UNews - ERIKA JAHN

Understanding Islam

trevor.kenney — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:39:45 +0000

In an age when tension between religions has reached a critical point, the need for dialogue, understanding and tolerance has never been more important. An Endowment at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of lethbridge is supporting Islamic studies, and cultivating an understanding of world religions and appreciation of diversity.

By ERIKA JAHN (BA '08)

Islam is one of the world's great religious traditions – and one of the fastest growing in the West – but it is not without controversy. Since 9-11 particularly, Islam has been at the forefront of many discussions about the challenges of religious tolerance and increasing cultural diversity in the West.

It is also the subject of academic inquiry in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's small Department of Religious Studies and for students like Campbell Peat (BA '08) and James Falconer who study with religious studies professor Atif Khalil. What these students point out is that discussions about "Islam in the West" in the media, and by politicians and pundits alike, lack depth and empathy, and often are coloured by Islamophobia.

"That geopolitical conflicts have been framed in terms of religion or a clash of civilizations seems more like a convenient way for the West to label the 'other' as irrational and extremist while concealing the real roots of the conflicts," says Falconer.

As a student and research assistant in the Department of Sociology at the U of L, Falconer has studied Muslim immigration in the West, complementing his studies with courses about Islam to better understand the cultural and religious context of those he researches.

"The courses in Islamic studies have the potential to help transcend the profound misunderstandings about Islam held by those in western societies, myself included," says Falconer.
"Muslim immigrants are overwhelmingly educated, secularist, progressive and modern – that's why they immigrated to the West," he goes on to explain.

Muslim immigrants to western countries like Canada often find themselves confronted in their new country by misgivings and misunderstandings about their faith, and ultimately about them as citizens.

It was with the hope of dispelling these kinds of misunderstandings that one such Canadian immigrant, the late Dr. Mushtaq Khan, who was a senior research scientist at the Lethbridge Research Station for 28 years, and his wife Catherine Khan (BEd '72, BASc '77), who served as president of the U of L Alumni Association from 1975-1977, established the Mushtaq and Catherine Khan Endowment at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Grad student Campbell Peat (right) is currently completing his MA on the Spanish Sufi mystic, Ibn Arabi, and intends to pursue doctoral work in the near future. Undergraduate James Falconer (left) has completed his degree requirements and will convocate in June 2011. He intends to pursue an MA in sociology.

"We wanted people to know what Islam really is, and that Muslims have about as much to do with terrorism as you or me," Catherine explains. "Most of the people who are Muslim are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who only want to live at peace with their neighbours."

After the events of 9-11, the need for education and cross-cultural understanding only grew. The Khans believed that in supporting education about Islam, they were supporting a future with increased tolerance and less fear.

"We thought if there was more education about what Islam really is then people wouldn't be afraid of it as much as they are," Catherine explains.

The Khans' financial support enabled the Department of Religious Studies to recruit Professor Khalil in 2007 and to attract prominent scholars to speak at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ on the topic of Islam. Khalil, who teaches classes ranging from world religions to upper-level philosophy and theology courses, notes the importance of studying Islam in a country with a growing Muslim population and intensifying anti-Islamic sentiments in the media.

"Canadians, in my view, should not be afraid. Even though there are forms of Islam that are isolationist and exclusivist, mainstream Canadian Islam, which is the Islam of the vast majority of Muslims, stresses peaceful coexistence and tolerance," says Khalil. He hopes that through his courses and the study of Islam and religion more generally, students will come to appreciate the diversity and complexity of religion, allowing them to form relationships of respect with their peers and neighbours, rather than fear or hostility.

Since Khalil's arrival at the U of L and the support from the Khans, the department has expanded its library holdings and attracted some high-profile speakers. Most notable, however, is the benefit to the student population and to the wider community.

"It is my hope that our courses on Islam instil in students a greater appreciation of the richness and diversity of our world, of our religious traditions and of the collective wisdom of the human race," says Khalil. It's a sentiment that has captured the imaginations of many who pass through the department and that is mirrored in the testimony of his students.

"If anything, the promotion of Islamic studies encourages the individual to adopt a reflective position that approaches Islam as a multidimensional display of human emotion and belief," says Peat. "Even a basic understanding of Islam goes a great way to combat ideas of cultural antagonism."

Falconer agrees, and says that he was surprised to learn that Islamic and western civilizations share the same intellectual roots. "They are more compatible than most would imagine based on modern western portrayals and perceptions of Islam," he says.

The Khans' donation has sown the seeds for a future in which mutual understanding and respect between people might blossom.

