What does it mean to be modern? Should a religious tradition adapt in response to modern technological, political, economic, or social change? If so, how? These are just some of the questions that Muslim thinkers and believers have asked themselves since the 18th and 19th centuries, as they have engaged the global transformations commonly known as 'modernity'.
Our examination of modern Islam in all its diversity considers a wide range of themes. These can include: new approaches to reading the Qur'an and Scripture; the impact of material goods and modern technologies; women's religious authority; Islamic law in the courtroom and nation-state; democracy, politics, and social activism; traditionalism and environmentalism; as well as the often fraught debates around the emergence of groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
The course's geographical center of gravity is the Middle East, and we also consider other key regions including sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. By the end of the course, students will have gained an understanding of key Muslim responses to the global transformations commonly known as modernity. They will acquire the skills to critically analyze widely used concepts such as 'tradition' to explore in depth both the work of Muslim intellectuals and the everyday experiences of ordinary believers in modern times.
Pre-Requisites: Introduction to Islamic Civilization preferred but not required.
Course Attributes: EN H; AS HUM; AS LCD; FA HUM; AR HUM
