Islamic scholar to speak on democracy and Islam

Abdolkarim Soroush, a leading light in the Islamic reform movement, will give a lecture entitled "Islam and Democracy," focusing on democratic currents of thought within the contemporary Islamic world. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7, in the Science Center's Hindle Auditorium.

Soroush is an esteemed philosopher who currently teaches Islamic political thought at Georgetown University. As a reformist, he advocates the revival of rationalist schools of Islamic thought and new articulations of Islam that are compatible with human rights and democratic values. He also separates the ethical message of Islam from the political mission of the state in order to open the door to political secularism—the separation of the church/mosque and the state.

Soroush believes that "one of the achievements of the reform movement is that people realize that they can be democrats and remain faithful Muslims."

The Tehran-born scholar has authored many books about Islamic reform and democracy, including Reason, Freedom, and Democracy in Islam (2000). His forthcoming book offers a new interpretation of religious revelation and rejects the claim that Islam is (or must be) a political religion by nature.

Along with two other Islamic intellectuals, Soroush was chosen as a recipient of the 2004 Eramus Prize, awarded to individuals or institutions for their outstanding contributions to the cause of religious and political tolerance throughout the world. In 2005 he was chosen as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world for his intellectual influence on Islamic pro-democracy movements.

Wheaton students and faculty members have organized Soroush's visit in hopes that the lecture and dialogue will spark campus awareness and help dispel the stereotypical conception that Islam and democracy stand in opposition.

They note that the cries of Islamic fundamentalists often silence the subtle voice of the majority within the Islamic world who sympathize with democratic values and human rights. And they maintain that we need to lend an ear to these subjugated reformist and democratic voices.

This event is organized in honor of Modern Islamic World Week by students with the help of political science faculty and the Office of Service, Spirituality and Social Responsibility. The event is sponsored by the Student Government Association, the President's Fund, the Office of the Provost, the Modern Arab League and the Philosophy Club.