Louis Gardet (15 August 1904, in Toulouse – 17 July 1986) was a French Roman Catholic religious brother and historian. As an author he was an expert in Islamic culture and sociology who had a sympathetic view of Islam as a religion. He considered himself "a Christian philosopher of cultures".Louis Gardet: A Catholic Thomist takes up Islamic Studies
Biography His real name was André Brottier and he is known under three identities that correspond to three phases of his life: Under the name of André Harlaire, he published some texts in literary magazines. As Frère André-Marie, he was an important early member of the Little Brothers of Jesus congregation, which he joined after its 1933 foundation, receiving strong spiritual and intellectual support from his friend Louis Massignon. Under the name of Louis Gardet he devoted himself to the research of the Islamic religion in the last part of his life, becoming an authority on the subject.
As a philosopher he espoused the Thomist thought. Youakim Moubarac, Jacques Jomier and Denise Masson were among his numerous disciples.
Published works Louis Gardet wrote many books. His main works are:
Introduction à la théologie musulmane, essai de théologie comparée, by Louis Gardet and Rev. George Anawati, with an introduction by Louis Massignon, Vrin, 1948 1946 La pensée religieuse d'Avicenne, Paris, Vrin, 1951. Expériences mystiques en terres non chrétiennes, Paris, Alsatia, 1953. La cité musulmane, vie sociale et politique, Paris, Vrin, 1954. L'Islam, by Youakim Moubarac, Rev. Jacques Jomier, Louis Gardet and Rev. Anawati, Saint-Alban-Leysse (Savoie), Collège théologique dominicain, 1956. Connaître l'islam, Paris, Fayard, 1958. Mystique musulmane. Aspects et tendances, expériences et techniques, by Rev. Anawati & Louis Gardet, Paris, Vrin, 1961 L'islam. Religion, et communauté, Paris, Desclée De Brouwer, 1967. Dieu et la destinée de l'homme, Paris : J. Vrin, 1967 ("Les grands problèmes de la théologie musulmane") Les hommes de l'islam, approche des mentalités, Paris, Hachette, 1977 L'Islam : hier, demain, by Mohammed Arkoun & Louis Gardet, Paris, Buchet-Chastel, 1978 Louis Gardet also took part in La passion de Hussayn Ibn Mansûr an-Hallâj, the posthumous edition of Louis Massignon's work, 1975.
References
External links Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies - Portland State University Louis Gardet : Philosophe chrétien des cultures et témoin du dialogue islamo-chrétien (1904-1986)