Reform inContempIslamicThought

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

It has been argued that the Muslim world is in crisis. For many this crisis is centered upon religious authority which has become increasingly pluralized, and increasingly contested. This course will explore arguments for intellectual reform in Islamic Thought starting in the 19th century by systematically reading the texts of international reform intellectuals. By doing so, this course will explore the various ways in which Islamic authority has been defined and redefined in contemporary Muslim societies. Additionally, this class will explore the complexity of this topic by looking at various external circumstances to the debate such as globalization, mass migration, colonization and the commodification of knowledge. By the end of the course, students should be able to: understand political, social and religious causes for reform movements; meaningfully engage with various reform arguments, and; identify points of convergence and divergence between various groups and actors.