12-04-09 : East West Encounters- Gulen

12-04-09 : East West Encounters- Gulen Movement
Conference in Los Angeles, CA

July 15 - deadline for paper submission

Invitation to a conference on "East and West Encounters: The Gulen
Movement"
www.gulenconference.net

Sponsors:
Office of Religious Life at the University of Southern California,
Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University,
Santa Monica College International Education Center
Pacifica Institute

Editorial Board:
Dean Varun Soni - University of Southern California
Prof. Juan Campo - UC Santa Barbara
Prof. Reza Aslan - UC Riverside
Prof. Jill Carroll - Rice University
Prof. Reuven Firestone - Hebrew Union College
Prof. Amir Hussain - Loyola Marymount University
Prof. Daniel Skubik - California Baptist University
Prof. Jon Paulien - Loma Linda University
Prof. John Olsen - University of Arizona
Prof. Richard Penaskovic - Auburn University
Prof. Thomas Burns - University of Oklahoma
Prof. Alan Godlas - University of Georgia

Dear Dr. X,

We are pleased to announce the International Conference on East and West
Encounters: The Gülen Movement, to be held December 4 to 6, 2009 in Los
Angeles, California, USA. This conference follows a series of very
successful conferences on the Gülen movement that are held at Georgetown
University (2008), House of Lords & London School of Economics (2007),
University of Oklahoma (2006) and Rice University (2005).

During the past several years, over 300 academics like yourself around
the world studied and presented the impact of Gülen movement over
religious, cultural, social spheres of the world. The growing interest
in this new exciting field led us to focus attention on this emerging
research area and thus, we are convening the International Conference on
"East and West Encounters: The Gülen Movement", to be held December 4-6,
2009 at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California,
USA. The abstract deadline for presentations is July 15, 2009.

Topics include:

. Impact of Gülen movement in the encounter between East and West
. Democracy and dialogue: Gülen's contributions
. Gülen inspired educational institutions
. Structure, development and finance in the Gülen movement
. Women and gender roles in the Gülen movement
. Humanistic vision of Gülen
. Gülen's contributions to Islamic theology
. Gülen's impact on the youth

/The Editorial Board is especially interested to the contributions
regarding the following topics: /

. Contributions of the Gülen movement to the dialogue between East and West
. Gülen's view of the challenges facing Muslim citizens in the western
democracies
. Gülen's view on Zimmi's: status of non-Muslims in the Muslim world
. Violence in the name of God: Gülen's fight with violence
. Gülen's view of the clash of civilizations
. Gülen's view on Islamic theocracies
. Gülen's perspective on Muslim and non-Muslim thinkers and philosophers
. Gülen's understanding of humanism
. Social sciences and arts in Gülen inspired schools
. The impact of the Environment and Energy Olympiads by Gülen inspired
schools and organizations
. Educational transformation of African youth by Gülen inspired schools
. Character education in Gülen inspired schools
. Recruitment and fundraising in the Gülen movement
. Gülen's role in the movement
. Post-Gülen survival of the Gülen Movement
. Advantages and disadvantages of the lack of central coordination in
the Gülen movement
. Is a Gülen inspired insurance company, Iþýk Sigorta, a new concept in
modern Islamic finance?
. Mobilization of the young generation by Gülen's ideals
. Gülen's views on women rights
. Gülen's view on roles and rights of the family members
. Gülen's view on inheritance, equality and divorce rights of Muslim women

The authors should submit an abstract (approximately 250 words) and
biography (approximately 150 words) at the conference website by July
15, 2009. The editorial committee will review the abstracts and respond
by July 31, 2009. The selected authors should then submit papers of
minimum 3000 and maximum 6000 words to the Editorial Board by September
20, 2009. Electronic submission via the conference web page is
preferred. Authors who choose to submit hard copies are responsible for
the timely delivery of their submissions by the same deadlines. The
editorial board will evaluate and ask the authors to revise the papers
(if needed) and resubmit camera ready copies by November 1, 2009. The
conference organizers reserve the right to remove from the proposed
program papers not received by the published deadlines or that fail to
respond to the comments of the editorial board. The accepted papers will
be published at the conference webpage and as conference proceedings.
The coverage of the conference will be publicized on the conference web
page: www.gulenconference.net .

Travel and accommodation expenses of the invited presenters including
airport pickups, meals, and organized sightseeing trips will be met by
the organizing committee. Please inquire for scholarships for
non-presenting participation.

We look forward to your participation. Please do not hesitate to contact
the Editorial Board at coordinator@gulenconference.net
.

