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Qur'an and Bible 2:  Issues and Interpretation

Spring 2025 

Starts on  January 6th 

Course leaders:  Dr Ida Glaser, Motaz Al-Thaher, Haris Dundar

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Mondays - 8:00 -10:00am Houston time (CT)

or 

Fridays- 7:00 - 10:00 pm Houston time (CT)

[The Friday option will be hybrid if there are sufficient Houston participants] 

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This course is organised as a collaborative study project.  For each topic, each students will be allocated a task relating to set Biblical and Qur'anic texts, and will be expected to report on their task in a written online discussion space.  The class meetings will then discuss the implications of what everyone has found for the interpretation of the chosen texts. 

 

The out-of-class work will be at least as important as the in-class work, and students should expect to give 4-6 hours per week on it.  Students can choose whether to be part of the Monday class meeting group OR the Thursday class meeting group.  Those taking this course for credit will also be required to take a short-answer quiz and to write a 4-5,000 word essay.

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PREREQUISITE:  Course participants should already have completed 'Qur'an and Bible 1' or its equivalent.  Completion of 'Contemporary Issues in Muslim-Christian Dialogue' at a good level will be accepted.

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The course cost is $400 for credit, reduced to $150 for auditing students and for students from the 'majority world'. 

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Students who wish to obtain CMCS Houston credit for this course are required to do selected modules from our 'Research and Writing for Muslim & Christian Studies​' prior to the start of the course, or to ask for exemption.   This course may be begun at any time - students are advised to begin as soon as possible.

 

CMCS Houston has some full and half-scholarships available.  To apply for a scholarship, email a letter of application together with your c.v. and contact details of two referees to office@cmcshouston.org

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Both Muslims and Christians face numerous challenges in interpreting their texts as they consider how to live in the contemporary world.  On contentious issues, there are as many disagreements within the faiths as their are between the faiths.

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This course begins with less contentious issues and moves towards those that are more difficult.   Particular issues will be chosen according to the contexts of participating institutions and the interests of the students.

 

We begin by introducing a range of ways in which Christians interpret the Bible and in which Muslims interpret the Qur'an. (We will immediately recognise the important place of Hadith alongside the Qur'an). The interpretive methods will then be applied to the chosen issues.

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In each case, students will be asked to consider the similarities and differences between the challenges facing Muslims and the challenges facing Christians.  There will also be opportunities to consider how Christians might interpret the Qur'an, how Muslims might interpret the Bible, and how the various interfaith and intrafaith discussions relate to wider public debate in different contexts.

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This class will be suitable for accreditation at master's or final year undergraduate level. It will offer 3 credit hours (a total of at least 120 hours of study and writing expected from each credit student). 

 

The course is designed to follow Qur'an and Bible 1 (Torah). Students should have completed Qur'an and Bible 1 OR Contemporary Issues in Muslim & Christian Dialogue OR have studied both the Qur'an and the Bible to an equivalent level.

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Typical Program (exact topics to be determined by student interest):

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Topic 1:  Raising the questions

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Topic 2:  Interpreting the Bible - Jesus and the law of Moses

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Topic 3:  Interpreting the Qur'an - Muhammad and the development of shari'ah

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Topic 4: Worship

 

Topic 5: What foods are permissible?

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Topic 6: Modesty and dress

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Topic 7: Science and faith

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Topic 8: Interfaith relations

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Topic 9:  Jerusalem

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Other topics:  Open for class choice

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