The 10th lecture in the Islamic Literacy Series is entitled “Islam, Modernity and Reform” and will be presented by Abbas Rattani. 
The lecture will explore the question of whether there is a clash between the “Western” world and “Muslim world?” It will examine what some of the leading intellectuals in Islamic thought are discussing today including an introductory survey of current intellectual discourse regarding topics of human rights, theology, politics, and identity. We will consider the intellectual contributions of Tariq Ramadan, Abdullahi an-Na’im, Nasr Abu Zayd, Shirin Ebadi, and others.
Date: March 31, 2010
Time: 6:45pm
Place: Huntsman Hall (Wharton Building) – Room G92
All students are welcome to attend. If you are not a student, but would like to attend please email azulfiqa@sas.upenn.edu or call 215.645.2073
PIZZA WILL BE SERVED
Speaker Bio: Abbas Rattani is currently pursuing a Masters at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is studying Islamic perspectives of moral theory, medical ethics, and metaphysics. He received his Bachelor’s from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Biology and Religious Studies with a focus on Islamic Studies under Carl W. Ernst and Omid Safi. While at UNC, his primary interests included Islamic formative history (Sunnism, Shi’ism, ands sectarianism), Islamic reform & modernity, pedagogical approaches to the Quran, and philosophy of religion; having taught a course at his institution on the Sunni/Shia conflict, and publishing his honors thesis on Islamic sectarianism. Apart from being an academic, he is also known to some as a Muslim hip hop artist and stand-up comedian.
Directions: Huntsman Hall is located at 3730 Walnut Street. The build is on the corner of 38th Street, between Walnut and Locust Walk. The entrance for the building is on Locust Walk. Once you enter the doors and sign in, and ask the front desk to direct you to the room.
