Last week, Graeme Wood caused quite a stir with his article “What ISIS Really Wants.” It focused on the apocalyptic religious vision of the group and contended that ISIS was, as a scholar quoted in the article put it, “smack in the… Read More ›
Islam
Patriotism and Religion: Speaking Complexly about Complex Issues by Carol P. Christ
Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giulaini recently questioned the American President’s patriotism when he asked if Obama had been “brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up, through love of this country.” When Chris… Read More ›
Queer in Islam and a Theology of Dissent by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente
Most of the time, when we talk about being “Queer in Islam,” we identify the term with a hermeneutics developed by or on behalf of LGTBQI Muslims in order to allow their inclusion in religious spaces and recognize their agency in matters of… Read More ›
Must Pluralism Be Noisy? by Esther Nelson
On January 14, 2015, Duke University (North Carolina) announced that it would start broadcasting the Muslim call to prayer (adhan) from the bell tower of its campus chapel every Friday at 1:00 p.m. This “moderately amplified” adhan would be sung… Read More ›
“Dear Terrorist: Keep Up the Good Work” Said NO ONE by Valentina Khan
How much longer do I as a Muslim American female, have to deal with the “gang-buster,” terrorizing, “Satan” worshipers high-jacking my faith for the sake of trying to supposedly ‘preserve’ it? Who are these wackos and why do they seem… Read More ›
The Power to Interpret for Myself by Jameelah X. Medina
My father always encouraged us to interpret scripture for ourselves. We read text, learned mainstream interpretations, and then he would ask for our authentic self-generated interpretations delivered in the form of book and chapter reports due to him. Growing up,… Read More ›
My Name is Jihad by Esther Nelson
Recently, my local newspaper (yes, I still get a paper delivered to my “newspaper box” every morning!) carried a short article that caused me to stop and reflect. The headline read, “Use of ‘Jihad’ on school test assailed.” A local,… Read More ›
Reading “Women” by Laury Silvers
My friends make my life difficult. They make me see what I could not see before. Kecia Ali, Aisha Geissinger, Karen Ruffle and Kathleen Self taught me how to read for gender in the classical texts I use for my… Read More ›
Cosmic Struggle and The Longest Nights by Jameelah X. Medina
Since my college years studying Spanish mystics and their numerous writings, I have secretly been fascinated by the summer solstice. Years later, my hidden fascination with the winter solstice began. For exactly one year now, I have exclusively been using… Read More ›
Are the Gods Afraid of Black Sexuality? by amina wadud
This was the title of a two day conference recently held at Columbia University. At one point on the first day, one presenter asked if there was anyone who is not Christian. Two hands went up, sitting side by side:… Read More ›
A Women’s Mosque: An Interfaith Space for Feminist Spirituality by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente
If you thought that all I could do in regards to feminism and religion is challenge Patriarchy and tease around ladies and gentlemen of good temper and better reputation with my corrosive comments, this post may change your mind. As… Read More ›
The God of Love by amina wadud
I admit I had the fortune of loving my father, the late Reverend Teasley, and feeling loved by him. I also date my fascination with the divine back to my father. There are many ways this fascination could have taken… Read More ›
Get your fatwa off our backs! by amina wadud
It’s not so easy any more to control the parameters of Islam and the way it is practiced by those who wish to stuff their opinion down the throats of other Muslim citizens, be they minorities or majorities across the… Read More ›
ISIS and the Larger Muslim Crisis by Hanadi Riyad
It is heartening to hear the many condemnations Muslim scholars have issued of ISIS and its methods and actions. One of the latest attempts comes in the form of an open letter addressed by a coalition of one hundred and… Read More ›
The Season of Pilgrimage by amina wadud
This weekend those of us not performing the ritual pilgrimage, or Hajj, will enjoy the Festival of the Sacrifice of Eid al-Adha. Celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th lunar calendar month, it tends to creep up without warning,… Read More ›
LGBTQI Muslims and International Movements for Empowerment by amina wadud
I am currently in Cape Town South Africa at a Queer Muslim International Retreat. Next month I will go to Jakarta Indonesia for a workshop focused on the same agenda: reform in Muslim communities towards the lives of dignity for… Read More ›
Muslim Separatists and The Idea of an “Islamic” State by amina wadud
The other day, someone on twitter said she would not allow ISIS (known as the Islamic State of the Levant) use the name of “her” religion. In fact, scholars in Egypt had proposed that they be called “the Separatist movement”… Read More ›
Seeing the Humanity in the Inner Child by Jameelah X. Medina
Article 6 1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. 2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child. Article 37 States Parties shall ensure that: (a)… Read More ›
Racism from Born Muslim Men is Hurting Latino Muslim Women by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente
One of the first things a newly Muslim woman convert learns is that Islam makes people equal and the only thing that differentiates a believer from another believer is their level of piety. They also learn that Islam raises the… Read More ›
Putting Faith in Interfaith Dialogue by Esther Nelson
Why do it? Sit around a table with people who profess a faith tradition different from our own, drink coffee, nibble on snacks, and talk. What’s the point? No doubt the reasons vary depending on the particular people getting together…. Read More ›
No Ramadan Gloom and Doom by amina wadud
The first blog I read about Ramadan this year was full of the usual self-righteous pontification that takes this occasion to remind people to do such and such at this or that level. Who is the target audience for such… Read More ›
Women at the Secular Student Alliance Conference by Kile Jones
A few days ago I had the pleasure of giving a talk at the Secular Student Alliance Conference on how non-believing persons can work with Churches. Amidst the chaos of conferences–managing your time, deciding which talks to attend, and making… Read More ›
“Papa Don’t Preach”: TED-like Talks at Malmo Nordic Women’s Forum May 2014
When I was a little girl, I used to be afraid. I was afraid of the dark. I was afraid of thunderstorms. I remember once cowering on the floor in the back seat of the car waiting for my dad… Read More ›
Enlivened Truth by Safa Plenty
My joy is rebellion, and so is my passion, my excitement, and even my sexuality, but only here where truth is kept secret. Where joy exploding in my vocal cords and coursing through my limbs is silenced or censored looked… Read More ›
Pride: Honoring the Immigrants and the Helpers by Laury Silvers
It is World Pride in Toronto this year. The city is filled with people from everywhere celebrating the gorgeous spectrum of humanity and the right of all human beings to live with dignity. In honor of World Pride and happy… Read More ›
Five Years of Untamed Spirituality and Challenging Feminism by Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente
In Chilean tradition, the number five has an important meaning regarding the understanding of life. At 5, a person starts school and life in society. At 15, we celebrate the entrance into the young adulthood. At 25, it is expected… Read More ›
Whose Sharia Is It? by Kecia Ali
It has been a lousy month for Islamic law. First, there was the kidnapping and threatened sale of Nigerian girls by Boko Haram, which claimed religious acceptability for their acts. As Muslim theologian Jerusha Lamptey opined, this is not my sharia. Then,… Read More ›
Ask me No Questions by amina wadud
In some alternate universe I would have complete control of what becomes part of discourse about me and about my work. In THIS universe, I just try to set some minimal standards even when it might sometimes not seem generous… Read More ›
No Honor for A Career of Hate by amina wadud
A recent decision by Brandeis University (founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian Jewish community-sponsored, coeducational institution) to take back its offer to give Ayaan Hirsi Ali an honorary doctorate hit the media with the usual storm over such a controversial… Read More ›
God is Too Big by amina wadud
In my current casual reading, a novel, the answer to the question “and where is God for you?” was expressed this way: “Definitely in the car with us as we talk and exchange things, and change each other in the… Read More ›
