Islam, Then and Now

Richard Nolte

Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. - Noon
October 2 - November 20, 2003
Kendal - Card Room

Islam is the religion of 1.2 billion Muslims world-wide, second only to Christianity. It is also the fastest growing. But in the U.S. it is generally misunderstood and even attacked as an enemy to be feared. An exploration of Islamic origins, history and present-day realities will attempt to offset lack of knowledge and misapprehension about Islam.

Course participants will take up the origins of Islam in the first two sessions, meeting jointly with members of Tony Neidecker's class on Saudi Arabia. Subsequent sessions will deal with the theory and history of Islamic Law (the Sharia's), Shi'as vs. Sunnis, the Iranian revolution and Islamic fundamentalism, Sufism, and related matters. Videotapes on Muhammad, and Muslims today will be a part of the course together with possible brief reports volunteered by participants on particular topics of interest.

Class is limited to 20 participants.

Richard Nolte Yale degrees in history, international relations; Oxford degrees in oriental studies (Arabic, Muslim Law); wartime Navy pilot; fellowship on and in the Middle East 1947-54; American Universities Field Staff 1953-58; Ex-Director, Institute of Current World Affairs 1959-78; U.S. Ambassador to Egypt 1967; International Advisory Associates, 1980-90. Chairman Emeritus, American Geographical Society, etc. Resident in Kendal since October, 2001.