Visible Islam in Modern Turkey looks with a new eye at the ways Muslims practice their religion in today's setting. Adil ?demir and Kenneth Frank, one a Muslim and one a Christian, have first in mind the visitor who wants to make sense of the religious life of the Muslims of Turkey. They use few technical terms and assume the reader is new to Islam.

A unique fruit of Muslim-Christian collaboration, this book explains Islamic practices such as fasting, the animal offering, the confession of faith, the ritual of prayer, and so on, in easily understood, contemporary language. The authors take a novel and comprehensive look at Islamic practices, yet their approach is responsible and sensitive. They do not limit themselves to the standard sacraments or their classical explanations but also report on local, innovative activities that are widespread, such as visits to the tombs of saints, circumcision, the use of pious phrases, and so on. Readers will find a vibrant picture of the religious life of Muslims in today's Turkey.

Ozdemir and Frank also identify the pressing issues of the age that impact upon Islamic worship. What is the effect of secularization, nationalism, and urbanization on the way that Muslims worship in Turkey? What do worship practices mean to the modern mind? What is the rationale behind them? What ideals, principles, and images do they inspire? What sort of morality, philosophy, society, and personality do these practices encourage? The visitor is aware that there is something different or special about Turkish culture, and the authors show how this difference relates to Islamic practices.

One of the new aspects of Visible Islam in Modern Turkey is that it describes how the rituals and foundations of Islam are applied by a certain generation of Muslims in a particular geographic, cultural, and sociopolitical setting. Muslims have usually been reluctant to write about particular applications. Their hesitation grows out of a respect for Islamic universality as well as some doubt or skepticism about anything new involving Islamic essentials. But the authors believe that this sensitivity for preserving the authenticity of religion should not prevent us from seeing religious practices in their cultural context.

This book, an aid to so-called religious tourism, is the result of years of interfaith dialogue. The way it puts things is useful for Muslims who would like to talk about their religious life in a modern idiom. Classic Islamic expressions and ideas are updated and given a fresh feel in English, suitable for interreligious dialogue. An extensive set of appendices provides thought-provoking charts and lists for discussion and exploration, making this book a springboard for further studies of religion in Turkey. Visible Islam in Modern Turkey is a model for anyone in the exciting venture of reaching across religious boundaries.