mine of information, approaches, and reflections upon which to draw. Our contributors come from across the range of Western Christianity; they represent fifteen nationalities and constitute a significant part of an imaginary Who’s Who of Christian study and engagement with Islam and Muslims during this period. They write from various perspectives and with diverse experiences, which all add to the rich tapestry of the subject. No single volume could ever do justice to everyone who is worthy of inclusion; their number and names are known best to God, who rewards all as he knows best. We wish to place on record our thanks to Mesdames Penelope Johnstone, Angela Verdier, Anna-Regula Sharp, and Dr. Damian Howard for their assistance in translating and revising the six articles that were originally written in French. ...

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