Attachments: Conference flyer and call for papers

07-17-09 : Washington DC - Leadership Initiative for Muslims

American Leadership Initiative for Muslims

July 17 - 19, 2009
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington DC

American Leadership Initiative for Muslims

Please donate to the Islamic Information Center so that we may continue to serve the local and international community. Your support is the only way that IIC can maintain its services.

IIC Main Offices

In early 2007, the Islamic Information Center relocated its main headquarters to the National Press Club building in Washington D.C. The National Press Club is an international news media hub, home to hundreds of media organizations from around the world, and regularly hosts world leaders and various elected officials from around the nation. By positioning an office in this location, the Islamic Information Center is uniquely suited to disseminate important Islamic information throughout the world in a professional and instantaneous manner.

(WASHINGTON DC - June 2, 2009) The Islamic Information Center is proud to announce that the ALIM Convention 2009 will feature an art show and auction of the works of Sadequain provided by the world renowned SADEQUAIN Foundation.

Sadequain was responsible for the renaissance of Islamic Calligraphy in Pakistan. He was a pre-eminent artist cum calligrapher, who elevated Islamic calligraphic art in the region. He claimed his calligraphy was endowed with divine inspiration that added the dimension of space and movement to his work. One of Sadequain's greatest pieces of work was his Sura-e-Rehman series.

Sadequain's Sura-e-Rehman series consists of thirty-one pieces all reflecting a different verse from the sura. Another of Sadequain's calligraphic works was the rendition of the ninety-nine panels of Asma-e-Husna (the beautiful Names of God) that he inscribed on the circular wall of the rotunda, which stands an imposing five stories high in the Indian Institute of Islamic Studies at Delhi.

The ALIM convention is dedicated to coming up with actionable ideas, plans, and initiatives to help the Muslim community locally and abroad. At the conclusion of the convention, attendees will return to their home communities with specific plans of action, and the Islamic Information Center will help to coordinate these nationwide initiatives throughout the year.

Information about lodging is available here and the schedule of events, here.

For more details contact the ALIM Convention Team!

The Islamic Information Center provides accurate information about the Islamic faith and Muslim community to government offices, media outlets, and civic organizations. Through educational and interfaith programs, IIC promotes understanding, community, and trust among people of all faiths and cultures.

By authority of the Islamic Information Center, Washington, DC.

For further information:

Phone Number: 202-347-6405
Fax Number: 202-347-6406
E-mail: info@islamicinformationcenter.org
www.IslamicInformationCenter.org

.

05-02-09 : Future of Islamic Civilization

.
International Seminar on the Future of Islamic Civilization in Encountering the Global Challenges

Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri Kediri (STAIN KEDIRI) organized an International Seminar on "The Future of Islamic Civilization in Encountering the Global Challenges" on May 2nd, 2009. Among the paper presenters were Prof. Dr. Osman Bakar, Prof. Dr. Mulyadi Kartanegara, Prof Mark Wardwood (Arizona Univ), Prof Machasin (Director of Ministry of Religious Affairs) and Dr Fahmi Zarkasyi (Director of INSIST). Prof. Dr. Osman also attended a seminar on "Structure of Knowledge as the Basis of Multidiscipline Studies" organized by IAN Surabaya. The seminar was attended by Prof. Dr. Nur Syams (Recktor of IAN Surabaya) academic staff and post-graduate students.

The Spiritual and Ethical Foundation of Science and Technology in Islamic Civilization

Prof. Dr. Osman Bakar
Muslim scientists and technologists have for centuries pursued their scientific and technological activities within a spiritual and ethical framework. There was a profound reason for their insistence on such a framework. They believed in an epistemology in which unity of science and technology and spiritual knowledge is duly maintained. They defended this belief by appealing to both revelation (wahy) and reason ('aql) or to both religious (naqliy) and intellectual ('aqliy) arguments. By naqliy arguments we mean arguments that are drawn from the Qur'an, the Hadiths, and other transmitted sources. For 'aqliy arguments on the other hand, we mean philosophical and scientific arguments that are assembled for the purpose at hand through the independent exercise of reason. In Islamic intellectual tradition, these two types of arguments are not considered as opposed to each other but rather complementary and corroborative... read more

Traditional Muslim Classifications of the Sciences:
Comparative Notes on Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi and Ibn Khaldun

