The Impact of Islam on Christian Political Theology (622–1453) is a multidisciplinary research network based at the University of Oxford. It explores pre-modern Christian political theology that was occasioned or influenced by contact with Islam, as well as perceptions of Christian political theology in Islamic literature. The network will run until September 2026, with the aims of building research momentum towards a larger grant application to enhance research activity in this area, both in and beyond Oxford.
The network seeks participation from scholars and postgraduate students with expertise in areas including Eastern Christianity, Islamic Studies, and Political Theology, and across a range of styles of literature including apologetics and polemics, diplomatic exchanges, Biblical commentaries, and homilies.
Topics of interest to the network include, but are not limited to:
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What questions and criticisms did Muslims raise regarding Christian conceptions of law, just rule, and the use of force? How did these change or develop across time and space?
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How did criticisms of or borrowings from Islam affect Christian conceptions of law, just rule, or the use of force?
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In what ways did Christian conceptions of political loyalty, the legitimacy of political rulers, and the role of law in ecclesial life change or develop when under Islamic rule? How do these processes of change and development compare across confessional divides?
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What similarities and differences are found when studying Christian presentations of political theology across different genres of literature, such as apologetics, biblical commentaries, and homilies?
Opportunities to participate in the network include:
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Writing short research-related blogs for our network website.
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Attending or hosting reading groups for relevant primary literature.
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Presenting at research seminars and a conference in Oxford.
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Contributing to the grant-writing process to fund further activity in this area.
Register interest in joining the network as a contributor here.
Join the events mailing list by sending a blank email to:
iicptnetworksubscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk
