Public Lecture by John L. Esposito

Dear friends,

SIS is pleased to invite you and your friends to our upcoming PUBLIC LECTURE by the renowned scholar Prof John Esposito of Georgetown University, Washington DC. He has written more than 35 books and his recent publication (200 is Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. We hope you won’t miss the opportunity to attend this interesting and thought-provoking lecture and participate in the discussion, particularly on Malaysian context.

Please confirm your kind attendance with Ms Azareena at 03 77856121 or azareena@sistersinislam.org.my.

Synopsis

In the 21st century, Islam will continue to vie with evangelical Christianity as the fastest growing of the world’s religions. Religion continues to be a powerful component in Muslim politics and society, a source for spirituality and guidance, of peace and reconciliation as well as of opposition and violence. Key questions and issues remain the subject of concern, debate and fears among many Muslims and non-Muslims alike: Is the future of Islam to be one of reformation or revolution? How representative and widespread is Islamic fundamentalism? Is it a threat to Muslim societies and the West? Are Islam and modernity compatible? Is Islam compatible with modern notions of democracy, rule of law, gender equality and human rights? Can Muslim minority communities be loyal citizens in America and Europe or for that matter Thailand and the Philippines?

Brief Biodata:

John L. Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. Esposito specializes in Islam, political Islam from North Africa to Southeast Asia, and Religion and International Affairs.

He is editor-in-chief of the four-volume The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, The Oxford History of Islam, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, The Islamic World: Past and Present, the six-volume The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World and Oxford Islamic Studies Online. His more than thirty five books include Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (with Dalia Mogahed), Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, Islam and Politics, Political Islam: Radicalism, Revolution or Reform?, Islam and Democracy (with J. Voll).

His writings have been translated into more than 28 languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Bahasa Indonesia, Urdu, European languages, Japanese and Chinese.

A former president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America and the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies, he is currently a member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100 Leaders, the High Level Group of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations and President of the Executive Scientific Committee for La Maison de la Mediterranee’s 2005-2010 project, “The Mediterranean, Europe and Islam: Actors in Dialogue.” Esposito is a recipient of the American Academy of Religion’s 2005 Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion and of Pakistan’s Quaid-i-Azzam Award for Outstanding Contributions in Islamic Studies. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and to governments, corporations, universities, and the media. In 2003 he received the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University Award for Outstanding Teaching.