Engaging Muslims: Religion, Cultures, Politics
History of the Project:
The Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology at Alaska Pacific University has received an exceptional donation from Larry and Wilma Carr to fund a major public education program for the Anchorage community. The Engaging Muslims: Religion, Cultures, Politics project was created to offer the community the opportunity to engage in a self-education program by joining together to study and learn in depth about Islam It is our explicit intent that the overall program be a model of community education deserving of national recognition and duplication.
The project is designed as a nine month effort following the academic year. Stemming from the academic corridors of our three universities (Alaska Pacific University, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Wayland Baptist University) it is traveling to diverse venues ranging from local theater screens, art exhibits, special library collections, public television, radio programming, classroom discussions, the performance arts, book discussion groups and more. The project begins in August 2007 and extends through April 2008. Some preliminary events were held during the Spring and Summer months of 2007.
The Community Partners and Project Collaborators are in the process of developing lead-up events. These events are being designed to help prepare the larger community audiences for the Engaging Muslims Spring Lecture Series which is scheduled from February through April 2008.
Website
The Engaging Muslims website (http://religion.alaskapacific.edu) was designed and created in order to offer the community easy access to information and resources supporting the Engaging Muslims Project. The lecturer series, calendar of events, community activities, offerings and programs as well as recommended resources, books and films are posted and updated regularly.
Resources
A list of recommended resources has been developed with the assistance of noted Islamic scholars, experts in interreligious dialogue, our distinguished speakers, as well as Dr. Boisclair, Newman Chair of Catholic Theology, Dr. Marilyn Barry, Academic Dean of Alaska Pacific University, faculty from University of Alaska Anchorage and others.
The suggested resources, films, movies, reading lists, and website links are intended to help organizations and audiences throughout the community form discussion groups, salons, book groups, and to assist interested individuals prepare for the multiplicity of issues covered in the spring lecture series.
Schedule of Events
Fall 2007
DR. JOHN BORELLI
August 26 - 27, 2007
Dr Borelli, an expert in interreligious dialogue will visit Anchorage August 26-27 to offer a series of foundational lectures. Dr. Borelli will offer a free public lecture on "Christians, Muslims and Jews in Dialogue" Sunday, August 26th at 7pm.
For those involved in education and ministries he will offer "Understanding Islam from Within" on Sunday afternoon at 2pm and "Islam for Public and Religious Educators" on Monday at 4pm.
Clergy, religious, and others engaged in ministry are invited to a special program "The Nature of Our Relationships: Christians, Muslims and Jews" which will address pastoral issues Monday at 10:30 am. Each of these foundational lectures is offered in support of and encouragement for the fostering of the study of Islam in our classrooms, congregations and community.
Islamic Art Exhibit
August 26 - 27, 2007
An exhibit of Islamic Art focused on verses from the Qur’an, will be on display in conjunction with the August Lecture Series courtesy of the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage.
Foundations of Islam
August 28 – September 20, 2007
Dr. Boisclair, will offer a Foundations of Islam course during the APU September block This four week course will introduce the Islamic religious tradition, offer guidance for further self-directed study and facilitate opportunities to meet members of the Muslim community in Anchorage.
Engaging Islam
February 7 - April 25, 2008
Engaging Islam the spring session course will incorporate the lectures, books and articles by the visiting scholars.
Both classes are open to students from the three universities and members of the community are invited to attend as "Newman Observers" for a nominal fee. For more information please call 907-564-8274.
Books of the Year 2007-2008
Alaska Pacific University, University of Alaska Anchorage and Wayland Baptist University have collaborated in a "Books of the Year" project spanning the 2007-2008 academic year. A joint selection committee chose two books that will foster reading about and discussions of Islam. These common readings extend the successful Ford Foundation-sponsored Difficult Dialogues Program initiated collaboratively in 2006 by APU and UAA.
Books of the Year Resource Guides
UAA faculty have developed resource guides to assist faculty who choose to use the Books of the Year in their courses throughout the year. Books of the Year orientation and training sessions are open to faculty from all three universities.
