Walter Wagner publishes book on the Qur'an for non-Muslims

Adjunct faculty member Walter Wagner was honored on December 10th at a reception celebrating the recent publication of his book, Opening the Qur’an: Introducing Islam's Holy Book (University of Notre Dame Press).
The book has been praised by interfaith experts as a masterful work that offers a comprehensive and extraordinarily readable, step-by-step introduction to the Qur’an, making it accessible to students, teachers, clergy, and general readers.

According to Wagner, an ordained Lutheran pastor who has taught graduate and continuing education courses at Moravian since 1993, “this book would not have been possible had it not been for my teaching at Moravian Seminary.” He cites his long history of preparation for classes such as Christianity and Islam, Qur’an and the Bible, and Opening the Qur’an as having broadened his own knowledge base and heightened his awareness of the thirst among non-Muslims to better understand the Qur’an.

In addition to his teaching at Moravian, his relationships with leaders of the Lehigh Valley Sunni and Shi’a communities and his work with the Lehigh Interfaith Dialogue Center in Bethlehem have richly informed his appreciation of Islam and the Qur’an. These relationships have also helped to focus his energies on ways to engender greater understanding among the members of the major faith traditions of our community. Wagner often shares the stage with Muslim and Jewish leaders at Interfaith Dialogue events, where he most commonly serves as the expert on Christianity. His background provides him a great sensitivity toward the risks and opportunities for non-Muslims who attempt to interpret the Qur’an, and a sympathy for the long struggle to build bridges of mutual trust and honest appreciation between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Retired in 2001 from full-time parish ministry in the ELCA after 41 years, Wagner continues to serve as interim pastor for congregations in pastoral transition. Dr. Wagner has also served as adjunct faculty member at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Moravian College and Muhlenberg College. In addition to his expertise in Islamic Studies, he is a scholar of the New Testament, Church History and Theology. He has authored several books including After the Apostles: Christianity in the Second Century and The Zinzendorf-Muhlenberg Encounter: A Controversy in Search of Understanding.