In this article, the author describes three distinct but interrelated currents in the process of Islamization: the evolution of the "integrated" madrasah, the growth of the Jema'at al Tabligh as a form of nonformal Islamic education for adults, and the effort by the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao…

Lebanon's violent past and sectarian strife have made the country's name synonymous with violence and disunity. Yet the discourse of at least one Lebanese religious institution can complicate the simplistic narrative about a country of warring religious groups with no national sentiments. The writings produced by the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic…

One way to understand the religion of Islam is to analyze the language and rhetoric of its users and listeners. A study examined the meaning behind the recitation of the 99 metaphorical names of Allah (God), translated from Arabic. Muslim rituals, of which this recitation is one, fulfill the basic principles of metaphors, which imply a framework…

Many theorists have argued that western Christianity and Islam affect political culture in different ways, and that western Christianity is more conducive to the rise of a democratic culture than is Islam. This paper argues that the difference between Christianity and Islam in terms of the type of political culture they encourage, is largely…

To help social studies classroom teachers present a realistic picture of the Middle Eastern religion of Islam, this article presents an overview of major beliefs and religious practices of Moslems. Information is presented on religious fundamentals, Islam's relationship to Judaism and Christianity, the development of Islam, the role of women, and…

Describes an Islamic school in Baltimore, MD, which serves 36 students with no salaries, few resources, and scant space. The school depends on volunteers to teach, repair, and serve. Most teachers are not certified, but students benefit from an excellent teacher-student ratio and an intimate environment. In just over 10 years, the number of such…

Presents an overview of Islamic health care beliefs and practices, noting health-related social and spiritual issues, fundamental beliefs and themes in Islam, health care beliefs and practices common among Muslims, and health-affecting social roles among Muslims. Cultural, religious, and social barriers to health care and ways to reduce them are…

Considers the change in the media presentation of Islam in Turkey after the ascent of commercial television. Discusses the image of Islam and of Turkish politicians as presented in different contexts on TV--the "issuetization" of Islam for the consumption of the mainstream audience. (PA)

It's not easy being a Muslim student or professor on a U.S. college campus these days. Classmates and colleagues are curious and filled with questions. Some members of campus communities have reported being verbally harassed and made to feel uncomfortable, finding themselves in the role of having to educate their peers about and defend Islam.…

The ideological interface between Muslims and liberal educators undoubtedly is strained in the realm of sex education, and perhaps on no topic more so than homosexuality. Mark Halstead argues that schools should not try to "undermine the faith" of Muslims, who object to teaching homosexuality as an "acceptable alternative lifestyle." In this…

Traversing a rock-strewn terrain of essentialist methodologies historically employed for teaching Islam, the author espouses a non-Essentialist pedagogy that combines critical reflection, analysis of historical methods, and development of an appreciation for alternative notions about Islam and global interdependence. In this essay the author…

This article uses established data sources, as well as data collected by the authors themselves for a broader study on education enrollment in Pakistan, to examine the size and importance of the religious education sector in Pakistan. Methodologically, this study analyzes madrasa enrollment in a school-choice framework that is well known to…

Four years after the 9/11 attack on the United States, the country continues to be in considerable turmoil. Children have lived through the devastation of the September 11th attacks, the panic over the anthrax mailings, the hunt for terrorists in Afghanistan, elevated homeland security threat levels, the war in Iraq, the tsunami disaster, and…

The British government has published a long-anticipated report containing guidelines designed to help higher-education institutions combat Islamic extremism. The report entitled "Promoting Good Campus Relations: Working With Staff and Students to Build Community Cohesion and Tackle Violent Extremism in the Name of Islam at Universities and…

The "Religion and Diversity Education" program of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding includes innovative training for elementary and high school educators on addressing religious pluralism in school. This paper highlights the program and its curricula which confront Islamophobia by teaching students concrete skills for living in…