Constructive interreligious dialogue is only a recent phenomenon. Until the nineteenth century, most dialogue among believers was carried on as a debate aimed either to disprove the claims of the other, or to convert the other to one's own tradition. At the end of the nineteenth century, Protestant Christian missionaries of different denominations had created such a cacophony amongst themselves in the mission fields that they decided that it would be best if they could begin to overcome their own differences instead of confusing and even scandalizing the people whom they were trying to convert. By the middle of the twentieth century, the horrors of the Holocaust compelled Christians, especially mainline Protestants and Catholics, to enter into a serious dialogue with Jews, one of the consequences of which was the removal of claims by Christians to have replaced Judaism, and revising text books that communicated that message to Christian believers.
Now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, many branches of Christianity, not least the Catholic Church, are engaged in a world-wide constructive dialogue with Muslims, made all the more necessary by the terrorist attacks of September 11. In these new conversations, Muslim religious leaders took an important initiative when they sent their document, ''A Common Word Between Us, '' to all Christians in the West. It is an extraordinary document, for it makes a theological argument (various Christians in the West, including officials at the Vatican, have claimed that a ''theological conversation'' with Muslims is not possible) based on texts drawn from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur'an, that Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers share the God-given obligation to love God and each other in peace and justice.
The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies brought together an international group of sixteen Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim scholars to carry on an important theological exploration of the theme of ''learned ignorance.''

A new generation of Asian entrepreneurs is bringing their creativity, innovation, and digital expertise to market, assisting the region in becoming a disruptive force on the global stage. Live commerce, which combines fast purchases with entertainment, is revolutionizing China's retail industry, and new applications are making users' lives easier and more intertwined. A relatively young and increasingly well-educated population, driven by Millennials and Gen Zs, is driving such high levels of internet and mobile usage. In the following decade, these "digital natives" (born between 1997 to 2012) will account for one-third of Asia's consumption. Despite its relevance, there is a scarcity of research on digital natives and transformation in Asia or reflections of the same in a global context. The Handbook of Research on Digital Natives as a Disruptive Force in Asian Businesses and Societies fosters multidisciplinary collaboration in order to uncover fresh theoretical and empirical views on digital natives, digital technology, and digital revolutions in Asian enterprises and society. Covering key topics such as the digital divide, internet marketing, and social commerce, this major reference work is ideal for government officials, business owners, managers, policymakers, scholars, researchers, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister, Zeena, into the war over the Holy Land, but now all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive. When Zeena refuses to give up the fight while Jerusalem remains in danger, Rahma has no choice but to take on one final mission. On their journey, the sisters come across a motley collection of fellow travellers. The teens all find solace, purpose, and camaraderie—as well as a healthy bit of mischief—in each other's company. But their travels soon bring them into the orbit of Queen Isabella herself, whose plans to resize power would only guarantee further war in the Holy Land for years to come. And so it falls to the merry band of misfits to use every scrap of cunning and wit (and a bit of thievery) to foil the usurper queen.

Recent arguments surrounding the meaning and message of the Qur'an often focus on whether or not it supports or exhorts violence. Such arguments, though, tend to ignore the fact that the scriptures found there speak to various aspects of life and living. The Qur'anic Narrative attempts to show that the Qur'an has an inspiring message that aims to enlighten the path of those who embrace it and guides them through the journey of life. Exploring various themes related to everyday experiences, Safi reveals the meaning of the Qur'an with regard to issues of spirit, faith, charity, patience, fasting, salvation, pride, charity, moral discipline, and other relevant topics.

In an attempt to recapture the Islamic spirit promoted in the Qur'an, this book offers an approach that speaks to areas of life many people are concerned about. It pastes together a narrative that is more consistent and more representative of the overall Qur'anic message, which, the author contends, is ultimately one of peace and hope. Safi places the Qur'an in context, too, by examining its meaning to early recipients of the scriptures and its place in that particular social and historical context. He continues by updating that meaning for modern readers and adherents, relating the intended meaning to an evolving human audience and to contemporary experiences. The author contends that extremist readings are misinterpretations and that those who may view the Qur'an as a holy text that encourages, even demands, violence are incorrect. Ultimately, readers will come away from this work with a broader appreciation of the Qur'an and its intended meaning and message.

- An original work of insights into reality. - Spiritually laced with the sacred and the profane. - Provides reflection of yourself, which you may not otherwise readily see. - Well-grounded thoughts and experiences eloquently constructed. - A dialogue with your inner self and beyond.

