Introduction to Islam WM/AP 647

Transcription

1 Introduction to Islam WM/AP 647 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary D.Min. Fall, 2010 Paul T. Martindale, Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the history, culture, traditions, beliefs and practices of Islam. The various historical manifestations of contemporary Islam will be explored including the rise of modern Islamic Fundamentalism. The text of the Qur an will be studied in chronological order and we will observe and discuss together the development of various doctrines that formed within the changing context of the early Islamic community in Mecca and Medina. The theology and culture of Islamic thought will be compared to that of Evangelical Christianity as a means of more effectively understanding both. This course will also integrate the professor s practical experience of working with Muslims in the hope of exploring ways the gospel can be most effectively communicated to members of the Islamic faith, the second largest and fastest growing religion in the world today. Required Textbooks: Abdul-Haqq, Abdiyah Akbar Sharing Your Faith with a Muslim, Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis. Arberry, A.J The Koran Interpreted. Simon & Schuster. N.Y., N.Y. Geisler, Norman L. & Abdul Saleb Answering Islam, Baker Books. Hitti, Philip K The Arabs: A Short History. Washington D.C., Gateway editions. Riddell, Peter G. and Peter Cotterell. Islam in Context. Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI. Selected Journal Articles: Decker, Frank. When Christian does not Translate. Mission Frontiers 27, no. 5 (Sept. Oct. 2005): Garrison, David. Church Planting Movements vs. Insider Movements: Missiological Realities vs. Mythiological Speculations. International Journal of Frontier Mission, 21, no. 4 (Winter 2004): Massey, Joshua. God s Amazing Diversity in Drawing Muslims to Christ. International Journal of Frontier Missions 17, no. 1 (Spring 2000): Misunderstanding C-5: His Ways are not Our Orthodoxy. Evangelical Missions Quarterly 40, no. 3 (July 2004): Parshall, Phil Danger! New Directions in Contextualization. EvangelicalMissions Quarterly 34, no. 4 (1998): Tennent, Timothy. The Challenge of Churchless Christianity: An Evangelical Assessment, International Bulletin of Missionary Research 29, no. 4 (October 2005):

2 Followers of Jesus (Isa) in Islamic Mosques: A Closer Examination of C-5 high spectrum Contextualization, International Journal of Frontier Missions 23, no. 3, (Fall, 2006): Requirements of Course: 1. Research Paper You are to submit a research paper on a topic of your choosing, although it must meet the following standards to be acceptable: 1. It must be on a subject matter related to the course material. 2. A thesis statement must be submitted by October 18 th at class time. This thesis statement should also note at least five sources and it must be received back with approval from the professor. 3. The paper must be a minimum of twelve typed pages (double space, 12 pt. type) long, following acceptable standards of form and style. A cover sheet will be provided by the professor which outlines the specific criteria by which the paper will be graded. 4. Your paper must be prefaced with a synopsis of your entire paper which should not exceed 100 words as well as a detailed outline of the entire paper. 5. It must be turned in by November 19 th. 6. The professor reserves the right to deduct 5% from the grade if the paper is submitted late. 2. Apologetic Response Each student must choose ONE of the following choices: 1. Interview a Muslim and discuss your faith in Jesus Christ. What are the major objections that the Muslim has to Christianity or the Christian faith? What confusions about the Christian gospel did you detect in the conversation. Submit a report of your interview which answers the two questions. 2. Spend at least five hours witnessing to Muslims and write a report of your experience. Note: The above two projects can easily be fulfilled through a single trip to Harvard Square, an area mosque, a dialogue meeting, or the Turkish Cultural Center. There are thousands of Muslims who live, study and work within immediate driving distance of the Seminary. 3. Choose five key challenges which Islam poses against the Christian faith and write up a cogent, theologically informed, apologetic response to each of the five challenges. For example, a key challenge could be an issue like the so-called corruptible Bible or the challenge that Christians are not monotheists, etc The apologetic response is due by December 3 rd. The professor reserves the right to deduct 5% from the grade if work is submitted late. 3. Final Exam There will be a FINAL EXAM covering the lectures and readings in this course. The Final Exam will occur between Dec. 13 th and Dec. 17 th as per the Registrar s schedule. 4. Reading of Textbooks

