Classroom: University Hall 3218
CRN: 44083, Section 1
Tuesdays evenings, 7:15 to 9:45 pm
Professor: Amir Hussain
Office: University Hall, Room 3724
Phone: (310) 338-5987 (or Department of Theological Studies at 338-7670)
Email: amir.hussain@lmu.edu
Web Page: http://myweb.lmu.edu/ahussain/
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am to noon, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the Islamic religious tradition. There has been a tremendous increase in interest about Islam and Muslims since the attacks on September 11, 2001. After the attacks, there was more coverage about Islam than ever before in the American news media. Unfortunately, most of this coverage was biassed at best and inaccurate at worst. We will begin by reading a book that describes how the news media constructs reality. Having discussed media constructions of Muslim lives, we will then start our study of Islam by examining the historical developments of Islam. We will begin with a discussion of pre-Islamic Arabia before examining the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an and the Hadith will also be discussed in this first section. Finally, we will discuss Islamic religious practices and law to end this first section.
The second part of the course will examine aspects of Islamic civilization and culture. We will begin with a discussion of the split between Sunni and Shi‘i Islam. Next we will turn to an examination of Sufism, the mystical tradition in Islam. We will then discuss various Muslim communities through an examination of the life of several Muslim cities. In this section, we will discuss aspects of Islamic philosophy.
The final part of the course will be concerned with the modern phenomenon of Islam. We will examine themes such as the Nation of Islam, the role of Islam in Canada and the United States, and the study of Islam after September 11, 2001. The roles of women in Islam will be examined throughout this course.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course students will 1) demonstrate that they will think both empathetically and critically about Islam and Muslims; 2) demonstrate knowledge of the histories and cultures of the Muslim world; 3) demonstrate that they have the ability to interpret texts and other cultural phenomena (such as rituals, myths, architecture) that have religious presuppositions or implications; 4) demonstrate that they will think both empathetically and critically about conflicting religious claims; and 5) through class participation and written assignments have improved their verbal and written skills.
Statement on the University Mission in Relation to Theological Studies:
Courses in the Department of Theological Studies serve the University Mission to encourage learning, educate the whole person, serve faith and promote justice.
Theological Studies courses encourage learning within the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Catholic tradition. They value imagination and intellect, seeking an integration of different kinds of knowledge, and promote ecumenical and interreligious discourse. They seek to educate the whole person and serve faith by an academic exploration of the possibilities, challenges, and ambiguities of faith, in dialogue with the contemporary world. By their structure and content, they strive to promote justice by encouraging students to engage their theological understanding in a broken world.
Theological Studies courses require students to think, speak, write, and reflect critically about the largest questions of human existence. To do this, students are required also to “acquire the arts of precise and elegant expression, a sound and critical grasp of ideas, a familiarity with the modern world’s ways of knowing itself, a personal understanding of this nation’s history and multicultural heritage, and an appreciation of other cultures and societies around the globe.” (University Bulletin)
Theological Studies courses invite students to become more reflective and responsible persons in their own intellectual, ethical, and spiritual development.
Required Texts:
Neil Postman and Steve Powers, How to Watch TV News revised edition (New York: Penguin, 2008).
Amir Hussain, Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God (Kelowna: Copper House, 2006).
John L. Esposito, The Future of Islam (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010).
Thomas F. Michel, SJ, A Christian View of Islam: Essays on Dialogue (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2010).
A copy of each book is on reserve in Reserve Services of the Library.
Lecture Outlines (including supplementary readings), available from the LMU Bookstore. Please bring these outlines to each class meeting.
Evaluation:
It is important for each student to know at the outset that this course requires daily reading, two book reviews, a research project and presentations. Moreover, regular class attendance and participation are required. Clear, grammatically correct composition and standard spelling are expected on all written assignments. Written assignments should be proofread and edited before being submitted for grading.
Information on the book reviews and the research paper (which will be on a topic of the student’s choice, in consultation with the instructor) will be provided separately during the course. Regular attendance and timely handing-in of the written assignments are mandatory. The dates for handing-in each assignment are given below.
