New Book: a contribution toward Christian-Muslim dialogue

From: Donna17190 (Original Message)
Sent: 5/22/2008 11:31 PM

Authors Charles Upton and his wife Jennifer Doane Uptonand (an Eastern Orthodox Christian and a Sufi) have just published a book called Shadow of the Rose: The Esoterism of the Romantic Tradition; and they would like to offer it as a contribution toward Christian-Muslim dialogue.

The tradition of Western Romance, though an intrinsic part of Christian culture, owed much to an Arabo-Persian tradition of spiritual romance, which was largely Sufi in nature. And both Islam and Christianity possessed traditions of “spiritual chivalry” – still alive, here and there, in Dar al-Islam – traditions which had much in common, as well as certain clear differences.

Our book deals with these subjects in depth, as well as with the metaphysics of Romance, of the distinction and relationship between Divine and human love. We hope that Shadow of the Rose may contribute to “the reconciliation of the ancestors”, and in so doing prepare the way for peace and understanding between the living.

Shadow of the Rose: The Esoterism of the Romantic Tradition: Sophia Perennis, 2008; 184pp. $17.50 [£9.95]. Available through www.barnesandnoble.com , www.amazon.com , and www.amazon.co.uk. RESELLERS: This book is distributed through Ingram, Bertrams and Gardners; query jameswetmore@mac.com for further information.