Prof. Dr. Osman Bakar
Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) was born two decades after the death of Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi (1236-1311). This means that we may treat them as contemporaries. Those who know the life history of these two notable and fascinating Muslim intellectuals could find it quite interesting making comparisons and contrasts between them. Ibn Khaldun, an Arab by birth, was a philosopher-historian; Qutb al-Din, who hailed from Shiraz, a city of historic importance in the Persian-speaking world, was a philosopher-scientist. Both traveled extensively in the Muslim world, both as a scholar and as a diplomat, for the two had been patronized by the rulers of their day. In the modern world, both have become famous, mainly because of their original scientific contributions to their respective fields of specialization. Let us first consider the fame of Qutb al-Din. He is well-known today, particularly for his contributions to astronomy and optics. His innovative treatment of planetary motion at the prestigious Maraghah School of Astronomy - the "NASA at Cape Kennedy of his day" - resulted in the world's first successful attempt at the construction of a model of planetary motion for Mercury. Some modern historians of science even claim that Qutb al-Din's astronomical works influenced the later development of astronomy in the West, especially on Copernicus. In optics, Qutb al-Din is remembered for his achievement as the first scientist to have given a qualitatively correct explanation of the cause of the rainbow. He has many other contributions to Islamic thought and civilization, but the scope of this essay does not allow me to discuss them...read more

Beyond the Clash of Civilizations:
Reimagining the World in the Post-Huntington, Post-George W. Bush Era
Prof. Dr. Mark Woodward

Professor Samuel Huntington died at the age of 81 on December 24th 2008. Huntington was Professor of Government at Harvard University and will be remembered as being among the most influential American Political Scientists of the twentieth century. He is best known for his influential and highly controversial "Clash of Civilizations" thesis. No matter, what one's opinion of Huntington's analysis of world events and the contemporary world system, it is necessary to concede that he was a person of tremendous intellect. He was the author of 17 books and more than 90 academic articles. He also served as advisor to Presidents Johnson and Carter. He was something of a prodigy. He graduated from Yale University in New Haven Connecticut, one of the finest in the United States, at the age of 18. He began his teaching career at Harvard, in 1949 at the age of only 22 and soon became one of the most distinguished members of this most distinguished faculty... read more

Understanding Islam and the West:
Reflection for future Relationship
Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi

One may infer that relations between Islam and the West have never been a model of harmony. However, such an inference is subject to further consideration, since historical facts suggested that Islam-West relationship was filled not only with clashes and confrontation, competition and challenge but also with admiration, acceptance, collaboration and cooperation in diverse areas of interaction resulted in harmonious and peaceful relationship. Therefore, the future relationship should be constructed from historical perspective by learning the positive aspect of mutual respect and understanding and not historical prejudice

Understanding Islam and the West:
Reflection for future Relationship
Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi

One may infer that relations between Islam and the West have never been a model of harmony. However, such an inference is subject to further consideration, since historical facts suggested that Islam-West relationship was filled not only with clashes and confrontation, competition and challenge but also with admiration, acceptance, collaboration and cooperation in diverse areas of interaction resulted in harmonious and peaceful relationship. Therefore, the future relationship should be constructed from historical perspective by learning the positive aspect of mutual respect and understanding and not historical prejudice...

shahran@i-epistemology.net

07-24-09 : Cambridge - Islamic Manuscripts conference

The Fifth Islamic Manuscript Conference, Cambridge 24-26 July 2009: ACCESS AND RIGHTS
http://www.islamicmanuscript.org/Conferences.html

The Islamic Manuscript Association is pleased to announce that the Fifth Islamic Manuscript Conference will be held at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, UK from 24-26 July 2009. It will be hosted by the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation and the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge. We invite you to register online at http://www.islamicmanuscript.org/conferences/ConferenceRegistrationForm1.html

In 2009, the Conference will specifically address the issue of access to manuscripts. Improving access to manuscripts through digitisation and electronic ordering and delivery systems whilst ensuring their proper long-term preservation is fundamental to the successful future study of the Islamic heritage. Presently, technologies are available that have the potential to transform the way manuscripts are studied; however, the access these technologies can allow is counterbalanced by collection holders’ concerns regarding their legal rights and the financial sustainability of their organisations. During the Fifth Islamic Manuscript Conference these vital issues will be discussed by our invited speakers and selected paper presenters.

As in previous years, the Conference will be organised around the Association’s four main interest groups: cataloguing, conservation, digitisation, and publishing and research. The first day will also feature two special panels, a 'Collections' panel introducing less well-known collections from Africa, the Balkans, and Turkey, and a panel devoted to the conference theme of Access featuring invited experts who will discuss how such issues as security in libraries and online, financial considerations, and the understanding of international copyright law inform users' experience of accessing materials for research.

Posters advertising the conference can be found at http://www.islamicmanuscript.org/conferences/Posters.html

TIMA would be most grateful if recipients of this email could display a poster in their institutions.

The full schedule will also be available online shortly. Please do also take a few moments to explore the new website and its improved format.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge in July

Best wishes,
Jenny Wright

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06-27-09 : London - Campaign against Sharia Law

We hope you will join our fundraiser dinner on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 7:00pm at one of London’s finest gastro-pubs to enjoy an excellent three-course dinner and support the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain.

