This is a three-session Webinar course entitled: The Fundamentals of Islam with Dr. Robert Hunt. This class will explore Qur’an, Prophet, and Shari’a, Islam in Modernity and the future of the Islamic world. 

Session Schedule

October 10 • Session 1: Qur’an, Prophet, and Shari’a

This session will introduce the three foundations of Islamic civilization and why they must be understood on their own terms rather than by comparison to Christian ideas. 

October 17 • Session 2: Islam in Modernity

This session will give an overview of Islamic history, and how the modern Muslim world emerged from its near destruction in the colonial era. 

October 24 • Session 3: The Future of the Islamic World

In this session we will look at the ways Afghanistan represents the unresolved tensions in Muslim societies world-wide. In particular we’ll talk about the evolution of political authority in Islam and the role of “adat” or local customary law, “fiqh,” or Islamic law proper, and “siyasa shari’a,” or laws originating with political authorities.

About Dr. Robert Hunt

Robert A. Hunt was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1955. After attending school in Austin and Richardson, he majored in History at the University of Texas in Austin. After completing a Master of Theology at Perkins School of Theology (SMU) he served the Bethany United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. In 1985 he and his wife Lilian moved to Kuala Lumpur, where they taught at the Seminary Theology Malaysia. From 1993 to 1997 he taught at the Trinity Theological College in Singapore. In 1994 he received his PhD from the University of Malaya, focusing on Christian missions to and relationship with Muslims in Southeast Asia. From 1997 to 2004 he was pastor of the English Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna, and an adjunct professor at Webster University in Vienna. Dr. Hunt is presently Director of Global Theological Education at the Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University and teaches courses in World Religions, Inter-religious Dialogue, and Mission.