Comprehensive learning resource providing a framework for successful application of advanced transportation technologies in urban areas Smart Mobility: Using Technology to Improve Transportation in Smart Cities addresses the nature and characteristics of smart cities and provides a focus on smart mobility within urban areas and the opportunities and challenges associated with the application of advanced transportation technologies. The three highly qualified authors include an emphasis on decarbonization possibilities and the potential for smart mobility to reduce emissions and fuel consumption while optimizing modal use, along with risk identification and management using a structured approach. A focus is also placed on the need for end-to-end travel support from original origin to ultimate destination, reflecting consumer needs for comprehensive decision support and travel support services. Overall, Smart Mobility: Using Technology to Improve Transportation in Smart Cities provides a framework, planning, and KPIs for smart mobility success and explains how effective performance management can be enabled. Additional topics covered in the modern and thought-provoking work include: Policies and strategies associated with smart mobility, including a description of the organizational arrangements required to support smart mobility technologies The definition of appropriate institutional, funding, and commercial arrangements to assist interested practitioners to solve what is often their biggest challenge Smart mobility operational management, explaining the likely impact of smart mobility on transportation operations How to attain balance between transportation objectives and the avoidance of undesirable side effects such as congestion For public and private sector professionals in the smart mobility community, Smart Mobility: Using Technology to Improve Transportation in Smart Cities is an essential and easy-to-understand learning resource that will help readers comprehend the state-of-the-art progress in the field and be prepared for future advancements in this important and rapidly-developing industry.

The Cambridge Companion to American Islam offers a scholarly overview of the state of research on American Muslims and American Islam. The book presents the reader with a comprehensive discussion of the debates, challenges and opportunities that American Muslims have faced through centuries of American history. This volume also covers the creative ways in which American Muslims have responded to the myriad serious challenges that they have faced and continue to face in constructing a religious praxis and complex identities that are grounded in both a universal tradition and the particularities of their local contexts. The book introduces the reader to some of the many facets of the lives of American Muslims that can only be understood in their interactions with Islam's entanglement in the American experiment.

The development, promotion, and status of African art and African artists in twentieth-century Africa is linked to several stakeholders and agencies, including Western Christian missions. Fadhili Mshana, in African Artists under Mission Patronage, surveys how mission patronage of African artists influenced twentieth-century African art, presenting specific case studies of Oye-Ekiti Workshop (Nigeria), Cyrene and Serima missions (Zimbabwe), Grace Dieu and Rorke’s Drift missions (Republic of South Africa), Kungoni Center of Culture and Art (Malawi), Nyumba ya Sanaa/NYS or “House of Art,” Bujora Mission, the Hernnhut Brethren of Urambo Mission, the Benedictine Abbey Ndanda, and Maneromango Lutheran Mission (Tanzania). Mshana considers the philosophies and policies of these missions, their approaches in training artists, the processes of knowledge exchange surrounding art-making and attitudes toward art, the role of visual traditions, the use of art objects, the status of artists, and the socio-economic climate of the cultures hosting the missions. He concludes that the artists and the missions that supported them made significant contributions to the history of contemporary African art.

Healthy Teas is a delightful introduction to the history and healing properties of green tea, the health benefits of black teas, and the life-enhancing attributes of herbal teas and fruit infusions and decoctions. In this tea cookbook, author Tammy Safi has specially created the recipes to maximize the health benefits of all tea ingredients, whether they are fruits, exotic floral blends, or any of the many types of tea leaves. Inside, you'll find more than 80 easy recipes--from immune-boosting teas to springtime tonics and teas to detox and cleanse. Discover morning pick-me-ups as well as relaxing teas for stress relief and calming sleep. Tea recipes include: Bilberry and Green Tea Chamomile and Lemongrass Tea Ginger and Peppermint Tea Licorice and Echinacea Tea Ribwort and Eyebright Tea Yarrow and Cinnamon Tea This tea book contains handy definitions of different varieties of tea plus all the necessary background information on ingredients will help you make choices about which teas to drink and how to prepare them. Healthy Teas is sure to become an essential reference for the health conscious and tea lovers alike.

