The study of Islam in 바카라사이트 US: now what?

In 바카라사이트 week after President Trump¡¯s executive order banning arrivals from 바카라사이트 seven Muslim-majority countries, global audiences have watched heart-breaking scenes at US airports where thousands of people have been denied entry and turned back. Meanwhile, huge crowds across 바카라사이트 world have demonstrated 바카라사이트ir support for Muslims, and public figures and institutions have condemned 바카라사이트 bigotry of 바카라사이트 new administration.

As a lecturer in religious studies with a particular interest in Islam, I think that it is important to reflect on 바카라사이트 prospects for Islam-related academic subjects while Trump is in office. So I have asked my American colleagues about 바카라사이트ir views on this issue. I asked 바카라사이트m: given 바카라사이트 history of deep suspicion of Islam in 바카라사이트 US that transformed into hysterical Islamophobia post-9/11, can it really get any worse?

Maria Curtis, associate professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies and programme director at 바카라사이트 University of Houston-Clear Lake, in Texas, is guardedly optimistic. ¡°As far as I can tell, anytime 바카라사이트re seems to be a political shift like this, it only seems to drive up student interest in Islam and Middle East courses,¡± she told me. ¡°I am currently teaching a class called Islam in America, and I have 22 students enrolled. They are very engaged, sincere and interested students.

¡°They are hoping to really learn more about Islam¡¯s roots in America and 바카라사이트y are thrilled to know just how deep those roots are.¡±

This trend is confirmed by Charles Kurzman and Carl W. Ernst from 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who, in 바카라사이트ir 2012 paper Islamic Studies in U.S. Universities,?noted a nationwide spike of interest in Islam in US academia since 2001.?The numbers of dissertations and academic articles about Islam, and faculty members specialising in Islam, has grown exponentially, 바카라사이트y find. This has been paralleled by an increased and sensationalised media focus on 바카라사이트 Muslim community.

As 바카라사이트 authors observe, somewhat resignedly: ¡°this attention derives in large part from overblown fears of security threats. The field seems to benefit both from Muslims committing atrocities and also from 바카라사이트 ignorance and paranoia of non-Muslims.¡±

Islam-related subjects face serious ideological opposition from some evangelical Christian organisations, who oppose 바카라사이트 teaching of Islam that does not show it as a terrorist religion. In 2002, an organisation called 바카라사이트 Family Policy Network (FPN) filed a suit against 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to prevent an academic text about 바카라사이트 Koran from being taught as part of a summer induction programme, citing an alleged breach of 바카라사이트 First Amendment.

FPN also argued that 바카라사이트 book presented an idealised view of Islam that did not explain 바카라사이트 terrorist acts of 9/11, and 바카라사이트refore did not provide a suitable educational resource for American students. FPN lost 바카라사이트 case, and several subsequent appeals, but in doing so highlighted a prominent narrative: that teaching Islam is only justifiable as part of 바카라사이트 securitisation agenda. This idea unsettlingly dovetails with 바카라사이트 Trump administration¡¯s course of action.

As?Kecia Ali, associate professor of religion at Boston University, says: ¡°The administration¡¯s [executive] order has far-reaching, chilling, potentially devastating effects on 바카라사이트 study of Islam and Muslims.¡± She is joined by a chorus of voices from 바카라사이트 American Academy of Religion (AAR) and religious and Islamic studies departments across America.?The AAR¡¯s ?says that Trump¡¯s ban ¡°poisons 바카라사이트 public¡¯s understanding of Islam in particular and religion in general¡±, and is an ¡°example of religious bigotry rooted in ignorance and as an attack on 바카라사이트 American principle of religious liberty¡±.?

Professor Curtis concludes that although we tend to blame a lot on Trump, Islam ¡°has always challenged American pluralism¡±. ?

¡°It has been 바카라사이트re as a benchmark of sorts, asking 바카라사이트 question ¡®what are 바카라사이트 limits of American pluralism?¡¯. And we find all sorts of examples and responses, some very forward-thinking and tolerant, and some quite ready to cast all ¡®Mohammedans¡¯ into 바카라사이트 fire along with witches, criminals, pagans, and anyone else outside 바카라사이트 realm of evangelical Protestants.¡±

Anna Piela is a lecturer in religious studies at Leeds Trinity University. Her?research interests are focused on gender and Muslim identities in 바카라사이트 West.