The Catecismo of Martín Pérez de Ayala

“Straddling the border of the Islamic and Christian worlds, Spain is a fascinating historical case study for Muslim-Christian relations. This book immerses us in the Iberian Peninsula of the Late Middle Ages for a rich, nuanced, and sympathetic investigation into the evangelistic writings of Father Martín Pérez de Ayala, reluctant missionary to the Morisco Muslims. We emerge with timeless lessons for positive Christian engagement with Muslims.”


—Richard Shumack, director, Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam, Melbourne School of Theology





“The history of Spanish Catholic-Muslim relations is often seen characterized as either military confrontation or the Convivencia. Lincoln Loo—in a lucid and accessible work—demonstrates that attitudes and relations were far more complex than often imagined. Another option was present—peaceful apologetics. Loo has engaged in extensive, good quality research on what might otherwise to modern Westerners be an obscure subject and demonstrates that ordinary mission and catechizing were also features of interreligious encounter.”


—Anthony McRoy, retired lecturer in Islamic studies





“This book is an excellent example of cross-disciplinary research. Firmly grounded in historical method, Lincoln Loo takes his readers back to Early Modern Spain, a period of dramatic change following the Reconquista and the end of Muslim rule. He opens windows into church politics, interreligious relations and persecution, and literature of the period of the notorious Inquisition. Having the fascination of a novel and the rigor of a dissertation, this book is a must-read for Christians and non-Christians alike.”


—Peter G. Riddell, senior research fellow, Australian College of Theology





“A treasure. Lincoln Loo has produced a beautiful work presenting the context, structure, content, reception, and effect of an important work of theological outreach written by the sixteenth-century Spanish cleric Martín Pérez de Ayala. Loo has done a great service by his careful study. It has opened my eyes to greater details of a time when the essential truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ were gently but firmly reasserted against a deviant theology.”


—Daniel Brubaker, president, Think and Tell