The book examines the growing tension between social movements that embrace egalitarian and inclusivist views of national and global politics, most notably classical liberalism, and those that advance social hierarchy and national exclusivism, such as neoliberalism, neoconservatism, and national populism. In exploring issues relating to tensions and conflicts around globalization, the book identifies historical patterns of convergence and divergence rooted in the monotheistic traditions, beginning with the ancient Israelites that dominated the Near East during the Axial age, through Islamic civilization, and finally by considering the idealism-realism tensions in modern times. One thing remained constant throughout the various historical stages that preceded our current moment of global convergence: a recurring tension between transcendental idealism and various forms of realism. Transcendental idealism, which prioritize egalitarian and universal values, pushed periodically against the forces of realism that privilege established law and power structure. Equipped with the idealism-realism framework, the book examines the consequences of European realism that justified the imperialistic venture into Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America in the name of liberation and liberalization. The ill-conceived strategy has, ironically, engendered the very dysfunctional societies that produce the waves of immigrants in constant motion from the South to the North, simultaneously as it fostered the social hierarchy that transfer external tensions into identity politics within the countries of the North. The book focuses particularly on the role played historically by Islamic rationalism in translating the monotheistic egalitarian outlook into the institutions of religious pluralism, legislative and legal autonomy, and scientific enterprise at the foundation of modern society. It concludes by shedding light on the significance of the Muslim presence in Western cultures as humanity draws slowly but consistently towards what we may come to recognize as the Global Age. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003203360, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

This book categorizes the wide area of data-driven model-free controllers, reveals the exact benefits of such controllers, gives the in-depth theory and mathematical proofs behind them, and finally discusses their applications. Each chapter includes a section for presenting the theory and mathematical definitions of one of the above mentioned algorithms. The second section of each chapter is dedicated to the examples and applications of the corresponding control algorithms in practical engineering problems. This book proposes to avoid complex mathematical equations, being generic as it includes several types of data-driven model-free controllers, such as Iterative Feedback Tuning controllers, Model-Free Controllers (intelligent PID controllers), Model-Free Adaptive Controllers, model-free sliding mode controllers, hybrid model-free and model-free adaptive-Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning controllers, hybrid model-free and model-free adaptive fuzzy controllers and cooperative model-free controllers. The book includes the topic of optimal model-free controllers, as well. The optimal tuning of model-free controllers is treated in the chapters that deal with Iterative Feedback Tuning and Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning. Moreover, the extension of some model-free control algorithms to the consensus and formation-tracking problem of multi-agent dynamic systems is provided. This book can be considered as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as a professional reference for industrial and academic researchers, attracting the readers from both industry and academia.

This book examines the central aspects of modernity and the underlying factors at work in the process of modernization. It begins by examining Western modernity and then uses the insight gained from this examination to study the implications of Western modernity for non-Western societies. The author also attempts to demonstrate the inadequacy of the functional approach for understanding the process of modernization in non-Western regions.

This book presents the proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Materials and Sustainable Development ISMSD2019 (CIMDD2019), will include a 3-day Conference (12 - 14 November). Organized by the Research Unit: Materials, Processes and Environment and M'hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes (Algeria) in partnership with University of Reims - Champagne-Ardenne (France), this symposium follows the success of CIMDD 2013-2015-2017 and continues the traditions of the highly successful series of International Conferences on the materials, processes and Environment. The Symposium will provide a unique topical forum to share the latest results of the materials and sustainable development research in Algeria and worldwide.

Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight-A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win. Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana. There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since. Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strong willed young women falling for each other despite themselves.

The third International Symposium on Materials and Sustainable Development ISMSD2017 (CIMDD2017) will include a 2-day Conferences (07 & 08 November). Organized by the Research Unit: Materials, Processes and Environment and University M'hamed Bougara of Boumerdes, this symposium follows the success of CIMDD 2013-2015 and continues the traditions of the highly successful series of International Conferences on the materials, processes and Environment. The Symposium will provide a unique topical forum to share the latest results of the materials and sustainable development research in Algeria and worldwide.

An interfaith collection of prayers, blessings, and poems offering comfort and hope to the healthcare workers that give so much. The COVID-19 pandemic has left few of us unaffected, but our healthcare workers have borne the brunt of its impact. Chaplains and clergy across all lines of faith have ministered to those caregivers through prayers and blessings. This curated collection of interfaith prayers, blessings, and poems was written by those who minister to healthcare workers. It's a beautiful resource that those who work on our medical front lines can carry with them or keep at their workstations for daily inspiration. It can also be used by chaplains and pastors who offer support to medical personnel. Many of the prayers were written to meet specific needs during the pandemic, yet they speak to the shared grief and hope we all have carried as we continue to navigate this extraordinary time. Contributors include The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Rev. Barbara Crafton, Catherine Meeks, Jennifer Grant, Rev. Ineda Pearl Adesanya, and Rev. Gayle Fisher-Stewart.

