Education:
2005
- enrolled in M.L.S. program, Simmons College
1999- Ph.D. in Religion. University of St. Andrews (Scotland).
“The Early Arabic Versions of Job (first millennium C.E.)"
1980- B.D. in Old Testament Languages and Literature, University
of St. Andrews.
1977- M.S. in Arabic, Georgetown University.
1974- B.S.F.S. cum laude in International Affairs, Georgetown
University.
Academic and Ecclesiastical Positions:
Hartford
Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut (1989-97, 1999-present):
Library Director (2003-present)
Reference and Learning Resources Librarian (2001-2002)
Adjunct Professor of Arabic (1990-97, 1999-present)
Inventory Preparation, Arabic Manuscript Collection (1989-1994)
Colebrook
Congregational Church, Colebrook, Connecticut (1999-2001):
Pastor
Trinity
College, Hartford, Connecticut:
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, 2003-2005
Lecturer in Modern Languages (Arabic), Religion (Islam), and International Studies (Middle East), 1992-1999
Chair (pro tempore), Middle Eastern Studies, spring semester 1998
Fellowship
of Connecticut Congregational Christian Churches, Hartford,
Connecticut (1988-97): Executive Secretary (head of denomination)
First
Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, Barkhamsted, Connecticut
(1981-1988): Pastor
Teaching Expertise:
Arabic:
Classical and Modern Standard, Introductory and Intermediate
Levels
Islam: Introductory; Sufism; Shi`ism; Qur’an;
Hadith
French: Elementary; Conversational (Community
College adjunct)
Conference Leadership:
Institute for Pastors and Pastoral Workers on Islam/Christian-Muslim Relations, June 26 – July 2, 2005, and June 25-30, 2007, Georgetown University. I presented units on the Qur’an and Its Interpretation, the Mosque, Pastoral Concerns in “mixed marriages”, etc., and led a dozen studies on Qur’anic passages. The Institute was co-sponsored by the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, and the Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary.
On-Line
Instruction:
In
conjunction with Beliefnet.com, I was one of half a dozen
scholars leading a nationwide two-month, non-credit course
on Islam during October and November of 2001.
Connecticut Humanities Council:
I assisted in planning and executing, in the aftermath of 9/11, a series of book discussions in public libraries throughout Connecticut on Islam in the United States under the program “Time for Ideas in Libraries,” for which I personally led dozens of discussion groups. Since the end of that program, I have continued leading discussion groups on works by modern Middle Eastern authors such as Azar Nafisi and Orhan Pamuk.
Public Service:
Board of Directors, New England Chamber Choir, 1996-present
Board of Directors, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, 2005-present
Public Lectures (selected):
For
over a decade I have lectured extensively throughout the northeast
on topics such as the following:
- Christianity
and Islam: Two Abrahamic Faiths” – Presentation,
intended for a Christian audience, concerning some points
of contact between two of the world’s largest religious
communities.
- “Family
from a Christian Perspective” – Panel presentation
on “The Family” sponsored by the Muslim Student
Association, University of Hartford.
- “Islam:
the Arab Homeland” - “Islam: Central and South
Asia” - “Islam: the Diaspora” – Three
talks presented on a number of occasions, including the
Fall School of Religion of the Second Church of Christ
(“South Church”), Hartford.
- “Islam
and the Concept of Holy War” – prepared in the
light of the events of September 11
- “Islam
in the 20th Century” – revised in the light
of the events of September 11
- “Jerusalem
in Christian Thought” – Lecture given at Trinity
College, Hartford, Connecticut, as part of a course, “Jerusalem
3000”, offered by Prof. Levana Polate, Lecturer in
Hebrew, spring semester 1997.
- “Middle
East Peace” – Presentation made for a Hartford
Gifted Middle School Students program.
- “The
Place of Jerusalem in Islamic Thought” – Panelist
presentation in a forum on the 3000th anniversary of Jerusalem
for The Friends of Israel, Yale University, April 19,
1998; revised and presented at an ecumenical (Jewish-Christian)
forum, First Congregational Church of Fairfield, CT (2002)
- “Primitive
Religion: Animism” - “Primitive Religion: Shamanism”
- “Primitive Religion: Totemism” –
Three talks presented at the Fall School of Religion,
Hartford.
Publications
- “The
Book of Khalid,” al-Arabiyya, 9, 1-2 (1976), 19-25.
Publication of my remarks for a panel discussion on the
works of Amin al-Rihani, a Lebanese-American author,
at the Middle East Studies Association meeting of 1974
in Los Angeles.
- TESOL
Placement Quarterly. Washington, D.C.: Center
for Applied Linguistics, 1980-81 (Executive Editor)
- The
Congregational Ranger. Hartford: Fellowship
of Connecticut Congregational Christian Churches, 1988-97
(Executive Editor)
- “The
Arabic Language Manuscript Collection in Hartford,”
Muslim World, LXXX, 1 (1990), 56-7.
- The
Arabic Manuscript Collection: Interim Report. Hartford:
Hartford Seminary, 1991. (Inventory of the Seminary’s
collection of over 1700 Arabic language mss.
- “Mysteries
of the Scribes,” in The Illuminated Manuscripts of
Hartford Seminary. Hartford: Hartford Seminary,
1994.
- “How
God Speaks”, The Congregationalist, 159, 3 (1999),
12-14.
- “‘Who
Is My Neighbor?’ Reflections on the Anniversary of
September 11”, The Congregationalist, 162, 3 (2002),
24-27.
- “Christianity
and Islam in an Early Arabic Version of the Book of Job:
The Interplay of Theology and Translation,” Slovo, Vol. 3 (Fall 2000), pp. 1-10.
