Overview

The Islamic Studies concentration equips crosscultural workers and national leaders to serve effectively among Muslim peoples. Courses offered address both traditional approaches to Islamic thought and the areas that pose special challenges to Christian witness today such as folk Islam, the fundamentalist resurgence, and the contextualization of the gospel for particular Muslim people groups.

Courses Available

*MR 550 Introduction to Islam.  An overview of Muslim faith and practice, with special attention to comparisons with Christianity, varieties of expression, and their implication for Christians working in Muslim contexts. MIN8, GLBL. Accad, Reisacher

**MR 552 Muslim-Christian Interaction. A survey and analysis of Muslim-Christian relations  throughout history to the modern day with its implication for contemporary interaction. Accad, Reisacher

ºMR 554 Developing Communities in Muslim Contexts. Evaluation of theories and case studies of the developing of nurturing communities in Muslim contexts that serve the larger society. Travis, Cumming, Reisacher

ºMR 555 Folk Islam. A study of the varieties of beliefs and practices of folk Muslims and the felt needs they express and how these can be met. Woodberry, Travis, Reisacher

*MR 556 Current Trends in Islam. Examines the spectrum of expressions of Islam in the contemporary world and the interaction of religious, political, ethnic, and economic issues and their implications in religious encounter. MIN8, GLBL. Accad, Woodberry

**MR 557 Women in Islam. An examination of the identity and role of women in historic and contemporary Islam as revealed by the Qur’an and Hadith and throughout society, covering various cultural contexts. Reisacher

ºMR 561 The Qur’an and Theology in Communication. The use of the Qur’an and sound theology in communication in Muslim contexts. Cumming

*MR 566 Qur’anic Arabic and Exegesis I. Introduces the grammar and vocabulary of the Arabic language with specific application to the Qur’an and its exegesis. Accad, Woodberry, Reisacher

**MR 569 Biblical Hermeneutics in the Muslim Context. Examines the way that Muslims have read the Christian Gospels, extracting the principal theological themes of the Muslim exegetical endeavor to enter into dialogue with Christianity. Accad

*MR 548 Levantine Arabic. Lebanon Instructors (This course is available in Lebanon only).

*MB 529 Intercultural Attachment: Building Relationships Across Cultures. Explores the dynamics involved when people from different cultures interact with one another, the changes they undergo and what facilitates and hinders attachment.  It is designed for students with no previous psychological or neurobiological training to improve their understanding and skills in relating with people from other cultures. Reisacher

* Normally offered once per year
** Normally offered every other year
º Offered on an irregular basis