The Dangerous Love of the Gentiles: A Christian Vision for Living with Islam in Indonesia

Abstract

The year 2014 closed with a hostage drama in a Cafe in Sydney, and the year 2015 opened with Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris, followed by the shooting of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Tensions in Christian-Muslim relations are felt in many parts of the world. Even without violent incidents, mutual understanding and sharing a common life between the two faith communities is not always easy. In this thesis, I will first analyze current Christian-Muslim relations in Indonesia and then offer a Christian vision of what sharing a life together with Muslims might look like. Hospitality, friendship and love are the main elements in envisioning this shared common life. But love is the most “dangerous” element, especially from or for ones, who are supposed to be enemies.