islam

Sr. Funk has given us a very brief but a very helpful outline of the most basic tenets of Islam while also identifying some issues of concern for Muslims vis-a-vis their emigration to the U.S. She speaks out of her own personal experience of dialogue as a contemplative nun. She has skillfully drawn limitations for herself and has chosen not to go to great lengths to discuss pros and cons of the faith. In a sense, the book is a basic essay in which a non-Muslim tries to explain what Islam is as a first step toward understanding it better. It is therefore an invitation to explore more and she welcomes the response of the Muslim community so that she can continue a dialogue. I found the book very easy to read and extremely helpful in just beginning to understand what often seems so mysterious.