The campaign and its spokesperson Maryam Namazie have just been profiled in
the June 2009 issue of Easy Living magazine:
(www.onelawforall.org.uk/mediaPages/July-2009-Maryam_easyMag.html).

The dinner’s keynote speaker will be AC Grayling, the renowned philosopher,
author, writer, reviewer, and broadcaster.

To purchase a ticket(s) at £60.00 per person, you can either post a cheque
made payable to One Law for All to BM Box 2387, London WC1N 3XX or pay via
Paypal (www.onelawforall.org.uk/donate.html). Please note that it is
possible to reserve a table for a group. Once payment has been received, we
will send you your ticket(s), along with details of the venue and a menu to
choose from. To offer greater choice to our guests and to enable the chefs
to cater with speed and efficiency we will be asking you to make your dinner
choices in advance.

If you have any questions about the dinner, please feel free to contact me
on olfa_enquiries@yahoo.co.uk. Given that space is limited, we would
appreciate receiving payment as soon as possible and no later than June 20.

We look forward to seeing you at the event and hope this fundraiser and
others like it will help us to raise much needed funds to get rid of Sharia
and religious courts and tribunals once and for all.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes,
Goranka Gudelj
Outreach Coordinator

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07-04-2008 :: ISNA Conference, Houston

ISNA South Central Conference

July 4-6, 2008

Westin Galleria Hotel,

5060 West Alabama, Houston, TX 77056

register on line http://www.isna.net/

----

Speakers



Ingrid Mattson

Mohamed Magid

Muneer Fareed

Louay Safi

Muzammil Siddiqi

Jamal Badawi

Sadullah Khan

Abdallas Idris Ali

Sayyid M. Syeed

10-16-2008 :: Conference on Middle East

Conference on Middle East Studies

Call for Proposals
First International Conference on Middle East Studies - California State University, Fresno
“Teaching about the Middle East in the 21st Century”
October 16-18, 2008
Fresno, California. USA

The Middle East Studies Program at California State University, Fresno calls for proposals for pre-organized panels and individual papers for the Program’s inaugural meeting, October 16-18, 2008, in Fresno, California.

Conference Theme:
In academic and popular discourse today, the Middle East has become a primary dimension of our geopolitical-intellectual culture. The global reach of current events has brought the Middle East into direct contact with the West. Much scholarly and professional attention is afforded today to the complex (yet habitually abstracted and simplified) human reality of the peoples of the Middle East, and their contributions to the world, be they in science, religion, literature or art.

One of the primary objects of this conference will be to explore the constructions and contextualizations of the modern Middle East through artistic, scholarly, economic, political, sociological, historical, and philological works and texts. The conference will subsequently examine the politics that underlie their production and dissemination in academia.

Keynote Speech:
Dr. Juan Cole, Professor of History, University of Michigan, "The Iraq Crisis and the Next Administration," Friday, October 17, 2008.

Dr. Haleh Afshar, University of York, "Islam and Feminisms ," Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Research Topics:
Cutting across disciplinary lines, and recognizing the plurality of the Middle East, the inherent multidisciplinary nature of studying and teaching it, as well as the diversity of its identities, the richness of its languages, histories, religions, political, economic and social circumstances, the conference invites panels and contributions from a range of disciplines, including, but not limited to:

• Pedagogical Approaches to Middle East Studies
• Art, Architecture, Visual & Performing Arts
• History & Historiography
• Literature, Literary Studies & Linguistics
• Culture, Gender & Ethnography
• Diaspora & Migration Culture
• Middle East Politics & Representations
• U.S. Foreign Policy
• Civil Society, NGOs & International Development
• Media Studies (including Film, Broadcast, Print, News, etc.)
• Economic development/Sustainability/Democratic transitions
• Business and Finance
• Religion: Christianity, Islam and Judaism and in the context of the Middle East

Important Dates:
Deadline for abstracts: 27 June, 2008
Notification of acceptance: 1 August, 2008

Formats:
Papers: Exploring original research on the Middle East by one or more authors. Presentations will be 20 minutes long.

Plenary Session/ Panel Discussion: Panel proposals should be submitted by a moderator, inviting three to five presenters to discuss a topic relevant to the conference theme. The topic should be one that would benefit from diverse opinions and open discussion. Panel presentations will be limited to 90 minutes.