Active class participation will positively affect the student’s final grade. More than one unexcused absence during the semester will negatively affect the student’s grade. The University’s grading policy, including the plus/minus system, will be used. The University’s policy on Academic Honesty (discussed below) will be followed in this course.
Grades will be determined as follows:
15% A book review of 5 pages on the Postman and Powers book, due September 18.
15% A book review of 5 pages on the Esposito, due October 23.
40% A research paper of 25 pages, due November 20.
20% Seminar presentation.
10% Class participation.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Students with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act who need reasonable modifications, special assistance, or accommodations in this course should promptly direct their request to the Disability Support Services Office. Any student who currently has a documented disability (physical, learning, or psychological) needing academic accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office (Daum Hall Room 224, 310-338-4535) as early in the semester as possible. All discussions will remain confidential.
Academic Honesty:
Academic dishonesty will be treated as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that can range from receiving no credit for assignments/tests to expulsion. It is never permissible to turn in any work that has been copied from another student or copied from a source (including Internet) without properly acknowledging the source. It is your responsibility to make sure that your work meets the standard of academic honesty set forth in the“LMU Honor Code and Process” which appears in the LMU Bulletin 2012-2013.
“Normally persons talk about other people’s religions as they are, and about their own as it ought to be”.
—Wilfred Cantwell Smith, 1962
Tentative Nature of the Syllabus:
If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to revision; students are responsible for any changes or modifications distributed in class or posted on the instructor’s web site.
Schedule of Classes:
Aug. 28: “Too much heaven on their minds”. What are we doing in this course and why? Methodological issues in this course. READING: Photocopied handouts: “Some Thoughts on Wilfred and Muriel Smith” by Amir Hussain; “Remarks” by Brian Cantwell Smith; “The Comparative Study of Religion” and “Objectivity and the Failure of the Modern University” by Wilfred Cantwell Smith. Oil and Water, Chapter 1.
Sept. 4: “Here we are now, entertain us”: Islam, Muslims and the American media. READING: Photocopied handouts: Edward R. Murrow speech, Errol Morris pieces. How to Watch TV News.
Sept. 11: No class meeting. Work on book review for next week.
Sept. 18: Book Review Due on How to Watch TV News. Other voices, other rooms. Introducing Islam and Muslims. Research paper and seminar presentations. Pre-Islamic Arabia to the time of Muhammad. Muhammad: The Beloved Prophet. READING: Oil and Water, Chapters 2 and 3. The Future of Islam, Chapter 1.
Sept. 25: The Qur’an. READING: Oil and Water, Chapter 4.
Oct. 2: The religious practices of Islam: The hadith of Gabriel. Islam (submission), Iman (faith) and Ihsan (doing what is beautiful). READING: Oil and Water, Chapter 5. The Future of Islam, Chapter 2.
Oct. 9: Islamic law and religious ethics. The Sunni—Shi‘a split.
Oct. 16: Video on women in Islam. Women and Islam. The impacts of Feminism on Islam. READING: Oil and Water, Chapter 7. The Future of Islam, Chapters 3 and 4.
Oct. 23: Book Review Due on The Future of Islam. Sufism: The mystical dimension of Islam. Islamic theology and philosophy. READING: Oil and Water, Chapter 8.
Oct. 30: Muslims and Law Enforcement: A discussion with Sheriff Leroy Baca and Sgt. Mike Abdeen, County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Islam in the United States.
Nov. 2: Last Day to Withdraw or Apply for Credit/No Credit grading
Nov. 6: Contemporary Islam in the United States: Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. READING: Oil and Water, Chapter 6. A Christian View of Islam, Part I.
Nov. 13: The role of Islam in Canada and the United States. The study of Islam after September 11, 2001. Muslim – Christian Dialogue. READING: Oil and Water, Chapters 9 and 10. A Christian View of Islam, Part II.
Nov. 20: Research Paper Due. The role of Islam in Canada and the United States. The study of Islam after September 11, 2001. Muslim – Christian Dialogue. READING: Oil and Water, Chapters 9 and 10. A Christian View of Islam, Part III.
Nov. 27: Seminar Presentations
Dec. 4: Seminar Presentations