Date: Saturday, 23rd December 2017
Time: 11AM – 1PM
Venue: Graha Pemuda, Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
Abstract
While the atrocities born out of terror itself is not a new occurrence given human history, Muslim extremism is a contemporary phenomenon that has, at its heart, several causes. Extremism can be defined as a narrow, exclusivist approach to religion, in this case, Islam. It creates dichotomies and divisions that disunite groups of people, and this disunity in turn creates an atmosphere of prejudice and bigotry. One significant cause of extremism among Muslims is the presence of certain myths that have been circulating in the community since the early days of Islam. Dr. Farid Alatas’ presentation will examine the examples of such myths, which have contributed to the demonization of Jews and Shi’ites in Muslim societies. Furthermore, he will also discuss how Ibn Khaldun’s approach to the study of history is relevant to a proper assessment of such myths.
Program
1100-1110AM: Opening speech by Moderator, Shuhaib Ar Rumy Ismail
1110-1200PM: Presentation by Prof Syed Farid Alatas
1200-100PM: Discussion
100-200PM: Solat and Lunch
200PM: End
Organized by: Islamic Renaissance Front
Speaker’s Biography
Syed Farid Alatas is currently Professor of Sociology at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prior to joining NUS, he has lectured at the University of Malaya in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies and later headed the Department of Malay Studies in NUS from 2007 to 2013. His areas of interest are the sociology of Islam, Orientalism in the social science, the sociology of Islam, and intra- and inter-religious dialogue. He has written widely on these areas as well as that of Muslim societies in the region and abroad. His most recent books include Ibn Khaldun (Oxford University Press, 2013) and Applying Ibn Khaldun(Routledge, 2014), and (with Vineeta Sinha) Sociological Theory Beyond the Canon (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). He is currently researching on Salafism in the Malay world.