Abstracts/Paper Proposals:
Submission Items:

Cover Sheet: Required for all submissions. On a separate cover sheet, list the title of the presentation, author name(s), school affiliation(s), contact person address, and audio-visual requirements. Make a separate cover sheet for each submission.
Abstracts: Abstract submissions should be approximately 500 words and must be in English. Abstract and full paper submissions should be sent in MS Word or PDF document format. Include title but do not include author name(s) or school affiliation(s).
Notes & References: Must conform to the Chicago/Turabian style.
Submission Method:

Contributors have two choices for submitting:

Option 1. (preferred) Submit as an email attachment to the Program Committee Chair at sasanf@csufresno.edu. Submission should include cover sheet and abstract along with other documents or images required for submission attached to an email. Please put CSU-Fresno Mid-East Conference Submission in email subject line.
Option 2. Submit in hard copy. Submitters may mail a hard copy of cover sheet, and three copies of other required submission items. The mailing address is:
Dr. Sasan Fayazmanesh,
Program Committee Chair
Department of Economics
California State University, Fresno
5245 N. Backer MS/PB20
Fresno CA 93740-8001

Conference Fees, Registration & Accommodations:
Authors are invited to complete the registration process before September 1, 2008. Failing to send the registration fees on or before this date might result in excluding the paper from the proceedings. Registration fee is $50 for conference participants and $25 for students. An additional $25 will be charged for late registration. Accommodations are available at Piccadilly Inn University Hotel, 4961 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93726, (559) 224-4200 and Piccadilly Inn Airport Hotel, 5115 E. McKinley Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727, (559) 251-6000 (the conference rate is $88 per night and reservations must be made no later than September 16, 2008).

Conference Proceedings:
Select papers presented at the conference will be published in a conference proceedings, which will become available after the conference. Details will be announced in October 2008.


Organizing Committee:
A. Sameh El Kharbawy, Liaison, Manuchehr Shahrokhi, Vincent Biondo, Vida Samiian, Sasan Fayazmanesh

CSUF Program Committee:
Sasan Fayazmanesh (Chair), Steve Adisasmito-Smith, Vincent Biondo, Jose A. Diaz, A. Sameh El Kharbawy, Ellen Gruenbaum, Mary Husain, Ellen Lipp, Samina Najmi, Jay O'Brien, Vida Samiian, Manuchehr Shahrokhi

Program Committee on Other Campuses
Sebouh Aslanian (Whitman College), Houri Berberian (CSU Long Beach), Touraj Daryaee (UC Irvine) Manzar Foroohar (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Jonathan Friedlander (UCLA), Amir Hussain (Loyola Marymount University), Simin Karimi (University of Arizona), Nikki Keddie (UCLA), Afshin Matin (CSU Los Angeles), Rudi Matthee (University of Delaware), Mahmood Monshipouri (CSU San Francisco), Jamal R. Nassar (CSU San Bernardino), Katherine Platt (Babson College), Jasmin Rostam (CSU Fullerton)

Conference Coordinator:
Dr. Vida Samiian, Dean
College of Arts and Humanities
California State University, Fresno

Conference Liaison:
Please direct any questions to:
Dr. A. Sameh El Kharbawy
College of Arts and Humanities
California State University, Fresno
email: aelkharbawy@csufresno.edu

http://www.csufresno.edu/mesp/news_events/ConferenceMiddleEast.shtml

05-25-2008 :: Muslim Family Challenges- Chicago

Theme : Challenges Facing Muslim American Families
Sun May 25, 2008 at the Rosemont Convention Center.

And do not forget to come and attend the upcoming 3rd Annual Community Builders Convention this Memorial Day Weekend, Sun May 25, 2008 at the Rosemont Convention Center. Theme : Challenges Facing Muslim American Families. Free workshops from 9am-5pm . Free parking. Whole Day Bazaar: IMAN and other Non Profits will be there as wellEvening Banquet & Cultural Program 6pm-11pm: $75/personCall 773 775-1990 for details

For a very long time we have been supportive of the work and vision of IMAN.

In order for many of their projects and undertakings to succeed a strong financial base is needed. This vote they are seeking requires neither monetary donation nor personal financial committment from us. It merely requests a few minutes of our time to complete a quick survey.

There are four choices we are being asked to make from a selection of documentary video clips. IMAN is sponsoring one of those clips prepared by Asad Jafri titled: "Leaders of the New School." . We need to vote for it and add three more titles to the vote in order to validate our vote. It will take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Please join and help support a dynamic and dedicated group get the tools they need to follow their dreams.

And do not forget to come and attend the upcoming 3rd Annual Community Builders Convention this Memorial Day Weekend, Sun May 25, 2008 at the Rosemont Convention Center.
Theme : Challenges Facing Muslim American Families.
Free workshops from 9am-5pm . Free parking.
Whole Day Bazaar: IMAN and other Non Profits will be there as well
Evening Banquet & Cultural Program 6pm-11pm: $75/person
Call 773 775-1990 for details

Azher Quader
Executive Director
Community Builders Chicago
http://www.mycommunitybuilders.com/

04-16-2008 :: Islamic cities Project - Berkley

Islamic Cities Project:
An Exhibition

2:00 - 4:00 PM
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
1st Floor, Wurster Hall Lobby
University of California, Berkeley

The Islamic Cities project is an initiative focused on cities in the Muslim World. As architecture is a medium through which material expression to cultural premises and historical experience are made, the Cities Project aims to reveal the city as a space of cultural encounters.

