Peace Be With You

Like most Americans, author David Carlson was harshly shaken by the tragedy of 9/11. In the years that followed, he decided to explore a variety of monastic communities across the country in search of wisdom and direction to help him sort out the issues of justice, conflict and tension that he continued to feel lingering between Christianity and Islam.

Unfortunately, he seems to have found neither wisdom nor helpful direction. Carlson reduces his expeditionary findings down to nothing more than the standard media lines: America is bad. All Americans (who are not monks/nuns) are shallow consumerists and all Muslims are righteously angry about America's sins. Christians who don't love, trust and actively explore the Islamic religion are fearful, hateful and wrong.

The monasteries and interviewees featured were chosen solely by their availability to be interviewed during the author's scheduled tour times; not, as one might have hoped, by some more relevant criteria such as direct experience with the subject at hand. The author's own faith and attitude towards Christianity smack badly of New Age and globalism, showing very little Biblical basis or scholarly diligence.

I was extremely disappointed in this book, and strongly recommend reading Brigitte Gabriel's Because They Hate if you'd like factual, experienced insight into Christian-Muslim relations.