Christian Muslim interaction is a reality today in all corners of the globe, but while many celebrate the commonality of these traditions, significant differences remain. If these religions cannot be easily reconciled, can we perhaps view them through a single albeit refractive lens? This is the approach the author takes in this work: to undertake a study of religious pluralism as a theological and social reality, and to approach the two religions in tandem as part of a broader discussion on the nature of the good society. Rather than compare Christianity and Islam as two species of faith, religious pluralism offers a prism through which a society as a whole, secular and religious alike, can consider its core beliefs and values. Christianity and Islam are not merely identities that designate particular communities, but reference points that all can comprehend and discuss knowledgeably. This analysis of how Islam and Christianity understand theology, ethics, and politics, specifically democracy and human rights, offers a way for that discussion to move forward.

Introduction: Religious pluralism today -- Does the Qur'an belong in the Bible? -- How much good news can we take? -- The face of God : a social good? -- Jihad : is it Christian too? -- Islam : more or less democratic than Christianity? -- God's rights : a threat to human rights? -- Conclusion: Islam : not a separate species.