ITKI 6103 Readings in Comparative Religion

This course deals with readings in selected writings on comparative religion. It focuses on the selected work(s) of contemporary Muslim scholar Ismaʿīl Rājī al Fārūqī (1921C.E.-1986C.E.) on the study of religion(s). It provides answers to the questions: How to study other religions? What will be the right topic and method? Who are the contemporary Muslim scholars of comparative religion? What is the focus of their works? How to make the knowledge obtained from this course to your specilization?   

The content of this course is divided into three parts. The first part covers the meaning of comparative religion, its historical development, and the methods used by both Muslim and Western scholars in the study of religion. The second part focuses on al-Fārūqī’s personality, his selected works on the study of religion(s), and his methodology in comparative religion. The third part includes readings of selected texts from al-Fārūqī’s work on Christian Ethics, which consists of seven themes emphasizing two main elements. The first element is the Ethic of Jesus focusing on (1) the Jewish background: Jewish Ethics, (2) Jesus’ Breakthrough, (3) New Ethics, (4) Jesus and Islamic Mysticism. The second element is the Ethic of Christianity covering (5) What is man? – the image of God, (6) What Ought Man to Be? – Sin and Salvation, (7) What Ought Man to Be? – Church and Society. The relevance of al-Fārūqī’s methodology to the contemporary study of religion(s) will be highlighted.

The instructor uses synchronous and asynchronous methods in the teaching process in order to provide a conducive learning environment. Pre-recorded video lectures, slides, and other related reading materials are uploaded on the IKI LMS website., enabling students to prepare themselves ahead of the class in order to interact, comment, and discuss. This course provides the best platform for students to express their concerns about other religions and learn how to use the right method in the study of other religions.