Cities express the cultural variety, historical richness, aesthetic premises, and pragmatic solutions to daily needs of people through out the world. Some of the questions this exhibition will address are: How has Islam, pre-Islamic culture, geography, historical forces, globalization, and other influences interacted to shape each of the cities? What evidence and insight does the built environment bring to our understanding of each of these peoples, the cultural choices they have made, and the relationship to Islam? Is there sufficient similarities to warrant the use of the term Islamic city? What conclusions if any can be drawn about the encounters between traditional societies with Western and with other Islamic societies?

The exhibit will showcase four Persian cities: Isfahan, Shiraz, Bam and Tehran with photographs and visual documents.

From: CMES Date: Apr 15, 2008 6:25 PMSubject: Exhibition: Islamic Cities ProjectTo: CMES

07-04-2008 :: ICNA-MAS conference, Hartford

33rd Annual Convention

ICNA-MAS

Hartford, Connecticut

July 4th -July 6th

http://convention.icna.org/

Click on image to enlarge

08-29-2008 :: Community Building - ISNA

45th Annual ISNA Convention
August 29 - September 1, 2008
Theme: Ramadan - A Time for Change
The Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Events Include:
Bazaar with 500 Booths
Main Sessions; Break out Sessions (ISNA, MSA, MYNA)
Islamic Entertainment Program
Qira’at Competition
Meet the Author Program
iTAG Conference
Community Service Recognition Luncheon (CSRL)
Matrimonial Banquet
Islamic Art Exhibit
Islamic Film Festival
Babysitting Services
Children's Program

Session Topics:

Community Building
Community Service
Conflict Resolution/Peace Building
Daw’ah
Economic Development
Education
Environmental Activism
Spirituality
Family
Islamic Banking and Finance
Media
Outreach
Planned Giving and Endowment
Social Services


For More Information Contact:
Registration and Housing: (317)-839-8157 ext. 129 or convention@isna.net
Bazaar and Sponsorship: (317)-839-8157 ext. 244 or akhan@isna.net
Convention Program: (317)-839-8157 ext. 231 or mukhtar@isna.net
Fax: (317)-839-1822

05-14-2008 :: Political Islam & Democracy DC

Political Islam and Democracy -
What do Islamists and Islamic Movements want?

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
George Washington University, in Washington DC

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Members of CSID:

We hope you will join us at the 9th Annual Conference of CSID, which will take place on May 14, at the George Washington University, in Washington DC. The main theme for this year's conference will be:

Political Islam and Democracy -
What do Islamists and Islamic Movements want?

We have put together an excellent program, including several world-renown experts, leaders, and activists as well as parliamentarians of Islamic movements from different countries, to discuss their parties' views and positions on democracy. To view the tentative program, go to

Tentative Program ::

To register for the conference, please go to Online Registration
We sincerely hope you will join us at this important conference on May 14.
Wassalam,

Radwan Masmoudi.......................Asma Afsaruddin
President, CSID............................Chair of the Board, CSID

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY
9th Annual Conference

Political Islam and Democracy - What do Islamists and Islamic Movements want?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
George Washington UniversityWashington, D.C. 20052Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro (Orange and Blue Lines)

TENTATIVE PROGRAM
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Asma Afsaruddin, Chair, Program Committee
Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, CSID President
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Panel 1

The Muslim Brotherhood and Democratic Evolution
Chair: Asma Afsaruddin

"The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria and the concept of Democracy" - Radwan Ziadeh, Senior Fellow, United States Institute of Peace, rziadeh@usip.org

"The program of Muslim Brotherhood "Political Party" from A Human Rights Perspective" - Bahey eldin Hassan, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), bahey@cihrs.org

"Idealism versus pragmatism in the political efforts of Muslim Brotherhood movements" - Anas Altikriti, The Cordoba Foundation, anas@fastmail.fm

"Changes within MB due to contextual changes between 2005 and 2007" - Ibrahim El-

Houdaiby, Ikhwan-Web, Egypt, houdaiby@yahoo.com
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Panel 2

The Intersection of Religion and Democracy: Islamist DiscoursesChair: Najib Ghadhban

"Why Jihad not Democracy" - Nelly Lahoud, Goucher College, nlahoud@goucher.edu

"The Sovereignty of God: Constitutional Processes in Islam and Christianity" - Mark Gould,
Haverford College, mgould@haverford.edu
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Luncheon
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Roundtable Discussion

Conditions for Engaging Islamist Leaders and Thinkers: How to Encourage and Support Muslim Democrats?

