Doing Comparative Theology Through a Decolonial Lens

20 March, 2023

We are deeply honoured to welcome Professor Syed Atif Rizwan, Assistant Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, Director of The Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at the Catholic Theological Union, USA, and a Senior Fellow at the Oxford Interfaith Forum, UK, to lead a session of the Philosophy in Interfaith Contexts Reading Group.

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Here are the details of this fascinating session.

Topic: Doing Comparative Theology Through a Decolonial Lens

Abstract: An important question to ask is what exactly is meant by interreligious studies and dialogue? What is the purpose of interreligious studies and dialogue? Who is answering these questions and fashioning institutional policy based on their answers? Seen through a decolonial lens, it seems that many of the ways in which we engage in interreligious studies and dialogue is based on Christian-centric models. It is important to note that, for contributions to the fields of interreligious dialogue and studies to be meaningful and lasting, as much (if not more) attention should be dedicated to constructivist approaches as is dedicated to the important task of deconstructive critique. Take, for instance, the case of “comparative theology.” As a student of Islamic legal and jurisprudential history, I notice that centering “theology” as the focus of interreligious discipline inscribes a Christian-centric framework. Consequently, there is an assumption that the intellectual center of gravity of any religious tradition is some form of what Christians generally understand to be “theology.” The problem is that “theology,” no matter how broadly construed, is a category that tends not to include law and ethics. But anyone who has studied the Islamic legal tradition knows that “theology” is a necessary element in both ritual and interpersonal legal practices. In my talk, I discuss how to expand the conceptual horizons of “comparative theology” to include, for example, how Muslims go about setting parameters for normative praxes.

Speaker: Professor Syed Atif Rizwan is Assistant Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, Director of The Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at the Catholic Theological Union, USA, and Senior Fellow at the Oxford Interfaith Forum, UK.

Chair: Dr Yashua Bhatti, Visiting Researcher at the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, and Fellow of the Oxford Interfaith Forum, UK.

Date: 20 March, 2023

Time: 18:00-19:00 GMT | 19:00-20:00 CEST | 11:00-12:00 PDT | 14:00-15:00 EDT

Venue: online

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