Dr. Zeki Sanitoprak received his Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey and has authored more than thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam, in addition to his latest book “Islam’s Jesus.”
Before an audience made up of members from multiple faiths, interested in learning whether the Jesus of the Bible was consistent with the Jesus of the Qur’an and Hadith, Dr. Saritoprak examined multiple intellectual traditions regarding the eschatological role of Jesus in Islam, as well as different interpretations of the return of Jesus. Dr. Saritoprak’s lecture illustrated that even though there has historically always been a plurality of interpretations regarding aspects of the mythos of Jesus, the message of the prophet has always remained the same. He argued that Muslim’s and Christian’s shared belief in Jesus presented an excellent opportunity for finding understanding, and as more than half of the world’s population, he reasoned, such an understanding could be a foundation for global peace. He then illustrated this by highlighting some prominent current figures that he considered were best representing the spirit and teachings of the prophet Jesus through their work promoting interfaith dialogue and religious harmony.