"Mushtaq was always tolerant of other religions and encouraged tolerance from others," recalls Catherine. "It was his hope that others in his adopted Canadian community could at minimum attempt to understand Islam."

The hopes that fuelled the donation to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are being fulfilled as hundreds of students every semester enrol in the department's courses and are increasingly exposed to the religions and cultures of their Canadian neighbours.

"The fact that the son of a farmer is able to study one of the world's great traditions in the southern Alberta town he grew up in is simply astounding," says Peat. "Even in smaller communities like Lethbridge we are able to see the effects of global integration. Without founding a multicultural spirit and exploratory ethos we run the risk of letting our ideas of Islam (or any religion, for that matter) become superficial and narrow."

The Khans' commitment to supporting liberal education and the study of religion is indeed one step in the right direction toward a society more tolerant, just and curious about the beliefs of others. It is clear this contribution is helping to mould thoughtful citizens, leaders and educators of tomorrow who are less focused on religious differences and more interested in exploring our shared human experiences.

This story first appeared in the Spring issue of SAM. For a look at the entire SAM magazine in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Rethinking religion

trevor.kenney — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:09:48 +0000

History has been plagued with religious strife. In an age when tension between religions has reached a critical point, the need for dialogue, understanding and tolerance has never been more important.

This fall, recent U of L graduate and religious studies major Erika Jahn (BA '08) confidently headed out into the world, ready to begin her life's work in the scholarly pursuit of a more peaceful tomorrow. Her first stop – Harvard ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where she is pursuing a master's degree in theological studies. It's a renowned academic program that accepts only a select group of the world's most stellar students.

"I cried with excitement when I received my acceptance letter from Harvard," Jahn recalls. "I hadn't told very many people I applied there, including my parents, so when I was accepted, it was a really big deal."

Jahn says her U of L professors and real-world experience played important roles in her acceptance to the Harvard Divinity School.

"I had the most astounding professors at the U of L who have been personal mentors to me," she says. "My professors instilled in me an appreciation for academic rigour and the desire to engage with my community and the world around me."

During her second year at the U of L, Jahn went to Thailand to study Buddhism as part of an independent study – an experience she says not only deepened her understanding of the field, but also strengthened her appreciation for cultural diversity.

Now as a graduate student, Jahn is continuing her research of religious conflict, peace studies and ethnic violence, and is focusing on religion and politics. And as she takes in all that Harvard has to offer, she has her eyes set on the road ahead.

"I hope to complete my PhD after this and find a great university to work at," she says. "I'm also interested in working abroad with a non-governmental organization to establish better systems of conflict resolution between different religious and ethnic communities."

It's a promising future – one that will hopefully bring peace thanks to the efforts of Jahn and individuals like her.

BA leads to Ivy League dreams

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:22:03 +0000

Harvard ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ reported in its 2007-2008 Fact Book that, of its 20,000 students, only 489 were from Canada. That means less than three per cent of the student body consisted of Canadians accomplishing Ivy League dreams.

U of L graduate and current Harvard attendee Erika Jahn (BA '08) is in that slim three per cent. It says something – not just about her dedication and abilities – but also about the quality of education she received from the Alberta school.

"My studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge prepared me well," says Jahn, a religious studies student working toward her master's degree. "I was a bit intimidated at first, but I've found that my training and background have prepared me equally as well as my colleagues coming from Ivy League schools. That says something profound about what I was able to do at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

The U of L's sense of community, fostered by small class sizes, was key for Jahn.

"The religious studies department at the U of L is small, so I knew my professors and fellow students well," Jahn says. "The sense of community made my experience great. I had professors who took me and my ideas seriously. They've been role models for me and have inspired me to continue on the academic path."

Another factor in Jahn's choice to follow the academic route was her ability to tailor her education in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

"My program was really my own creation," she says. For her religious studies education, she drew in women's studies and political science as complements. "This allowed me to approach my own interests at a multidisciplinary level and has given me a more rounded education."

Her eclectic arts education also enabled her to set attainable goals that eventually allowed her to achieve a larger goal: Harvard.

"Having an end goal is important and planning out the steps that are necessary to achieve it will help you. It takes a lot of work and you need to know what you want and how you can get it."

She says that recognizing opportunity is half the solution.

"Make your current experience the best and take advantage of resources available," she advises other students. "You can go anywhere from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

Rethinking religion

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:32:40 +0000

Jahn says her U of L professors and real-world experience played important roles in her acceptance to the Harvard Divinity School.

It's a promising future – one that will hopefully bring peace thanks to the efforts of Jahn and individuals like her.

UNews - ERIKA JAHN

Understanding Islam

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BA leads to Ivy League dreams

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