Pluralism, Particularity & the Way to Peace, II: Why Do We — a Muslim & a Mennonite— Care About This?

A year ago the Center for Interfaith Engagement’s Visiting Muslim Scholar and theologian about Akrami’s pluralist approach to inter-faith relations and Nation’s particularist approach.

In this forum they will continue the conversation, beginning with a very brief summary of what was shared in their previous meeting. This time they will reflect directly on why they these issues matter to them. What does each of them believe is at stake in his pluralist/particularist approach to inter-faith relationships and peacemaking? What does each one see as (at least potentially) problematic or deficient in the approach of the other? And how would each express what it is that his approach has to offer to a pluralistic world as we negotiate how to live together in peace?

Visiting scholar from Iran, Dr. Amir Akrami, is an expert on Rumi and Islamic mysticism. He leads bi-weekly readings and discussions on Rumi and his work.

For hundreds of years Rumi has been one of the greatest poets of the Persian world and one of the most popular poets in the world. In recent years books on his thought have become bestsellers in the U.S. With these Rumi-centered evenings, we explore the man and his inspiring spiritual heritage by concentrating on his own words from his major works of poetry.
Our journey with Rumi’s art will take us through the beautiful images and stories he employs to convey his mystical experiences and ideas.

Amir Akrami and Mark Thiessen Nation – Pluralism, Particularity & the Way to Peace: A Muslim and a Mennonite in Dialogue. Thiessen Nation is Professor of Theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Akrami is Visiting Muslim Scholar at EMU’s Center for Interfaith Engagement. They each speak from their respective approaches followed by opportunity to engage the audience in discussion.

For more info contact: Center for Interfaith Engagement, 540-432-4674 or email interfaith@emu.edu

Amir Akrami, EMU’s first visiting Muslim scholar in the Center for Interfaith Engagement, addresses “Building Bridges through Interfaith Dialogue.” Dr. Akrami holds a PhD in philosophy of religion from McGill University, Montreal, and comes to EMU from the Iranian Institute of Philosophy in Tehran, Iran.

Dr. Akrami has been a regular participant in the internationally respected in London, 2002; Bosnia, 2005; Washington DC, 2006; Singapore, 2007 and Rome 2008, and has organized and participated in numerous interfaith conferences and workshops. He has written and published broadly.

For more info contact: Center for Interfaith Engagement, 540-432-4674 or email interfaith@emu.edu