Confirmed Speakers:
Mohammed Ayoob, author of "Many Faces of Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Muslim World"

Saadeddine Ibrahim, Founder and Director of the Ibn Khaldoun Center, Egypt, "From Taliban to Erdogan"

Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy, USA

Joshua Muravchik, author of "Exporting Democracy: Fulfilling America's Destiny", USA

2:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Panel 3
Negotiating Democracy: the North African ContextChair: Tony Sullivan

"The Algerian Islamic Movement and 'Political Islam': An Insider's Perspective" - Anwar N Haddam, President and co-founder of the Movement for Liberty & Social Justice, Algeria, anhaddam@yahoo.com

"Inclusion and Institutional Constraints: Moderation of the Moroccan Justice and Development Party" - Feriha Perekli, Indiana University-Bloomington, fperekli@indiana.edu

"The Challenges and Opportunities Moroccan Islamist Movements Pose to Women's Political Participation" - Laurel Rapp, The OneVoice Movement, Laurel@OneVoiceMovement.org

"Shariah and democracy: the experiences of Indonesia and Morocco" - Yusuf Fernández, European Islamic Media Network, yusuf@webislam.com
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break

4:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Panel 4
Implementing Democracy: Prospects and PrognosisChair: Robert Schadler

"Islamic Movements and Democracy in Central Asia: Integration or Isolation?" - Anthony C. Bowyer, International Foundation for Election Systems, anthony@ifes.org

"The Maldives - Reform Deferred?" - Ahmed Shaheed & Jonathan Upton, founding member of the pro-democracy New Maldives faction, Charlie@thecampaigncompany.co.uk

"The (Im)Possibility of Islamist Politics in Turkey" - Hatem Ete, METU, Ankara, Turkey, etehatem@yahoo.com

"Islamists and a Pluralist Society: Hezbollah and Jama'ah al-Islamiyah's Consociational Experience in Lebanon" - Eric Bordenkircher, UCLA, eborden@ucla.edu
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Annual Banquet Dinner

(Washington Marriott Hotel, 1221 22nd Street)
Dialogue with Moderate Islamist Leaders - Viewpoints on Shari'ah, Democracy, and Religious Freedom in Islam

Confirmed Banquet Keynote Speakers:
Mohamed Saad Elkatatny, Head of the MB Parliamentary Delegation, Egypt
Abderazzak Makri, Movement for the Society of Peace, Algeria
Mohamed Yatim, Deputy Secretary General, Party of Justice and Development, Morocco
Abdelmajeed M'nasra, Movement for the Society of Peace, Algeria

Co-Sponsors: This conference is co-sponsored by the Heinrich Boell Foundation, The Kingdom Foundation, and the Muslim Students Association (MSA) of George Washington University.____________________________Registration Form
To register online click on https://secure.entango.com/donate/6gHYxfvsaMJ
Name & Title:_______________________________________________________________Institution:_________________________________________________________________Address:___________________________________________________________________City: _____________________________State____________________ Zip: ____________Tel.:______________________________________________________________________Fax: _________________________ E- mail:______________________________________

Pre-Registration.......................................By April 30 On-site Registraton..............................................................................

After April 30 Registration w/o Dinner Banquet Dinner OnlyCSID Member ? $75.00 ? $100.00 ? $50.00 ? $ 50.00Non-Member ? $100.00 ? $150.00 ? $80.00 ? $ 70.00A Couple ? $140.00 ? $180.00 ? $110.00 ? $ 100.00Student ? $ 40.00 ? $50.00 ? $20.00 ? $ 30.00

Registration includes lunch, banquet dinner, and coffee breaks, but does not include lodging. Payment must be received by April 30 to qualify for pre-registration rates. Please mail registration form with payment to: CSID Conf. Registration- 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 601, Washington, D.C. 20036

07-17-2008 :: Progressive Values, New York

MUSLIMS FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES
2nd Annual National Conference
July 17- 20, 2008
Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York

Muslims for Progressive Values cordially invites you to our second annual National Conference
Muslims for Progressive Values is dedicated to bringing together progressive Muslims and friends who share their values to work for a more humane world. We welcome all who are interested in discussing, promoting and working for the implementation of progressive values: social justice, human rights, economic opportunity, separation of church and state, as well as tolerant and inclusive understandings of Islam.

Join fellow progressive Muslims from around the United States for two days of spiritual refreshment, strategizing for the future, and exploration of this year's theme, Establishing the Progressive Mindset.

