Colin Chapman

Colin Chapman has worked with CMS in the Middle East for 18 years and in his last post he was teaching Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology. He has taught at Trinity College, Bristol, and was principal of Crowther Hall, the CMS training college in Selly Oak, Bristol. He is now enjoying semi-retirement in Cambridge. His books include Whose Promised Land?, Whose Holy City? Jerusalem and the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, Christianity on Trial (Lion), Cross and Crescent: responding to the challenges of Islam (IVP), and "Islamic Terrorism": is there a Christian response? (Grove).

Trying to make sense of Gaza

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Here…is a brief attempt to analyse what this recent outbreak of fighting between Israel and Gaza has been about – with four clues which help me to make sense of the big picture….As we watch this terrible tragedy unfold…we should be praying for all who, in the spirit of the Beatitudes, ‘hunger and thirst to see right prevail’ and seek to be peace-makers.

Christian Responses to Islam and Islamic Terrorism

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Christian responses to Islam, Islamism and ‘Islamic terrorism’ by Colin Chapman republished with permission from ‘Cambridge Papers’ June 2007, The Jubilee Centre, Cambridge Summary Why is it that some Muslims become Islamists and some Islamists turn to violence? A summary of some basic convictions held in varying degrees by all Muslims is followed by an … Continue Reading

‘Insensitive, Provocative, Courageous – or What? Some Reflections on Pope Benedict’s Lecture

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by Colin Chapman What can one say that hasn’t already been said about the Pope’s lecture and the furore that has followed it? Probably very little – which is why I will confine myself to seven questions: 1. What was the lecture about? The title of the lecture was ‘Faith, Reason and the University: Memories … Continue Reading

Lament over Lebanon

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by Colin Chapman ‘How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal.’ (Lamentations 1:1) This description of the destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC in the book of … Continue Reading