This insider’s view of how North American Muslims think and live goes beyond false stereotypes and provides practical suggestions on how to establish friendships that can point to Christ. Since September 11, 2001, Americans are more curious about the followers of Islam. We can no longer afford to be ignorant of such an influential and historical world religion. Muslims Next Door dispels commonly held myths and helps readers to better understand how Muslims think. Author Shirin Taber comes from a multicultural background and has lived in Iran, France, and Turkey, and now in the United States. Stories of her experiences as well as from interviews with Muslims help readers understand the human side of Islam. Each chapter contains questions for reflection to use in group settings. The book also includes a glossary of Islamic terms. ...a great primer on the Islamic faith and does a good job of dispelling common stereotypes about Muslims. A well-done resource for anyone looking for 'Islam 101,' and it could be useful in prepping a series on relational outreach. -- YouthWorker Journal This insider's view of how North American Muslims think and live goes beyond false stereotypes and provides practical suggestions on how to establish friendships that can point to Christ. Since September 11, 2001, Americans are more curious about the followers of Islam. We can no longer afford to be ignorant of such an influential and historical world religion. Muslims Next Door dispels commonly held myths and helps readers to better understand how Muslims think. Author Shirin Taber comes from a multicultural background and has lived in Iran, France, and Turkey, and now in the United States. Stories of her experiences as well as from interviews with Muslims help readers understand the human side of Islam. Each chapter contains questions for reflection to use in group settings. The book also includes a glossary of Islamic terms. Shirin Taber comes from a multicultural background, with an Iranian father and American mother. Fluent in English, French, and Persian, she served for eight years as a university chaplain in Europe and the Middle East. She and her husband direct international media projects, including the Damah Film Festival, which explores spiritual experience in film. Taber has also authored two multicultural novels, AmericanEyes and Aysha, which show how ethnicity impacts spirituality and relationships. Why I've Written This BookEileen, a stunning brunette in her thirties, caught my attention inthe checkout line of an Albertson's store one crisp fall morning. Iwatched as she freely conversed with customers. I found myself drawnto her jewel-black eyes, olive coloring, and inviting smile, all of whichreminded me of the many exotic women I had met over the years as Itraveled in the Middle East: Mina from Iran, Leila from Tunisia, Hulyafrom Turkey. Eileen, however, is not of Middle Eastern origin, but Latinoand, like me, is part of the browning of America.A few months later, Eileen and I ran into one another at a Christmastea hosted by my church. It intrigued Eileen to learn that I was tobe the guest speaker that night. She thought of me as just a customer inthe checkout line. Before the evening ended, she thanked me for mytalk, which she said had touched her. Little did I know how profoundly.The following week, Eileen pulled me aside at the checkout lineand gave me a small gift. Inside a red box was a silver angel pendant.The gift, she said, was her way of expressing her gratitude for the thingsI had shared at the tea. My Middle Eastern background fascinated her,and she asked if we could get together sometime for coffee. She had afew questions, questions about Islam.Over the years, various people who have been curious about Muslimshave been brought into my path---parents of my childhood friends,a math teacher in junior high, businessmen at dinner parties, membersof an adult Sunday school class, friends in my book club.It took a few weeks to coordinate our schedules, but finally oneafternoon Eileen made her way to my home. Eileen wondered if I couldhelp her understand why Muslims are so angry with America. She hasfriends who are Muslims, and she wanted to learn about their point ofview. After we were comfortably seated in my living room, I began to tellher about my background as a daughter of an Iranian-Muslim father andan Irish-Catholic mother. She heard for the first time an insider's viewof Muslim life.When the topic of 9-11 came up, she wondered about America'sresponse. 'Revenge? Strike back militarily? And how do we respond nowto Muslims living in the United States?'I turned the questions over in my mind, trying to think of the bestway to respond. 'Most Americans can't identify with the complex issuesthat fuel Muslims' mistrust toward the West and toward the Americangovernment in particular,' I said. 'We'd have to cover hundreds andhundreds of years of history to understand Muslim animosity. But regardlessof how America re