- “Islamic Perspectives on Jerusalem,” ZH Online (2006)
Forthcoming Publication:
Introduction from the Protestant Perspective, and Commentary as Footnotes to the English Translation of the Sublime Quran (Laleh Bakhtiar, trans.) Chicago: Kazi Publications, 2008.
Reviews
Hamid
Dabashi’s Authority in Islam for the Muslim
World, LXXXI, 2 (1991), 168-69.
Jorgen
Nielsen’s Towards a European Islam: Migration, Minorities,
and Citizenship for the Muslim World, XCII, 3&4
(2002), 486-87
Malika
Mokeddem’s Of Dreams and Assassins for the Muslim
World, XCII, 3&4 (2002), 492-94.
Marc Gopin’s Holy War, Holy Peace:
How Religion Can Bring Peace to the Middle East for Choice:
Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 40, No. 3 (November 2002), 40-1484.
Richard
G. Hovanessian and Georges Sabagh, eds: The Persian Presence
in the Islamic World for the Muslim World, XCIII, 1 (2003),
145-48.
George
Mattawa and Munir Akash, eds: Post-Gibran Anthology of New
Arab American Writing for the Muslim World, XCIII, 1 (2003),
144-45.
Lewis
V. Baldwin and Amiri Yasin al-Hadid: Between Cross and Crescent:
Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Malcolm and Martin for
Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 40, No. 8 (April 2003), 40-4548.
George
C. DeCasa: The Qur’anic Concept of Umma and its Function
in Philippine Muslim Society for the Muslim World, XCIII,
2(2003), 343-44.
Linda
S. Walbridge, ed: The Most Learned of the Shi`a: the institution
of the marja` taqlid for the Muslim World, XCIII, 2(2003),
323-25.
Seyyed
Hossein Nasr: Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization for
Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 41, No. 1 (September 2003), 41-0252.
Lamia
Rustum Shehadeh. The Idea of Women in Fundamentalist Islam
for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 41, No. 4 (December 2003), 41-2134.
Vartan
Gregorian: Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith for Choice: Current
Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 41, No. 8 (April 2004), 41-4594.
Yvonne
Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito: Daughters of Abraham:
Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam for the
Muslim World, XCIV, 3(2004), 408-10.
S.
A. Nigosian: Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices for
Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 42, No. 3 (November 2004), 42-1504.
Robert
R. Bianchi: Guests of God: Pilgrimage and Politics in the
Islamic World for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
(www.choicemag.org)
Vol. 42, No. 8 (April 2005), 42-4585.
Mamdouh N. Mohamed: Salaat: The Islamic Prayer from A to Z for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 1 (September 2005), 43-0263.
Peter Adamson and Richard C. Taylor, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 2 (October 2005), 43-0860.
Farid Esack. The Qur’an: a user’s guide for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 7 (March 2006), 43-3983.
Kenneth Cragg. Faith at Suicide: lives forfeit: violent religion - human despair for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 8 (April 2006), 43-4604.
Kees Versteegh, et al, eds. Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics: Volume1: A-Ed for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 11 (July 2006), 43-6237.
Amin, Samir and Ali El Kenz. Europe and the Arab World: Patterns and Prospects for the New Relationship for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 43, No. 11 (July 2006), 43-6793.
Said Bakhtaoui and Mohammad Ballour: Shi`ism: waiting for the hidden Imam (film) for the Muslim World, XCVI, 3(2006), 535-36.
Liyakat N. Takim: The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma and Religious Authority in Shi`ite Islam for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 44, No. 8 (March 2007), 44-3824.
Kabir Helminski: The Book of Language: Exploring the Spiritual Vocabulary of Islam for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 44, No. 9 (April 2007), 44-4408.
Wolfdietrich Fischer: A Grammar of Classical Arabic, translated from the German by Jonathan Rodgers, for the Muslim World XCIII, 3 (July 2007), 537-39.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr: Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy for Reviews in Religion and Theology Vol. 14, 3 (July 2007), 436-40.
Tariq Ramadan: In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries (www.choicemag.org) Vol. 45, No. 3 (November 2007), 45-1422.
Carol Bakhos: Ishmael on the Border: Rabbinic Portrayals of the First Arab for Reviews in Religion and Theology Vol. 15, 1 (January 2008), 66-67.
Forthcoming Book Reviews:
Paula Youngman Skreslet and Rebecca Skreslet: The Literature of Islam for the Muslim World.
Antoine Sfeir, ed: Columbia World Dictionary of Islamism for Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries.
Middle Eastern Travel and Residencies:
-
Cairo, Egypt
-
Kibbutz Nachshulim, Israel
-
Nahariyya, Israel
-
Beirut, Lebanon
-
Valetta, Malta
-
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
-
Tunis, Tunisia
-
Taybeh
(near Ramallah), West Bank
Ordination:
Congregational
Christian Churches Ecclesiastical Council of the Vicinage
(June 1982), held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn,
Illinois
Denominational and Ecumenical Service:
-
Board
of Directors, American Congregational Association, Boston,
Massachusetts (2000-2003); committee assignment: Personnel
-
Member,
Piedmont College (Georgia) Presidential Advisory Committee
(1992-95)
-
Chair
(1989-90, 1991-92), World Christian Relations Commission,
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
(full term of service: 1987-1992)
-
Ecumenical
Observer to the Council of Christian Churches within the
Unitarian-Universalist Association (1989-96) from the
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
-
Non-Constituency
Representative to the National Council of Churches of
Christ’s Office on Christian-Muslim Relations (Faith
and Order Commission), New York, New York (1986-90)
-
Observer,
World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Presbyterian and
Congregational) Caribbean and North American Area Council
(1990-91)
-
Devotional
Leader, International Congregational Fellowship (1985)
-
Member,
Greater Winsted Area Ministerial Association (1981-88,
1999-2001)
