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Studying the Arabian Context

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Christianity in Oman

Part of the book series: Christianities of the World ((CHOTW))

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Abstract

This chapter reviews studies of the Arabian Gulf and religion, and establishes that there is little in print with regard to Oman specifically and even less on exploring religious dynamics between Christian and Muslim communities. Drawing on historical, theological and anthropological models, the chapter concludes that there is a need to understand the origins of Ibadi Islam in searching for clues as to what informs its interfaith relations.

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Notes

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  2. 2.

    According to the US State Department Reports on Religious Freedom in 2013, the percentage of Christians living in the following countries was Bahrain 9%, Kuwait 16.6%, Oman 4%, Qatar 17.2%, Saudi Arabia 8% and the United Arab Emirates 9%. A conservative estimate is that there are almost three million Christians living in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC). (www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm.wrapper).

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    Ibid., page 53.

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    Ibid., page 1.

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    Ibid., page 2.

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  43. 43.

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  44. 44.

    Hirji, Z. (2010). Diversity and Pluralism in Islam . Historical and Contemporary Discourse Amongst Muslims. London: I.B. Tauris Publishers. Page 12.

  45. 45.

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  49. 49.

    Herb, M. (1999). All in the Family: Absolutism, Revolution, and Democracy in the Middle Eastern Monarchies. New York: State University of New York Press.

  50. 50.

    Ibid., page 253.

  51. 51.

    Ibid., page 152.

  52. 52.

    Khuri, F.I. (1990). Imams and Emirs : State, Religion and Sects in Islam . London: Saqi Books.

  53. 53.

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  54. 54.

    Razik, S. (1871). History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman (Trans. Badger, G.P. 1986). London: Darf Publishers.

  55. 55.

    Mu’ammar, A.Y. (2007). Ibadism in History: Volume 1: The Emergence of the Ibadi School. Muscat: Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

  56. 56.

    Wilkinson, J.C. (1987). The Imamate Tradition of Oman . Cambridge: CUP. Wilkinson, J.C. (2010). Ibadism: Origins and Early Development in Oman. Oxford: OUP.

  57. 57.

    Gaiser, A.R. (2010). Muslims, Scholars, Soldiers. The Origin and Elaboration of the Ibadi Imamate Traditions. Oxford: OUP. Pages 10–11.

  58. 58.

    Skinner, R.F. (1992). Christians in Oman . London: The Tower Press. The author was Anglican Chaplain in Oman during the late 1980s. This book is his Master’s degree thesis.

  59. 59.

    Examples include Landen, R.G. (1967). Oman Since 1856: Disruptive Modernization in a Traditional Arab Society. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Innes, N.M. (1987). Minister in Oman. Cambridge: Oleander Press Ltd. Skeet, I. (1992). Oman: Politics and Development. London: Macmillan. Alston, R. & Laing, S. (2012). Unshook Till the End of Time. A History of Relations Between Britain & Oman 1650–1970. London: Gilgamesh Publishing. Mann, M. (1994). Trucial Oman Scouts: Story of a Bedouin Force. London: Michael Russell Publishing Ltd. Cawston, A. & Curtis, M. (2010). Arabian Days: Memoirs of Two Trucial Oman Scouts. London: Michael Curtis Publishers.

  60. 60.

    Ennami, A.K. (2008). Studies in Ibadhism. Muscat: Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

  61. 61.

    Custers, M.H. (2008). Al-Ibadiya. A Bibliography. Volume 1. Ibadis of the Mashriq. Muscat: Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

  62. 62.

    Beasant, J. (2013). Oman : The True Life Drama and Intrigue of an Arab State. Edinburgh & London: Mainstream Publishing. Page 241.

  63. 63.

    Kamrava, M. (2013). Qatar : Small State, Big Politics. London: Cornell University Press.

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Thompson, A.D. (2019). Studying the Arabian Context. In: Christianity in Oman. Christianities of the World. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30398-3_2

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