The Qur'anic concept of ahl al-kitab ("People of the Book") has a theological significance for Muslims, showing a sympathetic perception of other religions, particularly Jews and Christians, who share the same monotheistic belief as Muslims. There are many references to abl al-kitab in the Qur'an which may be grouped into two categories: the sympathetic verses which give ahl al-kitab a status similar to that of Muslims and the ambivalent verses which condemn the ahl al-kitab. In this study, surat Al 'Imran (3): 64, 113, 114 and 115 are chosen as examples of sympathetic verses. Six major works of selected classical and modern exegesis, from different schools of thought, are used in the analysis of these verses. Classical exegetes do not suggest any development of the concept of ahl al-kitab, while the modern exegetes include all religious communities in addition to Jews, Christians and Muslims. / The Qur'an itself recognizes the existence of good people among the ahl al-kitab and invites people of diverse faiths to come to a "common word" (kalimatin sawa'in) to establish mutual understanding through critical dialogue. This would, in turn, enable all people to work together to build a new civilization and greater harmony. This thesis avails itself of the fundamental teachings of the Qur'an on ahl ak-kitab and of Muslims' exegesis, as well as secondary scholarship on this topic. The concept of ahl al-kitab is shown to have novel relevance for our religiously pluralist world both today and for the future.

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This thesis examines the Anglo-Jewish community in the three decades following its so-called emancipation as legally equal citizens. Beginning with Lionel de Rothschild's entry into Parliament in 1858 and concluding with the Anglo-Jewish Exhibition's encomium to Jewish life of 1887, this era witnessed the reconceptualisation of Anglo-Jewish identity as the minority completely entered British society after centuries of marginalisation. This thesis focuses upon three interlinked case-studies of different strands of Jewish leadership as they experienced their new identity and numerous practical issues regarding everyday interaction: the first Jewish MPs; the representative Board of Deputies of British Jews; and the community's religious infrastructure. Through analysis and comparison of these elite groups this work explores questions of inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogue, minority-majority relationships, acculturation, and subculture formation in late nineteenth-century Britain. It argues that Anglo-Jewry's emancipation was ambiguous; British acceptance was not neutral but carried reciprocal expectations. The community thus felt the dichotomy of Diasporic Jewish existence - being particularist in a universalist society - acutely in these years. Moving in tandem with British society forced many concessions from Jews' sectarian identity, the form and extent of which remained indeterminate as a result. The expected acculturation was forthcoming and the community fashioned itself a distinctive British variant of Jewish existence. However, this thesis contends that this was not always a forced or unpleasant experience. Many Jews willingly embraced aspects of British identity they appreciated. There were also numerous instances of the community being able to preserve its exceptionality. The British state and wider society showed a remarkable willingness to accommodate cases of Jewish particularity. This thesis demonstrates the tolerant nature of Britain's civil society (and indicates some of the boundaries to this), whilst also revealing the remarkable level of confluence between Anglo-Jewish and British ideals at this time. Fundamentally, it suggests, with some reservations, that Anglo-Jewry be viewed as an example of successful integration.

The primary focus of this thesis is the figure of Trypho in Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho, A Jew (mid-second century C.E.). The substance of the thesis is an analysis of Trypho's depiction and function within the text. Focusing exclusively on Trypho provides a new lens through which to view the Dialogue. This approach has revealed instances where Justin's apologetic breaks down and gives an unintended glimpse behind the text. Lifting Trypho out of the text reveals a consistent figure who does not appear to be based on any Jewish stereotype or Christian invention. He is neither Justin's puppet nor is he blindly obdurate. Instead he is depicted as a pre-rabbinic Diaspora Jew whose argumentation style is philosophical, even Socratic. The depiction reveals a voice with its own sensibility, style, and agenda. It is a voice which defies fiction. This process has also caused a reconsideration of the entire text of the Dialogue and its development. This thesis puts forward the hypothesis that within the text of the Dialogue there is a core-text comprised almost exclusively of dialogue material. I have named this hypothetical text the Trypho Text. This reconstructed Trypho Text forms a more cohesive and understandable document than our extant Dialogue and is less than half the size. This thesis provides evidence to support the idea that the Trypho Text comprised what appears to be the core of the original Dialogue (ca. 135 C.E.) with large amounts of LXX and Christian material inserted at a later date (ca.157 C.E.). In establishing an authentic Jewish figure within this second-century Christian document, this thesis hopes to enhance our understanding of Jewish/Christian relations during this formative period. The investigation of Trypho is an important and significant work for our understanding of early Christianity, Greco-Roman Judaism, and the relationship between them.

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Thesis (M.A.). / Written for the Dept. of Jewish Studies. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/24). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Sociology. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/28). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Abilene Christian University, 1981. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-108).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Sociology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-149). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR32032

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / On t.p.: master of Social Work. Bibliography. Also available via the internet.