Lectures to aid awareness of Islam
By Sam Eaton
Staff Reporter

The Department of Extended Education is co-sponsoring a lectureship series called, “A Closer Look...Islam,” that will bring experts to speak on Islamic religion, culture and politics because of the growing interest in the topic, said David Grebel, director of Extended Education.

“We realized early on that the community had an interest in the faith itself, but we also wanted to stream some topics that showed some other facets of Islam,” Grebel said. “We want people to realize that Islam, like any other faith, is not monolithic. It has a variety of expressions and a wide variety of influences.”

Barnes & Noble Booksellers is also sponsoring the event, and hosts the lectures at 7p.m. at 1615 S. University Dr. on the third Wednesday of every month from January through April.

The spring lectureship on Islam is the first in a series that the Department of Extended Education plans to continue with different topics each semester.

The first speaker on Islam was Yushau Sodiq, associate professor of religion, who spoke Jan. 16 on the many facets of Islam.

Sodiq said his speech provided an overview of Islam and he was pleased with the turn-out of 75 people at his lecture.

“I talked about what Islam is all about and how Muslims felt after Sept. 11,” Sodiq said.

“In order for all of us to live together, we have to be tolerant of one another.”

Ahmad Karimi Hakak, a professor of Persian literature and civilization at the University of Washington, gave a speech on modern Persian poetry Sunday.

Manochehr Dorraj, associate professor of political science, will give the next lecture about Islamic culture on Feb. 20.

Dorraj said a common understanding of differing cultures is the way to free the world of hate.

“When bridges of understanding are built, when our common humanity is discovered and recognized, it’s more likely that we may be able to reach a peaceful resolution of conflict,” Dorraj said.

Dorraj said his presentation will focus on the political attributes of Islamic culture.

“I’m interested in how the political systems project themselves in international relations, including the relation of the Muslim world with the West,” Dorraj said.

Grebel said the speaker for March will be religion faculty member Brent Plate who will discuss Islam in the arts. He said April’s speaker has not yet been determined, but the topic will have something to do with social issues within the Islam community.

The Department of Extended Education exists to provide non-credit programming to the community and provide faculty resources to the community, Grebel said.

Sam Eaton
s.m.eaton@student.tcu.edu

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002