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Fuller Hosts Islamic Scholars Oct. 2-9

Fuller Theological Seminary hosted 15 international Islamic scholars who gathered at the Pasadena campus from October 2-9 to learn about American principles of separation of church and state, religious liberty, and pluralism. The scholars attended lectures by Dr. Richard Mouw and select Fuller faculty and participated in a roundtable luncheon with local civic leaders, visited various churches in Southern California, and participated in a panel discussion.

The meetings were arranged by the U. S. State Department and the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College, where the scholars met from September 15 to October 1. The State Department planned the meetings to provide the scholars with a better understanding of the ways that religion influences, and is influenced by American society. The overall goal of the program is to ultimately facilitate a more informed exchange of ideas, discussions, and understandings between scholars and opinion leaders in the United States and in Muslim countries.

"The meetings at Fuller and Boston College emphasized the diversity of religious belief in America and the norms and institutions that permit this diversity to flourish; how the principles of religious freedom and tolerance are balanced through our legislative and legal systems; the role of religion in shaping foreign and domestic policy; and the reciprocal influence of religion on democracy and democracy on religion," said Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center.

Wolfe, who helped the State Department arrange the meetings, said he recommended the scholars visit Fuller because of its reputation as a leading training ground for evangelical leaders and because be believes Richard Mouw "is one of the premiere thinkers on religion in the country."

At Fuller, James Bradley, the Geoffrey W. Bromiley Professor of Church History, introduced the scholars to the teachings of Christ from an evangelical perspective.

"That was the first time in the visit that the scholars had been able to discuss the essential teachings of the Christian religion," Wolfe said.

In addition, the scholars attended Fuller's contemporary, charismatic chapel service. Mel Robeck, professor of church history and ecumenics, presented his Azusa Street lecture and outlined the history of pentecostalism. Mouw lectured on the differences between evangelicalism and fundamentalism. And Dudley Woodberry, professor of Islamic studies, lectured on the distinctives of evangelism to Muslims.

The scholars also listened to a panel discussion on current events in the Middle East and grappled with the effects that dispensationalism has had on many Christians' views on Israel. The panelists included Leslie C. Allen, John Goldingay, Dudley Woodberry, and Dr. Yahia Abdul Rahman, chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.

The countries represented by the 15 Islamic scholars included: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Tanzania, Turkey, West Bank.