Religion Press Release Services

Interfaith Dialogue Key to Better Future

Islamic Scholar Authors Book About Islam for Christians

For Immediate Release August 22, 2006

Cleveland, OH – The United States distributor of Canadian-publisher CopperHouse, based in Kelowna, British Columbia, has released an important new book during a time of increased anxiety about militant Islam in the wake of the thwarted bombing of London-based transatlantic flights and renewed conflict in the Middle East. The Pilgrim Press, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is the distributor of Oil & Water: Two Faiths: One God, by Muslim-scholar Amir Hussain, which is scheduled for official publication September 1.

Listen to any news broadcast today and the message is all too often a false one: Islam is a religion of violence and behind every Muslim there lurks a potential terrorist. Islam is a threat to the values of the Christian West. Christianity and Islam are like oil and water; they don’t mix.

Now a resident of California, Pakistani-born Canadian Muslim Amir Hussain confronts these popular perceptions head-on. In Oil & Water the author challenges readers to discover constructive and creative ways of relating with each other.

Says Marley Klaus, former 60 Minutes producer: “Amir Hussain is a lucid, gentle, but provocative new voice, one that needs to be heard. He offers fresh insight into the increasingly complex interplay of religion and society and is uniquely qualified to act as a bridge between the West and Islam. For anyone who wants or needs to understand more about Islam and its relationship with Christianity, I can think of no better place to begin than with Oil & Water.”

Amir Hussain explains: “As a Muslim, I am deeply concerned about violence committed by Muslims, especially when it is done in the name of Islam. However, as a Muslim, I also see the truth and beauty in my religion, and I choose to remain Muslim. As someone who loves to eat and cook, I know that oil and water can often be combined to produce delicious results. I see oil and water as necessary ingredients, not as mutually exclusive categories, which is why I have used them for my title.”

The author is associate professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. His area of specialty is the study of Islam, focusing on contemporary Muslim societies. He received the Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Since September 11, 2001 he has given interviews and provided insight to various newspapers, magazines, and television media, including The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, PBS, and the History Channel.

A copy of Oil & Water is being distributed to every registrant of the forthcoming Salt Lake City meeting of the Religion Newswriters Association beginning September 7.

The public may order the book from their local bookseller, Amazon.com, or directly from The Pilgrim Press: thepilgrimpress.com.

Oil & Water
Two Faiths: One God
September 2006
ISBN 1-896836-82-8
224 pp/softcover
$19.95

For author interviews and review copies contact: Aimee J. Jannsohn, publicist, The Pilgrim Press, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115-1100. Phone: (216) 736-3761. FAX: (216) 736-2207. Email: ajannsohn@thepilgrimpress.com.

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