Conference Highlights Include:

Community Building and Media Training by KNP Communications, a firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and Members of Congress Artists and Authors Night

An Artists Night showcasing some of the best work by progressive Muslim artists, authors, and musicians

The Prophet Muhammad and Social Change, a presentation on the spiritual message of Islam by Sultan Hameed, co-founder and Director of Education of the Muslim Reform Movement Organization

Community in Twelve Houses, an exploration of astronomy and astrology in Islamic history and the ways in which these lessons still apply today by internationally-syndicated columnist Jack Fertig

A Dinner and Evening Entertainment in downtown New York City

New This Year! Progressive Muslim Youth Conference, a program to begin a lifelong journey of spirituality, faith, progressive values, and open, equal community for youth ages 14 and up (a select number of scholarships are available)

For more information or to register online, please visit http://www.mpvusa.org/ or email Nooreen Dabbish at ndabbish@...




Fee Table

Conference Registration Fee: $65*
Meals (does not include Saturday night dinner and outing): $88*
Lodging for two nights only: $110
Lodging for three nights: $165

10-24-2008 :: Crossing Boundaries - Harvard

Harvard:Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 37th Annual Conference of the Association of
Muslim Social Scientists of North America (AMSS)
Crossing Boundaries: Mobilizing Faith, Diversity and Dialogue

Hosted by
The Harvard Divinity School
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
October 24 – 26, 2008
Deadlines: Abstracts: May 15, 2008
Papers: September 30, 2008

While many consider religion to be a major source of violence in the world, many scholars and activists also argue that religions offer the profoundest sources for peacemaking and peacebuilding. This is because religion speaks to the soul, and thus can provide the faithful with powerful motivators to commit to peace. But due to its potential for exclusive claims to truth, mobilising religion for peacemaking purposes must be managed skilfully and wisely.

Interfaith dialogue and the embracing of diversity through the lenses of faith can be a formidable challenge, a feeling of "crossing boundaries." Such sentiments, incongruously, can also apply to intra-faith relations, that is, relations between different sects or orientations within a faith tradition. However, the act of "crossing boundaries," whether they be those of interfaith or those of intra-faith, can be the strategic points of demarcation for the release of energies for good and for evil. Mobilising religion for peacemaking is thus an urgent challenge facing humanity today, at both an inter-faith and intra-faith level.

The 37th Annual Conference of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists of North America aims to explore this topic in relation to Islam, Muslims and a globalised world. What are Islam’s resources for "crossing boundaries" and for cultivating faith, diversity and dialogue? How do Muslims view these concepts? Who are the activists working both for, and against, faith, diversity and dialogue?

To this end, papers are solicited from Muslims and non-Muslims that might speak to the following sub-themes:

• Theoretical Reflections on Inter- and Intra-faith Dialogue
• Studies of Relevant Muslim Intellectual Heritages
• Empirical Studies of Muslim Peacemaking Activists
• Case Studies of Inter- or Intra-faith Conflict or Conflict Resolution
• Hermeneutical Studies of the Qur’an in Relation to Faith, Diversity and Dialogue
• The Media’s Role in Mobilizing Dialogue on Faith and Diversity
• Politics of Religious Identity
• Religion and the Politics of Development and Humanitarian Aid
• The Role of Religion in Promoting World Peace
• The Politics of Cultural Boundaries: Assimilation, Integration & Resistance
• The Impact of War and Conflict on Women’s Role in Society
• Women as Soldiers
• The Role of Women in Peacebuilding Efforts
• Women as Refugees

Abstracts (250 words) are due by May 15, 2008. Abstracts will be evaluated according to the following categories: originality of theme, clear methodology, clarity and relevance of the proposal to the conference theme, and sound academic scholarship. Accepted proposals will be announced within 30 days. Final papers must be submitted by September 30, 2008 to be included in the conference program. If completed papers are not in by the due date, they will not be included in the conference.

Program Co-Chairs:
Dr. Louis J. Cantori (University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA) and
Dr. Katherine Bullock (University of Toronto, Canada)
Send abstracts and papers to Conference Coordinator Ms. Layla Sein at conferences@amss.org
For more details about AMSS and conference updates, visit http://www.amss.org


Jasmin Zine, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Ave. West
Waterloo, ON
N2L 3C5

519-884-0710 x3267

"Come on, deny your Ego. Get united with everybody. So long as you remain in yourself, you are a particle. But if you get united with everybody, you are a mine, an ocean. Believe that all spirits are One! And all bodies are One! Just like almonds in quantity hundred thousands; but there is the same oil in all of them.There are many languages in the world, in meaning all are the same. If you break the cups, water will be unified and will flow together."

04-25-2008 :: Islamic Co-existence - Catholic U

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