Defining Islam: A Reader (Critical Categories in the Study of Religion) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1845530608 ISBN 13: 9781845530600

Publisher: Routledge, 2007

Synopsis

Ever since a group of people came into existence who called themselves Muslims and followed Islam, questions of what it means to be a member of this group - who is to be included/excluded and what the requirements for membership are - have proven to be both divisive and defining. For scholars and critics, the issue of what constitutes or defines 'Islam' - whether examining the history of the religion, its specific traditions, sectarian politics, or acts of terrorist - is central to any understanding of issues, cultures and ideas. 'Defining Islam' brings together key classic and contemporary writings on the nature of Islam to provide student readers with the ideal collection of both primary and critical sources.

About this title

Review

'At a time when many departments of religious studies are expanding their course offerings in Islam, and seeking to integrate Islamic studies into their wider critical conversations on religion, this volume is uniquely welcome.'Defining Islam' represents well the state of several lines of critical enquiry developing within Islamic studies today.' --Journal of the American Academy of Religion

'The volume's value lies in putting these perspectives in direct conversation and in an immensely readable format.' --Studies in Religion

'The volume's value lies in putting these perspectives in direct conversation and in an immensely readable format.' --Studies in Religion

Synopsis

"Defining Islam: A reader" aims to present original source material and scholarly reflections on how the word "Islam" is to be used and understood. Ever since a group of people came into existence who called themselves Muslims, questions of what it meant to be a member of that group, who was to be included and who excluded, and what the requirements for membership were, have proven to be both divisive and defining for the community itself. Likewise for scholars, the issue of what constitutes "Islam" when they talk about the emergence of the religion or when they compare local traditions or when the media debates whether the phrase "Muslim terrorist" is meaningful or appropriate, is always a central one for debate.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1845530608
• ISBN 13: 9781845530600
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 402
• Editor: Rippin Andrew