gp100357- As per your request.
Young lectures on Jihad culture
by Faith Hayden
Assistant Features Editor
A visiting assistant professor of theology and the editor of the Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, Dr. William Young, gave a lecture entitled "Jihad: 'Holy War' and the Struggle for Peace in Contemporary Islam" on Oct. 23 in the Fourth Floor Programming Room.
It was the first in a series of six weekly lectures focused on issues related to the Sept. 11 tragedy that are being sponsored by the Service Leadership Program to help broaden the discussion on the Evergreen campus.
In his lecture, Young focused on the meaning of the Islamic term "jihad," which has been translated as "holy war."
Young's primary argument focused on the multiple meanings of jihad and the three primary ways of interpreting it.
Young proposes that jihad really has a broader definition than simply "holy war."
While he recognized that a person could interpret it that way, he proposes that "jihad" can mean a general quest for holiness as well.
This quest can also be taken in many different ways: It could be a quest for a Muslim's own personal holiness, or a quest to spread the Muslim religion though out the world.
The three specific ways of interpreting the jihad depend on whether you interpret the Kuran, the Muslim bible, as modern, neo-traditional and post-critical.
The modern perspective of jihad rebukes war altogether, embraces science and is more accepting of western values.
The neo-traditional view rejects western values; people who subscribe to this perspective are more likely to interpret the jihad in a violent manner.
Finally, the post-critical standpoint looks at the Kuran in a political context, and holds that each individual should interpret the text for one's own self.
Some Muslims interpret jihad as war on all those who do not believe in the Muslim faith.
Others, however, believe a jihad is only needed when Muslims are attacked because of their faith, or are forced to give up their religion because of others' conflicting beliefs.
"Hatred, racism and oppression shape the [negative] context of Islam," Young stated in his lecture.
"Through education and the broadening of experience, [one] can reshape the jihad ideal."
Young began his lecture with the telling of two stories, both showing that through education, a person was able to reshape their interpretation of jihad.
He began with Malcolm X, quoting from his autobiography and explaining that Malcolm X believed vigorously in violence until he made a pilgrimage to Mecca. There, he saw the true harmony and peaceful nature of Islam.
The second story was about a boy who also interpreted the Islamic religion in a violent manner until he met a Muslim scholar who educated him on other interpretations of the text.
Like Malcolm X, the boy's view was changed through education.
Overall, Young's lecture was informative and interesting.
He explained his points very well and never lost his audience in a slew of confusing information.
Instead, he approached his argument in a step-by-step manner and walked his audience through it with him.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