3 3 On the last day of classes you will be asked to turn in the reading assignments list showing the reading you completed for the course. 5. Attendance Perfect attendance is encouraged and will greatly enhance your ability to perform well on the exams and comprehend the daily readings. In consideration of the rest of the class, please TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES during the instructional period. Grading Reading of textbooks 25% Research Paper 30% Apologetic Response 15% Final Exam 30% 100% The Grading Scale is as follows: A+ : ; A: 96-94; A-: 90-93; B+: 89-87; B: 86-84; B-: 83-80; C+ : 79-77; C: 76-74; C-: 73-70; D+ : 69-67; D: 66-64; D-: F: 59-0 Review of Key Dates: Oct. 18 th Thesis statements due Nov. 19 th Research Papers Due Dec. 3 rd Apologetic Response Due Dec. 9 th Reading Report due TBA Final Exam (see Registrar s Office) Course Schedule of Topics: Introduction to Course Islam in the context of the 21 st century Pre-Islamic Arabia Mohammad, the Prophet and the rise of Islam Qur an: The foundation of the Islamic World-View Central Articles of Islamic Da wah vs Jihad in Islamic thought Historical Development of Islam after Mohammad Role of Tradition: Hadith, Sunna and Isnad Role of Tradition and the Islamic Shari a Sharia, fatwa, and quiya The Gate of Ijtihad and other issues related to Islamic views of revelation Schools of Law in Sunni and Shia tradition Mystical Islam, Sufi brotherhoods and folk Islam Case Study: The practice of Islam in the African context Case Studies in Islamic Church Planting Theological Spotlight: Allah vs. God: terminology and meaning Theological Spotlight: Insider Movements. Is C-5 the way ahead? Islamic Fundamentalism Islam as a Religion of Peace / Why is Osama bin Laden Angry? Witnessing to Muslims in the modern world

4 4 Theological Issues in the Qur an: Jesus Christ in the Qur an Christianity and Islam: Theological and Apologetic Issues Select Bibliography Abbas, Hassan. Pakistan s Drift into Extremism. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Abdul-Haqq, Abdiyah Akbar. Sharing Your Faith with a Muslim. Bethany, Abdul, Muhammmad. The Theology of Unity (K. Cragg, trans.) New York, Humanities Press, Adeney, Miriam. Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslims Women. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, Arberry, A. J. The Doctrine of the Sufis. Cambridge University Press, Sufism: An Account of the Mystics of Islam. New York, Harper, Athar, Shahid. Reflections of an American Muslim. Chicago: Kazi Pub., Ayoub, M. Towards an Islamic Christology Muslim World, LXX, (1980): Beck, Lois Grant. Women in the Muslim World, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, Bowman, John. The Debt of Islam to Monophysite Syrian Christianity Netherlands Theologisch Tijdschrift, XIX, ( ): Cook, David. Understanding Jihad. Los Angeles: University of California Press, Coulson, Noel. A History of Islamic Law. Edinburgh University Press, Cragg, Kenneth. The Call of the Minaret. Maryknoll, Orbis Press, The Christ and the Faiths. Westminster Press, Jesus and the Muslim. London: George, Allen and Unwin, Danielou, J. The History of Early Christian Doctrine Before the Council of Nicea, vol. 1. London: DLT, Dretke, James P. A Christian Approach to Muslims. William Carey, Elder, E. E. The Crucifixion in the Qur an, Muslim World. XIII (1923): Esposito, John L. Islam: The Straight Path. New York, Oxford University Press, Fadl, Khaled Abou El. The Place of Toleration in Islam. Boson: Beacon Press, Fry, George C. Islam: A Survey of the Muslim Faith. Baker, Gatje, H. The Qur an and its Exegesis: Selected Texts with Classical and Modern Interpretations (trans.and edited A. Welch) London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, Geertz, Clifford. Islam Observed. University of Chicago Press, Geisler, Norman L. and Saleeb, Abdul Saleeb. Answering Islam: The Crescent in the Light of the Cross. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, George, Timothy. Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Greeson, Kevin. Camel Training Manual. Bangalore, India: Wigtake Resources, Guillaume, Alfred. Islam. New York, Penguin Press, Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and Smith, Jane Idleman. Mission to America, Gainesville, University Press of Florida, Haddad, Yvonne and Wadi Haddad, eds., Christian-Muslim Encounters, Gainesville, University Press of Florida, 1995.

