Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection

This innovative work presents a fictional debate between the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Muhammad on the historicity of Jesus's resurrection, moderated by a neutral figure. Michael R. Licona constructs this imaginative dialogue to explore fundamental differences between Christian and Islamic perspectives on a pivotal theological claim while demonstrating the application of historical methodology to religious questions.

The book's central contribution lies in its methodological approach to the resurrection debate. Rather than simply asserting theological positions, Licona has his interlocutors employ historical-critical tools to evaluate evidence. Paul argues for the resurrection using early Christian sources, eyewitness testimony, and the transformation of the disciples, while Muhammad counters with Islamic teachings about Jesus's non-crucifixion and the corruption of Christian scriptures. This format allows readers to see how historical arguments function within different religious frameworks and presuppositions.

Licona's work engages with both Christian apologetics and Islamic theology, positioning itself against those who would dismiss either tradition without serious consideration. By giving Muhammad substantive arguments drawn from Islamic sources and scholarship, the author avoids creating a mere strawman, though critics might argue the presentation inevitably favors the Christian perspective given Licona's own commitments. The debate format illuminates how different starting assumptions about revelation, scripture, and divine action shape the evaluation of historical evidence.

The book makes several important contributions to the God debate. First, it demonstrates that questions about divine action in history cannot be separated from broader theological and philosophical commitments. Second, it shows how adherents of different theistic traditions can engage in rational discourse about conflicting truth claims while maintaining respect for their dialogue partners. Third, it illustrates the limits and possibilities of historical investigation when applied to claimed supernatural events.

Licona's creative approach serves pedagogical purposes, making complex arguments about historiography, religious epistemology, and comparative theology accessible to non-specialists. The work implicitly argues that the question of God's existence and action in history deserves serious intellectual engagement rather than dismissal or blind faith. By staging this encounter between two major religious figures, Licona invites readers to consider how historical evidence, religious authority, and rational argument interact in debates about divine revelation and miraculous claims. The book ultimately suggests that while historical methods can inform religious debates, they cannot resolve them without reference to broader worldview considerations.