Perspectives on Islam: A short-intro course and beginner’s guide.

Recent polls indicate that most Americans have very limited information about Islam and that most do not personally know a Muslim. This series aims to provide information about Islam from a scholarly perceptive as well as present the perspectives and voices of Muslims from Elon’s own community. The goals of this series are: 1) to increase public knowledge about issues relating to Islam; and 2) to encourage people to think more deeply about issues common to all religious traditions and societies. Each episode answers some common questions and concerns and then raises other questions that are left unanswered. We hope that instructors will use these open questions to encourage debate, dialogue, and questioning.

Forthcoming episodes to be released throughout Fall 2017:

Gender in the Qur’an
Friends and Lovers of God

Available Videos

Advice to young journalists | Community Voices (Perspectives on Islam)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

364

The perspectives of scholars of Islamic Studies often differ from those of non-scholars who identify as Muslims. This episode asks Muslim members of our own community how they feel about news coverage of Islam and what advice they would give to young reporters or journalism students. About the Perspectives on Islam series: Recent polls indicate

How do we talk about Islam? | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

1599

What does Islam think? What does Islam say? Why are there so many contradicting answers to these questions, which seem so simple? This introductory episode discusses why these questions are so difficult to answer and examines the diversity of Muslim cultures and identities. Presented by Ariela Marcus-Sells, Religious Studies. About the Perspectives on Islam series:

Violence here and abroad | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

952

Debates over mass attacks committed by Muslims have become a feature of American political discussions. This episode provides information about definitions of the word “terrorism;” covers the historical background of al-Qaeda and ISIS; and then examines violence in American more broadly. The goal of this video is to allow people to bring more informed opinions

Terrorism and the media | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

638

Journalists and new outlets play a large role in presenting information about Islam and Muslims to American audiences. This episode examines the role of media outlets in shaping American concerns about terrorism and raises questions about the responsible production and consumption of the news. Presented by Ariela Marcus-Sells, Religious Studies. About the Perspectives on Islam

Muhammad and the Qur’an | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

1093

Many non-Muslims approach the Qur’an expecting a work similar to the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament only to find that the Qur’an is structured very differently from other scriptural traditions. This episode will provide a brief overview of how internal Muslim tradition presents Muhammad’s biography and how this relates to the unique structure of

Islamic Law | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

994

The institution of Islamic Law is frequently misunderstood and misrepresented in media outlets and political discussions. This episode will compare Islamic law to other legal traditions; discuss how the classical system of Islamic law resulted in legal opinions called fatwas; and then briefly cover how elements of this classical system changed in the modern period.

Friends and Lovers of God | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam Series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

921

Americans tend to ask many questions about Islamic Law and very few about Islamic philosophy, poetry, art, or music. This episode introduces an Islamic tradition called Sufism, which most Americans have never heard of. The episode begins with a historical look at the foundations of this movement in Baghdad, briefly traces the rise of Sufi

Difficult Scripture: Gender in the Qur’an | Ariela Marcus-Sells (Perspectives on Islam series)

Teaching & Learning Technologies

646

All ancient texts pose problems for contemporary readers, and the Qur’an is no different. Several sections of the Qur’an present difficulties for Muslim and non-Muslim readers who are committed to ethics of non-violence, gender equality, or inter-communal acceptance. This episode will examine one difficult verse from the Qur’an that discusses the relationship between husbands and