MR556/656: Current Trends in Islam (4 units)

Martin Accad, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies

Winter 2008 Pasadena

 

DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of the basic beliefs and practices which inspire and guide the Islamic resurgence today. Consideration will be given to the impact of colonialism, Western ideas, independence, Zionism, the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate, and other factors, and the unity and variety of the responses to these stimuli. Responses that will be studied include modernism, revivalism, radicalism, and liberalism. The implications of these trends for a Christian perspective and witness will be examined.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1.  Develop an understanding of the varieties of Muslims today
2.  Come to an appreciation of the historical elements that have led to the current observable trends in Islam
3.  Explore ways that the Church is interacting and can interact appropriately with contemporary Muslims

COURSE FORMAT: Class meets daily as a two-week intensive for 3 hour sessions of lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

1.  Chapman, Colin. Islam and the West: Conflict, Co-existence or Conversion. Carlisle: Paternoster, 1998.
2.  Esposito, John L., and John O. Voll. Makers of Contemporary Islam. New York: Oxford, 2001.
3.  Kurzman, Charles, ed. Liberal Islam: A Sourcebook. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1998.
4.  Rippin, Andrew. Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. 3rd edition. New York: Routledge, 2005. (Those who have had Intro. to Islam, only parts 5 and 6.)
5.  Zebiri, Kate. Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oxford: One World, 1997.

RECOMMENDED READING (for areas of special interest):

1.  Ayubi, Nazih. Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Arab World. New York: Routledge, 1991.
2.  Dabashi, Hamid. Theology of Discontent: The Ideological Foundations of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. New York: NYUP, 1993.
3.  Donohue, John J., and John L. Esposito, eds. Islam in Transition: Muslim Perspectives. Oxford: Oxford U P, 1982.
4.  Esposito, John L., ed. Islam in Asia: Religion, Politics, and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.
5.  Esposito, John L., and Azzam Tamimi, eds. Islam and Secularism in the Middle East. London: Hurst & Company, 2000.
6.  Esposito, John L. The Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
7.  Gladney, Dru C. Muslim Chinese: Ethnic Nationalism in the People's Republic. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U.P., 1991.
8.  Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck, et al., eds. The Contemporary Islamic Revival: A Critical Survey and Bibliography. New York: Greenwood Press, 1991.
9.  Haynes, Jeff. Religion and Politics in Africa. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Zed Books, 1996.
10. Isaacson, Jason F. and Colin Rubenstein, eds. Islam in Asia. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2001.
11. Johnstone, Patrick. Operation World. 6th ed. Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster Lifestyle, 2001.
12. Kepel, Gilles. The War for Muslim Minds. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004.
13. Lapidus, Ira M. A History of Islamic Societies. 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988, 2002.
14. Larson, Warren F. Islamic Ideology and Fundamentalism in Pakistan: Climate for Conversion to Christianity? Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1998.
15. Musk, Bill. Passionate Believing. Tunbridge Wells: Monarch Publ, 1992.
16. Nielson, Jørgen N. Muslims in Western Europe. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh Press, 1992.
17. Rahman, Fazlur. Revival and Reform in Islam: A Study of Islamic Fundamentalism. Oxford: Oneworld, 2000.
18. Rashid, Ahmed. The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism? Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Zed Books, 1994.
19. Smith, Jane I. Islam in America. New York: Columbia U.P., 1999.
20. Thompson, Michael J., ed. Islam and the West: Critical Perspectives on Modernity. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2003.
21. Vertovec, Steven, and Ceri Peach, eds. Islam in Europe. New York: St. Martins Press, 1997.
22. Voll, John O. Islam: Continuity and Change in the Modern World. 2nd ed. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1994.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  Write a 250-word interaction report on each required book that reflects on ethical, Christian, and/or missiological implications of two or more ideas in the book.
2.  Write a 2500 to 3750-word paper in which you develop a Christian and/or missiological perspective on a specific group of contemporary Muslims (identified by their ideology, region, ethnicity, or other characteristics).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Min 8 requirement for M.Div. Program. Meets Globalization requirement for M.A. Theology Program.

FINAL EXAM: None.

 

Note:  This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification.                              Last Date Edited: 10 October 2007