RS 312Muslim Lives and Practices Worldwide

This course examines the religion, cultures, and politics associated with Islamic civilization in the modern world, focusing on the everyday lives and practices of ordinary Muslims. Through anthropological approaches based on ethnographic fieldwork in a variety of geographical areas, students study topics such as ritual, language, gender, authority, representation, stereotypes, fundamentalism, and secularism. Students will develop greater understanding of religious diversity by studying insider and outsider perspectives on Muslim lives and practices worldwide. Students will improve their critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills to engage academic and public debates about Islam.