Summer 2014/Fuller Live!

Houston, Seattle

MR556

Reisacher

MR556: CURRENT TRENDS IN ISLAM (4 Units: 120 hours). Evelyne Reisacher.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of the background and basic beliefs and practices of the various manifestations of Islam today. Consideration will be given to the impact of colonialism, Western ideas, the emergence of the Nation-State, the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate, and other developments in the twenty-first century, and the unity and diversity of the responses to these stimuli across the world. Responses that will be studied include modernism, revivalism, fundamentalism, radicalism, and liberalism. The implications of these trends for a Christian understanding and praxis will be explored.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Develop an appreciation for the diversity that exists in the Muslim world today; (2) Come to an understanding of the historical elements that have led to the current observable trends in Islam; (3) Formulate ways that the Church is interacting and can interact appropriately with contemporary Muslims

COURSE FORMAT: Class meets in Seattle and in Houston in a two-week intensive format with the professor spending a week at each location. The course will also make use of forums in Moodle to encourage broader class interaction.

REQUIRED READING: 1,016 total number of pages required. (Plus additional readings for final paper)

Bell, Steve and Colin Chapman. Between Naivety and Hostility: How Should Christians Respond to Islam in Britain? Authentic Media, 2011. ISBN: 978-1850789574, Pub. Price: $11.00 [304 pp.]

Donohue, John J. and John L. Esposito. Islam in Transition: Muslim Perspectives. 2^nd edition. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0195174311, Pub. Price: $47.95 [528 pp.]

Schimmel, Annemarie. Islam: An Introduction. State University of New York Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0791413289, Pub. Price: $24.95. [184 pp.]

Additional readings for final paper on regional Islam.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. A 1000-word essay on a Muslim movement (25%).
2. One in-class presentation on an author or person related to the readings (25%).
3. A 2500-word written assignment in which students will develop the profile of a specific country, region, movement, or group of contemporary Muslims, then provide a Biblical assessment and missiological reflection on their subject (50%).

PREREQUISITES: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN 8). Meets SOT MA Globalization (GLBL) requirement. Serves as a course substitute for MB501.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.