Introduction to Islam
A public service course with Dr. Timothy Gianotti

Designed for the intrigued Torontonian as well as for Muslims seeking an academically-grounded deepening in their faith, this 9-week course promises to provide a thoughtful foundation for understanding Islamic belief, practice, and history, even as it opens up new areas for inquiry and study.

Time: 10:00 am – noon (first class runs 10:00 am – 12:30 pm)
Location: upper classroom, Noor Cultural Centre
Fee: $250 (special rates available to students, seniors, and the underemployed)
Class cap: 20 students

For more information or to register, please email [email protected].

SESSION 1 January 11, 2009
Introductions & Getting Started: The Challenge of Studying Religion & the Special Challenge of Studying Islam in a Post 9/11 World

SESSION 2 January 18, 2009
A First Glimpse into the Essence, Belief, and Mechanics of Islam

SESSION 3 January 25, 2009
Islam’s Sacred Worldview, or Belief System

SESSION 4 February 1, 2009
Islam’s Path of Sacred Action (Obligatory Religious Practices)

SESSION 5 February 8, 2009
The Eastern Branch of the Abrahamic Covenant: Ishmael, the Ka’ba, and the Mythic History of Arabia Prior to the Rise of Islam

SESSION 6 February 15, 2009
The “Age of Ignorance” and the Dawning of Islam

February 22 – no class

SESSION 7 March 1, 2009
Prophecy: Muhammad and the Advent of Qur’ānic Revelations in Mecca

SESSION 8 March 8, 2009
Archetypes & Realities: the Birth and “Perfection” of the Islamic Religion in Medina

SESSION 9 March 15, 2009
Pursuing Ultimate Horizons: A Glimpse into the Mysteries of Being and Becoming “Muslim”

Timothy J. Gianotti is a Professor of Islamic Studies and the Noor Fellow in Islamic Studies at York University.