"The horrific acts of anti-Western and anti-Jewish terrorism carried out by Muslim fanatics during the last decades have been labelled by politicians, religious leaders, and scholars as a "Clash of Civilizations". However, as the contributors to this book set out to explain, these acts cannot be considered an Islamic onslaught on Judeo-Christian Civilization. While the hostile ideas, words and deeds perpetrated by supporters among the three monotheistic civilizations cannot be ignored, history has demonstrated a more positive, constructive, albeit complex, relationship among Muslims, Christians, and Jews during medieval and modern times. For long periods of time they shared divine and human values, cooperated in cultural, economic and political fields, and influenced one another's thinking."--book jacket.