Student Services
Student Services of the three universities are collaborating to invite a speaker to address the students in different venues.
Community Partners
The community is invited and encouraged to develop and participate in events such as film festivals, book groups, discussion groups, art, music, dramatic readings, poetry and culinary arts experiences, etc., in anticipation of and preparation for the Spring lecture series.
Engaging Muslims Spring Lecture Series
REZA ASLAN
February 20, 2008
The first of four speakers in the Spring Lecture Series Reza Aslan will join us February 20, 2008. Aslan is an internationally acclaimed Iranian-American writer and scholar of religions. He is a regular commentator for NPR’s Marketplace and Middle East Analyst for CBS News and John Stewart’s "go-to guy" for all things relating to the Islamic world on his popular "Daily Show." Aslan’s book, No god but God (2005), is an international best seller. His presentation will focus on Contemporary Issues in Islam including his thesis that Islam is entering into a reformation, of which Jihad is only one small part.
DR. MUZAMMIL SIDDIQI
March 2, 2008
Dr. Siddiqi will be joining us March 2, 2008. The topic of his presentation will be Islam and Diversity. Dr. Siddiqi received his PhD from Harvard University in Comparative Religion. He is a prominent American Muslim, Islamic scholar, theologian and chairman of the Fiqh council of North America. From 1996 to 2000 Dr. Siddiqi served as the president of the Islamic Society of North America. In 2001 he was called to the White House to council President George W. Bush following the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
DR. INGRID MATTSON
March 30, 2008
Joining us on March 30, 2008 is Dr. Ingrid Mattson the Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Center and Professor of Islamic Studies at the MacDonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary. Dr Mattson earned her PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999. Her research is focused on Islamic Law and society. Currently, she is President of the Islamic Society of North America. Dr. Mattson’s lecture will focus on Islamic Law and Life Past and Present.
DR. JOHN ESPOSITO
April 13, 2008
Dr. John Esposito will join us April 13, 2008 to wrap up the Engaging Muslims Spring Lecture Series.
This final lecture will focus our attention on the issue of Islam and the Future of Foreign Policy. Dr. Esposito is a Professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University and has dedicated his career to the promotion of Muslim-Christian dialogue. From 1999 to 2004 .Dr. Esposito served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, and he is the editor-in-chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, among other Islam related publications.
Calendar of Events
August 26 - 27, 2007
DR. JOHN BORELLI
"Understanding Islam from Within"
Engaging those involved in Education.
Sunday, August 26, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
"Christians, Muslims and Jews In Dialogue"
Free Public Lecture Open to the Community
Sunday, August 26, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
"The Nature of Our Relationships: Christians, Muslims and Jews" A look at Pastoral Issues with those engaged in Ministry.
Monday, August 27, 10:30 am - Noon
"Islam for Public and Religious Educators"
For those involved in Education or Ministry
Monday, August 27, from 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Location: The August Lecture Series will be held in the Grant Hall Theatre at Alaska Pacific University. All lectures are free of charge.
August 26 - 27, 2007
Islamic Art Exhibit
The Islamic Art Exhibit will be held in the Grant Hall Theatre Gallery at Alaska Pacific University.
August 28 – September 20, 2007
Foundations of Islam a 2 credit course with Dr. Regina Boisclair Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 9:20 pm at APU.
September 13, 2007
Ramadan Begins
October 13, 2007
Eid Al-Fitr
Ramadan Ends
February – April 2008
Engaging Muslims (2 credit course)
Dr. Regina Boisclair APU
February 20, 2008
Reza Aslan
Contemporary Issues in Islam.
March 2, 2008
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
Islam and Diversity.
March 30, 2008
Dr. Ingrid Mattson
Islamic Law and Life Past and Present.
April 20, 2008
Dr. John Esposito
Islam and the Future of Foreign Policy
Contact Information:
Mary-Margaret Stein
Project Director
Engaging Muslims: Religion, Cultures, Politics
A Community Education Project
Cardinal Newman Chair of Theology
Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
907-564-8264
religion@alaskapacific.edu
http://religion.alaskapacific.edu
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