Safeguarding the Stranger

An Abrahamic Theology and Ethic of Protective Hospitality

by Jayme R. Reaves

Book cover: Safeguarding the Stranger

Extent: 318 pages

Publisher: The Lutterworth Press

Subject: Religious Studies

Language: English

Paperback (No longer our product)

(August 2017)

ISBN: 9780718895020

5.98 x 9.02 inches

Price: $50.00

In stock

PDF (No longer our product)

(August 2017)

ISBN: 9780718846015

Price: $36.00

A theological exploration of protective hospitality in the three Abrahamic faiths and the lessons that can be learned for conflict resolution.


In our troubled world, protective hospitality is tragically necessary and requires informed shared action and belief on behalf of the threatened other. In Safeguarding the Stranger, Jayme R. Reaves argues that protective hospitality and its faith-based foundations, as seen in the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, merit greater theological attention. Reaves shows that the practice of protective hospitality in Christianity can be enhanced by a better understanding of Jewish and Muslim practices of hospitality, as well as of their codes and etiquettes related to honour. Safeguarding the Stranger draws on a contextual and political theological approach, informed by liberation and feminist theologies as viewed through the lens of a co-operative and complementary theological view, which is influenced by inter-religious, Abrahamic, and hospitable approaches to dialogue, forecasting the positive role that religions can play in resolving conflicts.

  • By (author) Jayme R Reaves

"Safeguarding the Stranger is an immensely important addition to the literature on hospitality, notably protective hospitality as practiced in the Abrahamic faith traditions. The work reflects extraordinarily deep research and years of interfaith and cross-cultural experience, as well as time logged in some of our world's most conflicted regions. The author combines fluency in feminist and liberationist Christian thought with competence in Hebrew Bible and Quranic studies - and more than a bit of continental philosophy as well. A major contribution by an important new voice, both in its substance and in its method. Highly recommended."David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics; Director, Centre for Theology & Public Life, Mercer University; President-Elect, Society of Christian Ethics
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