RELI 2274 - Islam in Western Media: A Deconstruction

Institution:

New College of Florida

Subject:

Religion

Description:

This course is an introduction to Islam as a religious faith through a critic of Western media: what it does is use Western media portrayals of Islam and Muslims as a starting point for inquiry into the topics of class. In each session the students will learn to deconstruct common misleading information they find in the media and online by reading and analyzing academic sources and primary accounts in translation in order to expose students to the traditional accounts preserved by Muslims. Each session will start off with information gathered through the media analyzed in conjunction with the source material included in this course. In terms of topics covered, the course emphasizes classical developments but will also delve into modern expressions of the faith. We will start with the examination of the scholarly study of Islam in the West and the problems linked with orientalism. We will then move on to an analysis of the context of the pre-Islamic Near East and its religious landscape. We will look at pre-Islamic Arabia, its social features, and the various groups that lived in the area. A following session will be devoted to the life of Prophet Muhammad based on primary sources. We will examine the rise of the early Muslim community as well as the meaning of the first Qur'anic revelations. We will devote a session to the Qur'an, the word of God, and its features and main themes. We will also learn about the five pillars of Islam, their history and meaning for Muslims' everyday life. The early Islamic conquests will be another topic of analysis, along with the emergence of Shi'ism and the differences between Sunni and Shi'a Islam in terms of beliefs and practices. The Sunna of the Prophet and Hadith traditions will be explained, looking at the role they play in Islamic theology. Further topics include: Islamic Law, the Islamic Mystic Tradition (Sufism), Islam and Science, Women and Family in Islam. A final section devoted to modern Islam will include topics such as Revival Movements in Islam, Islam in Africa, Islam in Asia, and Muslims in the West.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.ncf.edu

Phone Number:

(941) 487-5000

Regional Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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