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Units
Study Conference 2013
Rev. Dr. David Grafton
1. Apples to Apples or Apples to Dates? The Muslim Critique of Christian Scriptures
Muslims have traditionally viewed Jewish and Christian Scriptures as being somehow "corrupted." Yet, there has often the attempt in dialogue to compare the Qur'?n with the Bible. This presentation proposes that such comparisons need re-thinking based upon our different understandings of "Scripture."
2. Conquest and Violence: The Christian Critique of Muhammad
Western Christian critiques of Muhammad have often focused upon his role as a violent warrior in comparison to the pacifism of Jesus. This presentation will investigate this critique and suggest more appropriate comparisons within Christian Scriptures.
3. Location, Location, Location: Christian-Muslim Relations in Context
The interest in Christian-Muslim Dialogue and relationships is often pursued "from above;" that is, with theological or scriptural issues in mind. This presentation will demonstrate that local environments have more of an impact on positive (and negative) relations than theological or scriptural discourse.
About the Speaker
David D. Grafton is an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, and the Director for Graduate Studies of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Prior to his appointment at LTSP he served as the Coordinator of Graduate Studies at the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Theological Seminary in Cairo, Director of the Center for Middle East Christianity at the ETSC, and adjunct lecturer in Islamic studies at the Dar Comboni Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Cairo, Egypt.
He has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, University of Birmingham. Dr. Grafton's academic interests focus on Christian-Muslim relationships in the Middle East, including 19th and 20th Protestant missionary thought on Islam, and 19th and 20th century Islamic social-political thought, as well as the development of the Arab Church from the 1st-20th centuries.
His publications include The Christians of Lebanon: Political Rights in Islamic Law (I.B. Tauris, 2004) and Piety, Politics and Power: Lutherans Encountering Islam in the Middle East (Wipf and Stock, forthcoming).
David Grafton is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and has served Lutheran congregations in New Jersey, England, and an international inter-denominational congregation in Cairo, Egypt. He is married to Karla Fackler Grafton and has three children: Andrew, Rebekah and Danielle.
Registration
Date – Tuesday, May 7, 9:00 a.m.
Cost – $25
Accommodation – available at Luther Residence (306-966-7889)
Parking – Parking is available in Lot 4 for $4 per daily visit (additional fees apply if you take the car out for lunch). Passes for Lot P will be available for $15 from Debbie at Registration.