BOOK: A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman's Quest to Bridge the Musli

BOOK REVIEW:  A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide

Who would ever guess that the ancient language of Aramaic might hold the key to peace and understanding between Muslims and Christians? And that a former U.S. congressman from Michigan (1981–87) and former deputy ambassador to the UN would have discovered some key word similarities between the Bible and the Qur’an? Siljander’s book recounts these discoveries as he travels to some of the most embattled places in the world: the Sahara, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India.

His accounts of amazing interviews with heads of state and leaders like Muhammad Abdelaziz of the Sahrawri peoples and Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, are very revealing. He attempts to allay the misunderstandings and ignorance through startling language discoveries, discussing, for example, words and concepts like “conversion,” “son of God,” “crucifixion,” and “peace” in the context of the original language of Jesus Christ—Aramaic. Finally, Siljander declares that love and relationships are more important than political strength and posturing. An understanding of the principles in this important book could help heal the rift between Islam and the West. Recommended for all libraries.

Former Congressman and Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Mark D. Siljander takes us on an eye-opening journey of personal, religious, and political discovery. In the 1980s, Siljander was a newly minted Reagan Republican from Michigan who joined Congress in the same generation as Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay, ready to remake the world. A staunch member of the Religious Right, he once walked out of the National Prayer Breakfast when a speaker quoted from the Qur’an.

I cannot overstate the importance of Mark’s strategic efforts to defuse the activities of radical Muslims worldwide. Many are convinced that he is on the cusp of what will prove literally to be the tipping point in realigning radical terrorist enemies… These unique activities, which are crucial to our national security, have received enthusiastic support from Members of Congress, the Vatican, Oxford University, the UN Secretary General and a host of others. His acceptance and favorable response is derived in large measure from a mastery of the Muslim mind and culture.

Hon. Edwin Meese
Former U.S. Attorney General and Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

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But after losing reelection, Siljander dove into the Bible to look for the passage in which the Bible says it is our job as Christians to convert others in order to save them from eternal damnation. He couldn’t find it; in fact, he couldn’t even find a passage saying that Jesus set out to form a new religion. This discovery was the first step on a spiritual and political journey that started with an in-depth linguistic study of the Bible and led to the discovery that Christianity and Islam share many base words and concepts. In his role as ambassador to the United Nations Siljander began sharing his insights on the connections between Islam and Christianity, with surprising results.

A Deadly Misunderstanding recounts Siljander’s amazing discoveries as he travels to some of the most remote and hostile places in the world—deep into Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, and India—forging deep ties with both heads of state and religious leaders. What he has learned could radically shift the contemporary religious landscape and help heal the rift between Islam and the West. No Christian or Muslim will be unaffected after reading this book.

Former congressman Siljander began his career as a zealous evangelical Christian, convinced that the Qur’an was devil’s work. In this memoir, Siljander recounts his paradigm crash after discovering that much of what he’d been taught about his faith was nowhere in the Bible, and that the Christian and Muslim religious texts are surprisingly compatible when studied in their original languages. He has since made it his life’s mission to find common ground between Christian and Muslim worlds, meeting with a dizzying list of political and religious leaders in the process. The result is an engaging story (despite somewhat stilted dialogue) sure to surprise and inspire many. Though he has no formal background in linguistics or religious studies, Siljander is deft at providing balance when discussing controversial subjects, and careful to show support from academics. Though his theological argument is based almost exclusively on the study of Muslim and Christian scriptures, in the current atmosphere it’s hard to argue with his dictum for what’s needed: Making friends with the people you thought you hated. It’s that radical, that simple and that necessary.

A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide was released by Harper Collins and, in its first week, hit #1 on Amazon sales in three categories; Islam, Church & state and Comparative Religion (& is still holding #1 in all three today)  & ranked 172 in overall sales.  Amazon also put it on the Best Seller; Mover & Shakers list with 889% increase in sales. ADM also scored #175 in sales on Barns & Noble.

About the Author
Mark D. Siljander worked in government and civil service for the past thirty years. He began his political career serving in the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981 and was a member of the U.S. Congress from 1981 to 1987. Siljander was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as an alternate representative to the United Nations General Assembly, serving from September 1987 to September 1988. He is president of Global Strategics, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.

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