Early in the 20th century, Abraham Kuyper toured the Mediterranean and came into direct contact with Islamic cultures. His book on the subject, On Islam, is a European statesman’s take on both the harm of colonialism and the significance of the Islamic faith and culture. Throughout the book, Kuyper’s doctrine of common grace shines as he displays a nuanced and respectful understanding of the Muslim world. He saw Islam not only as a culture and religion with much to offer the West but also as a threat to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book he expresses a balanced view of early 20th-century Islam that demands attention from the majority of the world today. This new volume also includes essays by contemporary scholars, explaining the relevance of this book for our times.
David G. Cahsin, professor of intercultural studies at Columbia International University, says that “Kuyper’s travelogue volume written at the turn of the 20th century is an invaluable time capsule for understanding Islam.”
Kuyper served as a member of Parliament in the Netherlands beginning in 1874 and was prime minister from 1901 to 1905. A prolific intellectual and theologian, he founded the Free University in Amsterdam and was instrumental in the development of Neo-Calvinism. At this intersection of church and state, Kuyper devoted much of his writing to developing a public theology.
For the first time, Abraham Kuyper’s key works in public theology will be published in English. Comprised of eight key works spread over 12 volumes, the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology series will be made available in both a high-quality hardback edition and as an e-book. General editors of the project are Jordan J. Ballor and Melvin Flikkema. Available titles include Our Program, Common Grace Volume 1, On the Church, Pro Rege Volumes 1 and 2 and now On Islam.
The Kuyper Translation Project is a partnership between the Abraham Kuyper Translation Society, Lexham Press and the Acton Institute. Learn more at abrahamkuyper.com or shop.acton.org and search for “Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology.”
