Comparative Religious Thought I, Fall 2010; Project with Islam
You will write a two- or three- part paper (do not separate the parts physically into separated hard copies to hand in, but keep them all together in one continuous series of pages, making the divisions clear with headings).
Part 1 is a statement of your principles for dialogue with persons with whom you significantly disagree about religion. Do not simply list your principles, but comment on their implications for how you prepare, conduct your part in the conversation, and follow up. This part will be 1-2 pages. Write a one page discussion of your principles for dialogue (do not hand in separate documents, but print everything together). To accomplish this well, first think about the question and jot down your ideas. Second, consult the three different sources in the Methods/Dialogue document at after consulting the course website: methods/dialogue: http://sites.google.com/a/kent.edu/jwattles/home/comparative-religious-thought/methods-in-the-study-of-religion/what-is-interreligious-dialogue . In reading this document, please note that the third source uses the term “debate” as a pejorative term, and for the immediate purposes of this class that’s just fine. It is often true that debate is antagonistic, and it is true that students in this class who are meeting Muslims and learning the skills of dialogue should not move into debate. Nevertheless, non-antagonistic posing of serious questions and setting forth of contrasting positions has an important role to play one the participants have developed a good working relationship and are mature in their approach to conversation. Third, after you have read the web document, write your list of principles before going into dialogue. Fourth, revise your list after your dialogue experience (if you manage to do that).
Part 2 is strongly recommended but optional (because it is more difficult this year than normal to arrange for conversation). You can raise your grade up to a full letter by doing this well (and if your paper would otherwise be in the A range, your points will be applied to your total score in the course. This part is a 1-2 page report of a conversation with a Muslim. Do not simply give me detailed notes on the conversation, but give an overview and share highlights; mention how well you did in following your principles; and include your reflections upon having had the experience.
If you are Muslim or someone already quite familiar with Muslims and their expressions of their own faith, please see me to arrange an alternative to this part of the assignment.
In the conversation with a Muslim, note that your assignment is not dialogue in the customary sense, where differing views are brought into discussion. Rather, your task is simply to experience the first phase of dialogue. In this case that means that you will facilitate the other’s religious self-expression, so that you can understand that person’s experience of being a Muslim. Try to find out what it is like for that person to be living their faith. What do they do to get closer to the presence of God? Ask about the content of the prayer five times a day and other forms of prayer or worshipful devotion. Ask about their experiences of doing good to others. Of course, you will have other questions about which you are curious.
You will need to be diligent to make arrangements, as this can be difficult at the end of the semester. You are welcome to have these conversations in groups of two or three. I ask that you not have larger groups so that each person has a chance to be active.
Here are some names and (old) e-mail addresses of persons who expressed willingness to talk with our students.
Ibsitu Ahmed <iahmed@kent.edu>
Nany Al-Turk <ialturk@kent.edu>
Alia Awadallah <AliaAwadallah@gmail.com>
Shane Brady <sbrady2@kent.edu>
Anisah Bryant <abryant8@kent.edu>
Maria Butt <mbutt1@kent.edu>
Shahd Haidar <shaidar@kent.edu>
Maram Marijouna <mmanjou1@kent.edu>
Shahbaz Minhas <sminhas1@kent.edu>
Mashfiqur Rahman <mrahman3@kent.edu>
Jamil Adams Sulemana <jsulema1@kent.edu>
Hassan Aboumerhi <hasonator@yahoo.com>
Mahmoud Habbiyyieh <mahmoud2888@gmail.com>
The preceding are members of the Muslim Student Association. The next is one of the Turkish police officers training at KSU.
Serhat Demir <sansayna@yahoo.com>
You are welcome to attend the meetings of the Muslim Students Association, Wednesday afternoons, (there may be a meeting December 1 at 5:30 p.m. in KSC 314). There are Friday prayers at 12:15 in the Kent Student Center 308, and at 2:00 in the Kent Masjid (Mosque), 325 Crain Street. Women should dress modestly and wear a head scarf. You will be asked to remove your shoes. Try to arrange for two or three students from our class to meet with a couple of Muslims out of consideration for everyone’s time schedule at the end of the semester. There is also a mosque on 152 E. Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls a little west of Route 8 and the Unity Center, 10909 Chippewa Road Brecksville, meeting around 7:30 p.m http://sites.google.com/site/unitycentermosque/home .
For part three, study the assigned readings, supplemented by other inquiries of your choosing, and write a three page (750 word) essay on the potentials you see in Islam that support hope for good future relations between Muslims and their neighbors around the world. On what levels is peace possible? You need not come to the conclusion that, on balance, things are promising; you may be convinced of the contrary. Nevertheless, in order to make the best of what the situation as you see it, what quotes and evidences give you the greatest leverage for better relations?