Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims

This comparative look at Roman Catholicism and Twelver Shi'i Islam focuses on the linkages between these two religions rather than on the seemingly intractable differences between them. The authors compare the histories of the two faiths, consider parallels between important figures in each, and highlight the doctrinal, structural, and sociopolitical similarities they share. Balanced in tone and carefully researched, the book helps explain the essence of both traditions while enriching our understanding of each.

JAMES A. BILL is Reves Professor of International Studies and Government at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. His books include the award-winning The Eagle and the Lion: The Tragedy of American-Iranian Relations. JOHN ALDEN WILLIAMS, a historian of Islamic civilization and religion, is Professor Emeritus of the Humanities in Religion at the College of William and Mary. His books include The Word of Islam.