Public Lecture on Pluralism by Prof. Abu Zayd

Professor Nasr Abu Zayd (1943, Egypt) will deliver a public lecture on pluralism entitled Pluralism or Unitarianism? Perspectives from the Qur’an. In his lecture he will address the central question to what extent the Qur’an worldview endorses or inhibits Pluralism. Mr. Halim El Madkouri (Forum) will react on Professor Abu Zayd and relate his lecture to current debates on pluralism, religion and the public domain in the Netherlands. The lecture is organised as part of the Hivos Knowledge Week 2008 on the 2nd of December 2008 at 15.00h, in Theater De Regentes, The Hague.

During Hivos Knowledge Week 2008, academics and practitioners jointly offer a wide array of activities to debate, inspire, rethink and critically reflect on international cooperation in transition. The lecture is planned on the 2nd of December 2008 at 15.00h, in Theater De Regentes, The Hague.

Professor Nasr Abu Zayd (1943, Tanta, Egypt) holds the Ibn Rushd chair on Humanism and Islam at the University for Humanistics (Utrecht). He is an internationally recognised expert on modern Islamic thought, critically approaching classical and contemporary Islamic discourses. He aims to to suggest a theory of hermeneutics that might enable Muslims to build a bridge between their own tradition and the modern world of freedom, equality, human rights, democracy and globalisation. Professor Nasr Abu Zayd got political asylum in the Netherlands in 1995, after several years of severe religious prosecution and finally a formal court decision that led to his apostasy in Egypt.

In his lecture, Professor Abu Zayd will present and analyse the existing tension and contradictions in the Qur’anic passages, statements and enjoinments from a historical perspective. He will offer a critical explanation of the post-Qur’anic classical views – legal, theological as well as mystical and philosophical – to see if a new interpretation of the Qur’an is plausible.

Halim El Madkouri is the head of the division Religion and Identity of FORUM, Institute for Multicultural Development (Utrecht, the Netherlands). FORUM is the largest non-governmental actor in the field of integration policy in the Netherlands. The institute focuses on developments and issues relating to the Dutch multicultural society in general, and to the integration of (ethnic) minorities in particular. FORUM is a national centre of expertise that stands for a society in which people from various communities live together as fully recognised citizens.

Practicalities

For the programme and directions see the attached invitation letter.

You are kindly requested to send an e-mail to info@hivos.net if you would like to attend this lecture.