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“I was urged to take on
this project by a publisher friend
during a conference in
The New Voices of Islam includes the writings of
13 of the
most prominent Muslim intellectuals. Despite their influence in their
own
countries, rarely have their voices been heard by western audiences.
“These
intellectuals are arguing for a reform of Islamic theology and Islam’s
role in
modern society,” Kamrava said.
Kamrava said that Islamic
complexity, like many other
religions, involves different interpretations of religiosity. He also explained the role of Ijtihad in
reproducing internal divisions taking place within Islam. “Ijtijad is a
notion
of independent reasoning, which addresses a fundamental question in
deciding
the path one chooses religiously,” he said.
In the introduction to
his book, Kamrava stated that the
levels of religiosity tend to take one of four turns: popular Islam,
political
activist Islam, intellectual Islam, and Islamic fundamentalism. But he warned, “these categories are neither
mutually exclusive of one another or neatly packaged, separate
phenomena.”
Kamrava asserted that
intellectual Islam will have the most
impact on Islamic reform. He stated that
although we are some distance away from an Islamic reform, “there is no
shortage of intellectual thought geared toward reformation.”
“I hope I have done a
good job outlining these debates and
encouraging an ongoing dialogue.”
The New Voices of Islam is accessible for
general public
interest and scholarly audiences alike.
“My intent when taking on this project was to show a wide
audience a
different approach to old questions,” said Kamrava.
“One of moderation, one of modernity.”
Kamrava described the
structure of The New Voices of Islam as a collective
yet distinctive argument
for Islamic reform. “The book provides a
solid understanding of the multiple debates in Islam,” he said. “The reader should walk away with an
understanding that like most religions, Islam is not monolithic.”
The articles incorporate
broad overviews of Islam, its
principal basis and the elaborate relationship of Islam and modernity. The writings explore more pointed issues
concerning the relationship of Islam with democracy and civil rights. The New
Voices of Islam also includes
essays by Muslim feminist intellectuals, revealing the intricate
perspectives
of Islam and the role of women in modern society. The
book places the life experiences of these
intellectuals in an historical and national context.
“The significance of the
book lies in presenting a picture
of Islam that is often overshadowed by a loud noise emanating from
fundamentalists,” said Kamrava.
Kamrava also stated that
his research and scholarship has
enhanced the classroom experience. “I
have been lucky to have had the opportunity to conduct research on a
number of
topics related to the
The New Voices of Islam was published by the
Kamrava is the author of
nine previous books on aspects of
political development and Middle Eastern politics.
Among his recent publications are The Modern Middle
East: A Political History Since
the First World War and Democracy in
the Balance: Culture and Society in the
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