Summer 2016/Pasadena

MR556

Accad

MR556: CURRENT TRENDS IN ISLAM (4 Units: 160 Hours). Martin Accad.

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, particularly as they relate to conflict and current global affairs. The course will focus on history, politics and ideologies of the past 120 years or so, with special attention given to the impact of colonialism and Western ideas, Zionism, the emergence of the nation-state, the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate, reform movements from fundamentalist to liberal, Nationalisms of various kinds, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the establishment of the State of Israel, the Iranian Revolution, Palestinian Intifadas, the Gulf Wars, Al-Qaida, September 11, and finally the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ and the emergence of ISIS, with special attention to future prospects and the fate of numeric minorities, including Eastern Christianity in the MENA region. Students will research the unity and diversity of responses to these stimuli and their impact across the world. Responses that will be studied include modernism, revivalism, fundamentalism, radicalism, and liberalism. The implications of these trends and events for a Christian understanding and practice of the Church’s mission in the world will be explored.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have (1) developed an appreciation for the diversity that exists in the Muslim world today; (2) understand the historical elements that have led to the current observable trends in Islam; and (3) explored ways that the Church is interacting and can interact appropriately with contemporary Muslims.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets daily for eight-hour sessions as a one-week intensive for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: 1552 total number of pages required. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Afsaruddin, Asma. Contemporary Issues in Islam. Edinburgh University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0748632770, Pub. Price $34.95 [288 pp.].

Chapman, Colin. Whose Promised Land? The continuing conflict over Israel and Palestine. 5th revised edition, Lion Hudson, 2015. ISBN: 978-0745970257, Pub. Price $19.95 [464 pp.].

Jabbour, Nabeel T. The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian. NavPress, 2008. ISBN: 978-1600061950, Pub. Price $14.99 [272 pp.].

Qutb, Sayyid. Milestones (Maʿālim fī aṭ-Ṭarīq, 1965). English Edition, Islamic Book Service, 2006. ISBN: 978-8172312442, Pub. Price: $6.50 [160 pp.]

Said, Edward W. Orientalism (25th Anniversary Edition with a New Preface by the Author). Vintage Books, New York, 1979. ISBN: 978-0394740676, Pub. Price $16.95 [368 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: See course syllabus for recommended texts in areas of special interest and additional bibliography for final papers on regional Islam.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1552 pages of required reading [83 hours].

  2. Students will work in small groups in the classroom during a portion of each day to develop the profile of a specific country or cluster of countries in a specific region, researching the impact of the themes studied in class in producing specific trends and movements related to Islam. On the last and fifth day of class, a class-wide conversation will be moderated to compare trends and discuss missional, dialogical, and peacebuilding opportunities across the world (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [10 hours of class time].

  3. Complete 4 short Essays based on reading and class material. These will be about 500 words each and one will be due each day of the class, from Tuesday to Friday. Students will be encouraged to start reading for these assignments in advance of the beginning of the course. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [12 hours].

  4. A 2500-word written assignment in which students will provide a Biblical assessment and missiological reflection on a current event, trend or movement within the Muslim world (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [25 hours]

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills C1 requirement in 120 MDiv. Meets 144 MDiv requirement in Missions (MIN 8). Meets SOT MA Globalization (GLBL) requirement. Serves as a course substitute for MB501. Option to meet the C1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAM: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.