Author: McNabb-Jerry-Elvin
Date: 2000
Institution: Regent-University (1058)
Subject:
History
Language: English
Abstract:In the pluralistic environment of the United States Navy, a new neighbor, Islam, has appeared within the community—a faith group that had traditionally been on the periphery of the military society as a silent unobtrusive member. In the past, the number of Muslims in the United States Navy were so insignificant that facilitation for religious rights were minimal. In today's military the number of Muslims continues to grow at a rate commensurate with that of the civilian population. Chapter One discusses this arrival of neighbors, who are not from a Judeo-Christian background, and has necessitated the addition of Imam Chaplains within the military setting. The question that rushed to the forefront was, "How do we accommodate this "new" faith group and open doors instead of building walls or starting wars?" In a setting that is governed by a Constitution that guarantees religious rights and does not allow proselytizing, "How do Muslims and the Christians stay true to their own faith that calls them to witness, and at the same time be an honest, true and sincerely loving neighbor?" This dissertation is an effort to answer that question with a very practical solution--a solution that calls for a returning to the early church method of carrying the Gospel to our neighbor and being true to Christ's command to evangelize the world. Mass evangelism has not worked with Islam as is apparent within the 10-40 window. Therefore, I contend that "Reconciliatory Servant Evangelism" must be the prime methodology for reaching the lost in the twenty-first century. This methodology is based on the concepts of repentance, reconciliation, and being a servant who is dedicated to peaceful co-existence (Matthew 22:38-40). A five-modular workshop (History, Beliefs, Culture, Islam in America, and Reconciliatory Servant Evangelism) was developed to provide military personnel with the tools they could use to understand Islam and become a good neighbor--a neighbor who does not make his friendship contingent upon the other ever accepting his witness. However, it does provide those individuals, who are of the Christian faith, an opportunity to be true to their mandate to share the Gospel of Christ in a non-offensive manner. The fifth module can be modified to be utilized in a secular (non-religious) setting by isolating the concepts of Servant Reconciliation and being a good neighbor. Chapter Two presents a survey of the major texts that were instrumental in developing the Islam workshop. Chapter Three provides the theological basis for the workshop, with Chapter Four furnishing an overall description of the project. Chapter Five is a definitive description of the workshop outcome and its strengths and weaknesses. It also presents creative ideas of expanding the use and audience of the Islam workshop. SO: VOLUME 61-02A OF DISSERTATION ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL. PAGE 642 NO: AAI9961482