By Nicole Findlay
Students enrolled in Leonard Librande’s First-year Seminar, Whither Islam will spend the year examining the religious and cultural emergence of Islam. In an era when the media and political lens is trained on the religion and its adherents, Librande’s class will equip students with the knowledge to separate media hype from fact.
“Today, Islam is the fastest growing religion on the planet and receives prominence in the Western media, shared by no other religion,” said Librande, a professor of religion in the College of the Humanities. “It is also the least acknowledged root of Western civilization and in Canada is our third largest religion.”
Beginning in the seventh century, Librande will lead his students through the centuries to investigate Islam’s history, and the resulting culture, society and civilization that have emerged since its creation. The course material will be divided into three main parts. Throughout the year, students will examine the religion’s formative period, its accomplishments during the medieval era and finally the place it currently occupies.
In addition to the acquisition of practical skills necessary in the academe, such as research, critical analysis, writing and speaking, Librande hopes to impart the students with an appreciation for the religion and its followers.
“They will gain confidence in their ability to read, speak and write, in this case about Islam, in a coherent and polished fashion.”
Librande’s own interest in Islam developed during his graduate years at McGill University. Although increasingly in the spotlight, Librande contends that erroneous generalizations about the religion and its followers too often pass for understanding.
“The study of Islam in the context of the study of religion is a well-founded way to appreciate the insights and values of Islam as a religion and the source of a major culture and civilization on our planet,” said Librande. ” I can think of few things as satisfying as passing on what I have learned about Islam to students fresh to the university.”