The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam by Eliza Griswold

Eliza Griswold’s “The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam” takes readers on an eye-opening journey along a geographical line that cuts through Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This line marks the tenth degree of latitude north of the equator, where the two dominant faiths of the world – Christianity and Islam – meet and clash.

Griswold, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, spent several years visiting the countries along the tenth parallel, including Nigeria, Sudan and Ethiopia. There, she speaks with leaders and individuals on both sides of the divide and tells the stories of people whose lives are shaped by their religious beliefs.

In doing so, Griswold paints a vivid portrait of the complexity of the broader conflict between Islam and Christianity in a time when the two religious communities are increasingly interdependent. She also provides an in-depth look at the often-overlooked communities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East as they struggle to reconcile their religious beliefs with the intractable political realities in their societies.

Griswold’s expansive narrative focuses on more than religious strife. She tells us about the battles between investors and small farmers in Nigeria, the plight of Christian converts in Sudan and the dangers facing those who take a stand against extremists in the Philippines.

In Nigeria, Griswold follows the story of a Muslim community fighting for its land against investors backed by the government. By weaving together the perspectives of a Muslim leader, an international lawyer and an American diplomat, she reveals how these locals, who are largely isolated from the world, manage to remain true to their faith in a complex landscape of competing interests.

In Sudan, Griswold visits a Christian congregation that is prohibited from celebrating Mass. By talking to priests, Protestant ministers and other religious leaders, she shows us the extremes of intolerance and the risks taken by those who strive to spread the gospel in heavy-handed Islamic nations.

Griswold’s travels also take her to Ethiopia and the Philippines, where she meets with international aid workers and human rights activists. Here, she highlights the dangers facing those who take a stand against extremists and offer hope to those who are often overlooked in today’s violent conflicts.

Throughout her book, Griswold expertly builds a narrative that is both informative and engaging, taking readers on a journey in which both the culpability and resilience of humanity can be seen and felt. “The Tenth Parallel” provides an invaluable look at an often neglected part of the world and offers insight into the seemingly unbridgeable divide between two of the world’s most dominant religions. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of faith, conflict, and the world we live in today.