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gogu
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 Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: "Muslim Scholar at German University Voices Doubts About Pro |
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http://chronicle.com/news/article/5500/muslim-scholar-at-german-university-voices-doubts-about-prophet
November 16, 2008
Muslim Scholar at German University Voices Doubts About Prophet
A Muslim scholar at a German university was told to stop teaching
secondary-school instructors about Islam after he publicly voiced doubts
about whether the Prophet Muhammad really existed.
Muhammad Sven Kalisch, a professor of Islamic theology at the University of
Munster, ran a program directed at secondary-school teachers with Muslim
students, The Wall Street Journal reported this weekend. The university said
it would look for another scholar to do that job when Mr. Kalisch's doubts
became public several months ago, after a series of interviews and
publications. The university retains him as a professor.
The controversy and headlines began swirling around Mr. Kalisch this past
summer, as the news organization Spiegel Online reported in September. Mr.
Kalisch, who converted to Islam as a teenager, said in newspaper interviews
that he doubted that the historical existence of Muhammad could be proved or
disproved, but he leaned towards the latter side. Among things that bothered
him, according to the Journal: The first coins bearing an image of the
prophet did not appear until decades after the religion did.
Islamic groups in Germany initially embraced Mr. Kalisch's teaching program,
but then argued that a person who doubted the fundamental tenets of a
religion was not the appropriate person to train other teachers about it.
Mr. Kalisch says he will continue his research - and his skepticism - and
the university will search for someone else to train teachers. Mr. Kalisch
also says that, despite concerns for his safety, he has not received
specific threats since publicizing his views. -Josh Fischman |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:36 am Post subject: Re: "Muslim Scholar at German University Voices Doubts About |
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Interesting to hear that an academic and expert on Islam express
skepticism about Muhammad since Islam often markets itself as a
flawless religion solidly backed by historical fact.
What's even more interesting is the attitude of the University of
Munster. Is it a university or a church? If it's a university then why
does it favor belief over skepticism?
As for the concerns Mr. Kalisch has for his safety I don't have to
comment on that. Around the world it is becoming understood that
terrorism was not a fabrication of George Bush but a component of
Islam and that military force against Islam is often justifiable.
| Quote: | http://chronicle.com/news/article/5500/muslim-scholar-at-german-unive...
November 16, 2008
Muslim Scholar at German University Voices Doubts About Prophet
A Muslim scholar at a German university was told to stop teaching
secondary-school instructors about Islam after he publicly voiced doubts
about whether the Prophet Muhammad really existed.
Muhammad Sven Kalisch, a professor of Islamic theology at the University of
Munster, ran a program directed at secondary-school teachers with Muslim
students, The Wall Street Journal reported this weekend. The university said
it would look for another scholar to do that job when Mr. Kalisch's doubts
became public several months ago, after a series of interviews and
publications. The university retains him as a professor.
The controversy and headlines began swirling around Mr. Kalisch this past
summer, as the news organization Spiegel Online reported in September. Mr.
Kalisch, who converted to Islam as a teenager, said in newspaper interviews
that he doubted that the historical existence of Muhammad could be proved or
disproved, but he leaned towards the latter side. Among things that bothered
him, according to the Journal: The first coins bearing an image of the
prophet did not appear until decades after the religion did.
Islamic groups in Germany initially embraced Mr. Kalisch's teaching program,
but then argued that a person who doubted the fundamental tenets of a
religion was not the appropriate person to train other teachers about it.
Mr. Kalisch says he will continue his research - and his skepticism - and
the university will search for someone else to train teachers. Mr. Kalisch
also says that, despite concerns for his safety, he has not received
specific threats since publicizing his views. -Josh Fischman |
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