|
Academic Programs
|
|
The
Practice of Christian-Muslim Dialogue in North America
(CM-696)
Fall
2003 |
|
|
|
Contact
Information:
phone: (860)
509-9500
email:
|
Course
Syllabus
Class web site
|
Purpose:
The course is designed to give participants an opportunity to consider the
current state of the conversation between Muslims and Christians in America,
particularly in light of both growing tensions and heightened efforts at mutual
understanding since 9-11. Students will learn something of the history of
relations between the two religions, what efforts are currently underway, what
kinds of dialogue have and have not been successful in the American context, and
where future efforts need to be made. We will also have several occasions in the
course to consider the relationship of the Muslim-Christian dialogue to the
three-way “Abrahamic” conversation including members of the Jewish
tradition.
Structure:
Each class session will be a combination of presentation and
discussion. Within the context of the course two major dialogue
sessions will be held. Presenters in these sessions will be
Christians and Muslims from across the country who have
participated extensively in local and national dialogues and have
written about the nature of interfaith conversation. They will
share with the audience their hopes for “next steps” in the
engagement between the two faith traditions. Students will study
the writings and contributions of these visitors, and act as their
hosts for the dialogue meetings.
Assignments:
-
From
the Hartford Seminary bookstore:
-
Charles
Kimball, Striving Together: A Way Forward in
Christian-Muslim Relations
-
Marston
Speight, God is One: The Way of Islam
-
Written
and/or oral responses to selected weekly readings assigned by
the instructor (available at cost in Xerox).
-
Research
on individual participants in two national dialogues to be
shared with the class.
-
A
final evaluative essay based on the materials of the class,
details to be worked out between student and instructor.
Meeting
Schedule:
9-10
Introduction
9-17
Brief history of Christian-Muslim relations; guest Rev.
Jamie Harrison
Reading:
(a) Darroll Bryant, “Overcoming History: On the possibilities of
Muslim-Christian Dialogue,” in Bryant and
Ali, Muslim-Christian Dialogue, (b) Hugh Goddard,
“Dialogue or Confrontation?” in Goddard, A History of
Christian-Muslim Relations, (c) Joseph Hough, “Christian
Revelation and Religious Pluralism” (typescript)
9-24 Islam in America; ecumenical and interfaith dialogue today
with guest President Heidi Hadsell
Reading:
(a) Sulayman Nyang, “Challenges Facing Christian-Muslim Dialogue
in the United States,” in Haddad and Haddad, eds., Christian-Muslim
Encounters, (b) Jane Smith, “Christian-Muslim-Jewish
Dialogue in Denver, CO,” in Bryant and Ali, Muslim-Christian Dialogue
10-1 On-line discussion – no classroom meeting [instructions
will be given in class]
Reading:
(a) Jean-Claude Basset, “Has Christian-Muslim Dialogue Already
Begun? In Jacques Waardenburg, ed., Muslim-Christian
Perceptions of Dialogue Today, (b) Kate Zebiri, “Factions
Influencing Muslim-Christian Relations,” in Zebiri, Muslims
and Christians Face to Face, (c) Kenneth Cragg, “Isma’il
al Faruqi in the Field of Dialogue,” in Haddad and Haddad, Christian-Muslim
Encounters
10-8
Discussion of Kimball and Speight; guest Marston Speight
Reading:
(a) Marston Speight, God is One, (b) Charles Kimball, Striving
Together (you may skim library copy if not available in
bookstore)
10-15 Preparation for dialogue meeting (students share findings
on participants)
Reading:
(a) Muhammad Abu-Nimr, “The Miracles of Transformation through
Interfaith Dialogue,” in David Smock, ed., Interfaith
Dialogue and Peacebuilding, (b) Amir Hussein, “Muslims,
pluralism and interfaith dialogue,” in Omid Safi, ed., Progressive
Muslims, (c) Marcia Hermansen, “How to put the genie back in
the bottle: ‘Identity’ Islam and Muslim youth cultures in
America,” in Progressive Muslims
10-22 NATIONAL DIALOGUE MEETING [Reading Week]
10-29
No Class (substitute for Reading Week)
Reading:
(a) Michael Wyschogrod, “Islam and Christianity in the
Perspective of Judaism,” in Isma’il al Faruqi, Trialogue of
the Abrahamic Faiths, (b) Krister Stendahl, “Judaism and
Islam in the Perspective of Christianity,” in Trialogue,
(c) Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rauf, “Judaism and Christianity in the
Perspective of Islam,” in Trialogue
11-5 Evaluation of dialogue session; guest Rabbi Jonathan
Magonet on Jewish-Christian-Muslim
relations
Reading:
(a) Ataullah Siddiqui, “Issues in Co-Existence and Dialogue:
Muslims and Christians in Britain,” in Waardenburg, Muslim-Christian
Perceptions of Dialogue Today, (b) Jonathan Magonet, Talking
to the Other. Jewish Interfaith Dialogue with Christians and
Muslims, chapter 8.
11-12 On-line discussion – no classroom meeting
Reading:
(a) Jane Smith, “Seyyed Hossein Nasr and the Muslim-Christian
Encounter,” (typescript), (b) John Esposito, “The Threat of
Islam: Myth or Reality?” in Kung and Moltmann, eds., Islam: A
Challenge for Christianity, (c) Muhammad Arkoun, “Is Islam
Threatened by Christianity?” in Kung and Moltmann, Islam: A
Challenge
11-19 Preparation for second dialogue (students share findings on
participants)
Reading:
(a) Amina Wadud, “American Muslim identity: race and ethnicity
in progressive Islam,” in Safi, Progressive
Muslims, (b) Michael
Wolfe, ed., Taking
Back Islam. American Muslims Reclaim their Faith (selections),
(c) Jaco Cillers, “Building Bridges for Interfaith Dialogue,”
in Smock, Interfaith Dialogue
12-3 NATIONAL DIALOGUE MEETING
12-10 Evaluation of sessions; planning with local partners for
future
dialogues
12-17
Conclusion
|