5 Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and John L. Esposito, eds. Muslims on the Americanization Path. Atlanta: Scholars Press, Haley, Alex. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine, Hunter, Shireen T. Islam in Russia. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Jafri, S. H. M. The Origin and Development of Shi a Islam. London: Longman, Katsh, A. I. Judaism and the Koran New York, Perpetua, Levtzion, Nehemia, ed. Conversion to Islam. New York: Holmes and Meier Pub., Lewis, Bernard. Islam and the West. Oxford University Press, Marsh, C. R. Share Your Faith with a Muslim. Chicago: Moody, Millard, Mike. Jihad in Paradise. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Momen, M. An Introduction to Shi a Islam, Yale, University Press, Mottahedeh, R. The Mantle of the Prophet. New York, Pantheon, Muller, Roland. Honor and Shame: Unlocking the Door. Xlibris.com, Parinder, Geoffrey. Jesus in the Qur an. Oxford, One World, Parshall, P. Beyond the Mosque. Baker, Bridges to Islam. Baker, New Paths in Muslim Evangelism. Baker, The Cross and the Crescent. Tyndale, Parsons, Martin. Unveiling God: Contextualizing Christology for Islamic Culture. Pasadena: William Carey Library, Peters, F. E. A Reader on Classical Islam. Princeton University Press, Robinson, Neal. Christ in Islam and Christianity. SUNY, The Qur an as the Word of God. See, Linzey, A. and Wexler, P. Heaven and Earth: Essex Essays in Theology and Ethics, Worthing: Churchman, 1986 (pp ).. Creating Birds from Clay Muslim World, LXXIX/1, (1989): Ruthven, Malise. Islam in the World, 3 rd edition. (Oxford University Press, 2006). Saal, William J. Reaching Muslims for Christ. Moody, Saleeb, Abdul, Geisler, N. Answering Islam. Baker, Schimmel, Annemarie. Islam: An Introduction. NY State Univ. Press, Smith, Paul J., ed. Terrorism and Violence in Southeast Asia. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Speight, Marston R. God is One: The Way of Islam. New York: Friendship Press, Starr, S. Frederick. Xinjiang: China s Muslim Borderland. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Swidler, Leonard, ed. Muslims in Dialogue: The Evolution of a Dialogue. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, Tennent, T. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Trimingham, J. S. Christianity Among the Arabs in Pre-Islamic Times, London and New York, Longman, VanGorder, Christian A. No God but God: A Path to Muslim-Christian Dialogue on God s Nature. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, Watt, Montgomery. Companion to the Qur an. One World Pub., Muhammad at Mecca. Oxford University Press, Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press, Williams, J. Alden. The Word of Islam. University of Texas Press, Wolfson, H. A. The Muslim Attributes and the Christian Trinity. Harvard Theological Review, XLIX/1 (1956):

6 6 Zaehner, R. C. At Sundry Times: An Essay in Comparative Religions, London, Faber and Faber, Zebiri, Kate. Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oxford: One World, DON T FORGET THE CD S IN THE LIBRARY: For example the wonderful ten volume, Encyclopedia of Islam is available on CD!