REL 250. Islamic Religious Traditions

3.00
What constitutes Islam and how has it been defined throughout history? Who represents and speaks for Islam? How have we come to our Islamic studies archive and how does it impact how we view Islam? We will discover the different ways Muslims and non-Muslims have answered these questions, in different places, times and social contexts. Based on the most recent research and original source material, we will cover major themes of Islamic religious thought including the Qur’ān and its interpretation, the intellectual history of Islam, Sufism, Islamic law, and Muslim reform and revivalism.We will explore how these components have manifested in diverse cultures throughout Islam’s history. In addition to gaining a solid understanding of the problems associated with the study of Islam, successful completion of this course should also equip students with the tools required to analyze broader theoretical issues pertinent to the study of religion. A further goal of this course is to provide a strong theoretical foundation in religious studies so that students are able to think and speak about religion in an informed and insightful manner. The scope of this course is not limited to Islam, as the example of Islam will be used as a case study to wrestle with broader intellectual issues relating to the intersection among religion, history and politics.