Downtown Talk Examines Islam, The West

Charles Farhadian, assistant professor of religious studies, will speak on “Can Islam Save the West?” at the first fall event of the Westmont Downtown lecture series, Thursday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the University Club, 1332 Santa Barbara Street.

Farhadian will explore the relationship between Islam and the West, highlighting a variety of influential Muslim voices to illustrate the diversity of Islam, particularly in its encounter with the West.

“I hope the lecture will be a good educational experience to broaden the perspective of the larger Santa Barbara community on Muslims as part of our local community as well as part of the world community,” he says.

“One of the goals is to delve into the complexity of the issues that too often are oversimplified in the media. I want to give voice to the diversity of Islam by highlighting perspectives we don’t see very often.”

He says another key to understanding the relationship between Islam and the West is exploring the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity.

“It’s important to go back hundreds of years to the root causes that separated the faiths and see how the modern world presents challenges and opportunities for all religious people and their faiths.”

Farhadian, a graduate of Boston University, has visited the world’s largest Muslim country, Indonesia, several times. Though a Christian, he remains active in the Santa Barbara Muslim community and close to its leaders.

The free lecture series is sponsored by the Westmont Foundation. Seating is available on a first come, first-served basis. For more information, please call 565-6051.