The full title: "Kissing Cousins? Christians and Muslims Face to Face", by Rev. Bill A. Musk, Monarch Books, Oxford (England) & Grand Rapids, MI, 2005, 480 pgs. Rev. Bill Musk worked with the Church Mission Society and the Episcopal Church in Egypt. The author investigates the three fundamental matters of prophethood, scripture and doctrine of God. He reviews the Muslim perplexity about the "Trinity", and reviews the concept between Western orthodoxy and Eastern orthodoxy. The author maintains: "For Muhammad...the shift from Mecca to Medina marked a difference in style and leadership...." The author reviews the succession conflict between Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael; reviews Mohammad's life, in both the Quran and in the hadith; notes the history of how the Quran relates to the Bible, and he tries to refute the Muslim belief that Jesus was a Muslim. Musk reviews the battles led by Mohammad; details the wives of Mohammad; reviews how Jesus differed from Mohammad; and reviews the hadith as narrated by the Muslim transmitters: al-Bazzi, al-Duri, al-Suri, Hisham, Khalaf and others. Musk reviews the "abrogated" verses in the Quran and their significance; reviews the various Arab gods; and reviews the historical 'philology' of Allah's names. Musk reviews the relationships between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as their discontinuities. Musk reviews John Travis's spectrum of contextualized communities of believers in Christ. Musk reviews the early Christian Church councils, their significance, and their splits (Assyrian, Syrian, Orthodox, Eastern). The author noted: "I could fairly be accused...of glossing over complexities of theological view as they have developed within both the Islamic and the Christian traditions." Instead, the author presents a review of these divisions to help the novice reader understand their impact. The author points out the similarities between Christianity and Islam, as well as detailing their differences. The author noted that his goal is not to demean Islam, but to assist Muslims in recognizing Jesus as the true Messiah. Musk reviews how the Crusades were a response to the onslaught of Islamic attacks. Musk notes how the Egyptian Sayyid Qutb (1940s) gave rebirth to Muslim hopes of destroying International Zionism, and how Qutb's teachings fed bin Ladin's hatred of the "Crusaders" (the West). Musk details the current da'wa (evangelical invitation) movement of the Muslims into enticing Westerners to join Islam. Musk details the sins leading to capital punishment in Sinaitic and Islamic law. Musk notes the differences of "Salvation" between Islam and Christianity. Musk, a minister in the English Anglican Church, having lived for many years in Islamic countries, is well versed with both the Quran and the Bible, and compares both frequently. He notes the similarities and differences as to how Muslims view Mary, the Annunciation, the miracles of Jesus, Jesus as a "Sign", and Jesus' non-crucifixion. Musk observes how the similarities between Christians and Muslims appear to make them "Kissing Cousins" in many ways, but he opines that their faiths are "essentially constructed in ways very different from one another" and details those theological differences. Musk provides several appendices: an "Introductory Bibliography" (which passes by books by both Esposito and Bernard Lewis, while strong on Ken Cragg, Ibn Warraq, Watt, and Zwemer); a glossary that I would term as a "Religious Glossary" -- one that provides many informative Islamic words pertaining to their theology; brief biographies of significant individuals mentioned in the text; and an extensive index. Rev. Musk wrote this book to note the "common ground" of Muslims and Christians, and he hoped to find a way to enlighten Muslims to the straight path of Jesus. Rev. Musk does not take the "My Bible is better than your Quran" attitude; he believes that the Bible is based on a much better documentable foundation than the Quran, and, given time in discussing theology with Muslims, they will convert. Instead of preaching to Muslims in a "Bible thumping" style, Musk tries to evangelicalize by rationalizing with them in comparing the two Holy books. While Rev. Musk discusses the militancy of Muslim fundamentalists, he takes the Christian-charity attitude that the Muslim fundamentalists can be turned by rationalization through exposing them to the Bible -- perhaps too much of an angeletic hope. Unlike some Christian evangelical books, this one is well written, thoughtful, analytical, insightful, and overall...scholarly; yet readily understandable by us commoners.