Us and Them: Muslim–Christian Relations and Cultural Harmony in Australia

Abe Ata
Australian Catholic University

Cross-cultural research provides exceptional insights into the hopes and fears of dealing with people different to ourselves. In Australia, such research suggests that Australian Muslims have surpassed Asians as one of the country’s most marginalised religious and ethnic groups. Muslims and people from the Middle East are thought to be unable to fit into Australia, with more than 50% of Australians preferring their relatives did not to marry into a Muslim family. Yet this statistic masks diverse interpretations of interfaith relations and cultural harmony present across Australia today. In 12 essays Us and Them offers truths about interfaith relations as they are believed and expressed by Muslim and non-Muslim Australians. The essays are interdisciplinary and varied in topic, and seek to challenge the images of Islam held by both xenophobic Westerners and extremist Muslims. Drawn from a variety of research projects over past years, including results from a national survey on attitudes towards Islam and Muslims among Australian secondary students, they also raise thematic questions, such as: Will any dialogue lead to a rapprochement between the Muslim and mainstream communities? What is Christian-Muslim diversity? Why does it matter? Can we really learn how to manage diversity in the workplace? Can the Shari’a law coexist with the Australian legal system on issues including polygamy, marital status and dress? This book is essential reading for all students — secondary through to tertiary and postgraduate — requiring an introduction to Christian Muslim relations and attitudes in Australia .

About the Author

Professor Abe W. Ata is well known for his work on comparative religions and ethnicity. He is a ninth-generation Christian Palestinian born in Bethlehem and has lived and worked in the Middle East, America and Australia, including a stint as a temporary delegate to the UN in 1970. He is currently at the Australian Catholic University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction

Section One: Cross-Religious and Cultural Attitudes
Chapter 1 Cross-Religious Misunderstanding or a Clash Between Civilisations in Australia
Chapter 2 Christian–Muslim Households Identity and Attitudes to Their ‘Australian’ Children
Chapter 3 Attitudes of School-Age Non-Muslim Australians Towards Muslims and Islam: A National Survey
Chapter 4 The Lebanese in Melbourne Ethnicity, Interethnic Activities and Attitudes to Australia

Section Two: Education
Chapter 5 The Role of Gender, Religion and Friendship in the Perception of the ‘Other’ — An Investigation of Secondary Students in Australia: A National Survey
Chapter 6 The Role of Australian Schools in Educating Students About Islam and Muslims: A National Survey (co-authored with Joel Windle)
Chapter 7 Social Distance From Muslims: A National Survey
Chapter 8 Attitudes of School-Age Muslim Australians Towards Australia — Gender and Religious Differences A National Survey

Section Three: Muslim–Christian Intermarriage
Chapter 9 Adjustment and Complications of Christian–Muslim Intermarriages in Australia
Chapter 10 Bereavement Anxieties and Health Among the Arab Muslim Community
Chapter 11 Observing Different Faiths, Learning About Ourselves: Practice With Intermarried Muslims and Christians (co-authored with Mark Furlong)
Chapter 12 Opting for an Eschatological Interpretation of Interfaith Marriages (co-authored with Glenn Morrison)

www.australianacademicpress.com.au

    RRP $29.95
    ISBN: 9781921513190
    AAP Item Number: 4- 921513190
    168 pages softcover
    First published 2009

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