“Islam in Europe: the Problem of Engagement”
Speaker
Dr Peter Vardy
Philosopher & Theologian, University of London UK
Respondent
Mehmet Ozalp
Director, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation
Charles Sturt University
Date: Saturday, 10th March 2012
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Venue: ISRA Centre
Level 3, 128-136 South Prd Auburn
For registrations please phone (02) 9649 9040 or email info@isra.org.au
This lecture will focus on the challenge that Islam seems to pose to widely accepted post-modern values in Europe and the challenge that post-modernism poses to Muslim young people who are affected by European culture. Both sides tend to view the other with a degree of suspicion and this raises tensions which are accentuated by developments outside Europe. The decline in Christianity in Europe also contributes to the complexity of the debate as many European countries consider themselves to have a Christian background even though Church attendance is in continuous decline. The lecture would explore the challenges, suggest ways in which they can be dealt with and draw lessons for Australia.