The article prompts certain questions: are similar grants found for the study of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Christianity? Or lesser-known religions such as Jainism or Sikhism?
From the article, one has no evidence to conclude anything specific about the Islamic Studies program, but in the larger context of the contemporary university, there is reason to wonder if it will promote Islam rather than present Islam. There is reason to wonder if it will shy away from concepts like Hadd and Hudud.
The larger context which motivates these questions is the contemporary university’s subversiveness. Western Civilization has historically valued political liberty; modern universities tend to stifle any diversity of political thought, even as they claim to champion diversity of race, religion, or gender.
European culture has fostered individual freedom; contemporary universities have worked to dampen freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and other metrics of personal liberty.
It is reasonable to ask, then, whether the modern university will present Islam in a manner which complements the university’s general attack on Western Civilization. There is certainly a great deal within Islam which does not promote individual political liberty or personal freedom. Historically, Muslim-majority nations have been hesitant to adopt free speech, or to adopt a form of government composed of freely-elected representatives.
Among those Muslim-majority nations which have instituted some form of free election, the ideological implications of Islam’s social and political vision prevent a lively debate about issues which touch the Islamic worldview.
Will the contemporary university teach about Islam in a way which helps students to appreciate the unprecedented degree of freedom which Western Civilization has given? Or will that freedom, and the dangers which threaten it, be ignored?
