1. Consider the title of Mustafa Akyol’s TED TALK: “Faith Versus Tradition in Islam.” What is the main premise(s) of his argument?
2. Name three examples related to the treatment of women (sexuality issues), and explain his argument in all three instances.
3. Akyol refers to “religious police” and “secularism police.” What do these extremes suggest? Consider potential and actual harm done by this mentality of power and control.
4. Akyol lists several strengths in Islamic tradition. Name three.
5. According to his address, 19th-century revisionists, reformists, thinkers, intellectuals, and statesmen looked to Europe as an admirable model worth emulating. To what were they attracted, and what did they wish to incorporate in Turkey as well as in Islam at large?
6. What “watershed” devastating event happened in the Islamic world circa 1917-1919? In the aftermath of this event, why was the situation in Turkey unique?
7. Name several factors at work that have created a rebirth of Islamic modernism in Turkey (and perhaps hints of change beyond).
Think piece question: How might democracy be seen as a threat?
8. Aykol seemed cautiously optimistic for a rebirth of Islamic modernism, and emphasized that “despite skeptics in the West, Islam has the potential to create its own way to democracy.” We can only imagine the cultural and religious challenges facing those advocating for change (reforms, etc.). It makes us wonder how “democracy” will have to be packaged in order to be convincingly sold to the Islamic world.
By way of application, what are some of the (perceived and real) strengths, weaknesses, challenges, threats, and opportunities that modernity or “secularism” presents to a conservative religious tradition (such as Catholics, or evangelical Protestant Christians in America)? Why is there a tendency to distrust people who call themselves“atheists”?
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