9-28-04
BEHREND AND THE INSTITUTE ON THE AMERICAN DREAM PRESENTS ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM
Professor Baher Ghosheh from Edinboro University will lecture on Islamic Fundamentalism as part of the Institute on the American Dream Series at Penn State Behrend. He will speak on Tuesday, October 19, in the Smith Chapel at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Fundamentalism is the "belief in the inerrancy of [a particular religion's] scriptures combined with a millennialism that believes God will take charge and destroy unbelievers." It is a topic of increasing importance in the world, and the repercussions of it need to be understood in order to fight terrorism.
Dr. Ghosheh's presentation will focus on the definition of Islam and the many faces of Islamic fundamentalism. He will ask questions such as, "why is fundamentalism on the rise in many Muslim societies?" and "is Islam and fundamentalism the answer or the problem?" The lecture will attempt to bridge the gulf of misunderstanding between those that believe Muslims are "out to get" Americans and Muslims who see themselves as victims of neocolonialism and oppressive puppet regimes.
The Institute on the American Dream was founded by Rev. Charles Brock, an Erie native who graduated with degrees from Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, and Oxford. The Institute strives to examine the "bright and dark sides of the [American] dream."
Media Contact: Jen Town, 814-898-6522, jlt234@psu.edu