Your Blue and the Quiet Lament records the textures of grief after a cousin's murder at the hands of the Syrian state reaches the poet through a long-distance phone call. The poems trace a narrative of arrest, imprisonment, and torture in Syria and interweave the difficulties a family experiences in the diaspora. Shifting between the death of poet Federico García Lorca and that of her cousin, Lubna's poetry contends with personal loss by distancing the meaning of one death through the proxy of another. Yet the distortion of distance is already there—in the language, in the geographic space, in time, in the grief itself—tinged with blue. As she recalls childhood memories and imagines conversations with her dead cousin, Lubna's poetry whispers, calls out, sings, laments, pens letters, photographs, sketches, paints, and prays in an attempt to exhaust grief.

Constructive interreligious dialogue is only a recent phenomenon. Until the nineteenth century, most dialogue among believers was carried on as a debate aimed either to disprove the claims of the other, or to convert the other to one's own tradition. At the end of the nineteenth century, Protestant Christian missionaries of different denominations had created such a cacophony amongst themselves in the mission fields that they decided that it would be best if they could begin to overcome their own differences instead of confusing and even scandalizing the people whom they were trying to convert. By the middle of the twentieth century, the horrors of the Holocaust compelled Christians, especially mainline Protestants and Catholics, to enter into a serious dialogue with Jews, one of the consequences of which was the removal of claims by Christians to have replaced Judaism, and revising text books that communicated that message to Christian believers.
Now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, many branches of Christianity, not least the Catholic Church, are engaged in a world-wide constructive dialogue with Muslims, made all the more necessary by the terrorist attacks of September 11. In these new conversations, Muslim religious leaders took an important initiative when they sent their document, ''A Common Word Between Us, '' to all Christians in the West. It is an extraordinary document, for it makes a theological argument (various Christians in the West, including officials at the Vatican, have claimed that a ''theological conversation'' with Muslims is not possible) based on texts drawn from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur'an, that Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers share the God-given obligation to love God and each other in peace and justice.
The Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies brought together an international group of sixteen Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim scholars to carry on an important theological exploration of the theme of ''learned ignorance.''

Who was Muhammad? What do we know historically, and does that differ from how he is seen by his followers and venerated today? Memories of Muhammad presents Muhammad as a lens through which to view both the genesis of Islamic religion and the grand sweep of Islamic history--right up to the hot button issues of the day, such as the spread of Islam, holy wars, the status of women, the significance of Jerusalem, and current tensions with Jews, Hindus and Christians. It also provides a rare glimpse into how Muslims spiritually connect to God through their Prophet, in the mosque, in the home, and even in cyberspace.

This definitive biography of the founder of Islam by a leading Muslim-American scholar, Omid Safi, will reveal invaluable new insights, finally providing a fully three-dimensional portrait of Muhammad and the one billion people who follow him today.

* Instant Wall Street Journal bestseller * Translated into 18 languages * #1 Most Recommended Book of the year (Bloomberg annual survey of CEOs and entrepreneurs) * An Bloomberg, Financial Times, Forbes, Inc., Newsweek, Strategy + Business, Tech Crunch, Washington Post Best Business Book of the year * Recommended by Bill Gates, Daniel Kahneman, Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Sid Mukherjee, Tim Ferriss Why do good teams kill great ideas? Loonshots reveals a surprising new way of thinking about the mysteries of group behavior that challenges everything we thought we knew about nurturing radical breakthroughs. Safi Bahcall, a physicist and entrepreneur, shows why teams, companies, or any group with a mission will suddenly change from embracing new ideas to rejecting them, just as flowing water will suddenly change into brittle ice. Mountains of print have been written about culture. Loonshots identifies the small shifts in structure that control this transition, the same way that temperature controls the change from water to ice. Using examples that range from the spread of fires in forests to the hunt for terrorists online, and stories of thieves and geniuses and kings, Bahcall shows how a new kind of science can help us become the initiators, rather than the victims, of innovative surprise. Over the past decade, researchers have been applying the tools and techniques of this new science--the science of phase transitions--to understand how birds flock, fish swim, brains work, people vote, diseases erupt, and ecosystems collapse. Loonshots is the first to apply this science to the spread of breakthrough ideas. Bahcall distills these insights into practical lessons creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries can use to change our world. Along the way, readers will learn how chickens saved millions of lives, what James Bond and Lipitor have in common, what the movie The Imitation Game got wrong about World War II, and what really killed Pan Am, Polaroid, and the Qing Dynasty. "If The Da Vinci Code and Freakonomics had a child together, it would be called Loonshots." --Senator Bob Kerrey

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Intelligent Computing Systems, ISICS 2022, held in Santiago, Chile, in March 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference was held online. The 9 full papers along with 2 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 30 submissions. They deal with the field of intelligent computing systems focusing on artificial intelligence, computer vision and image processing.