Sceptics of Islam : revisionist religion, agnosticism and disbelief in the modern Arab world / edited by Ralph M. Coury.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Coury, Ralph M., editor.

Series:

Library of modern Middle East studies ; 178.

Library of Modern Middle East Studies ; 178

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islam--Controversial literature.

Islam.

Religion and civilization.

Religious thought--Arab countries--19th century.

Religious thought.

Religious thought--Arab countries--20th century.

Middle East--Religion.

Middle East.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (274 pages).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018.

Summary:

"Arab debates about the critical relationship between religion and modernity began in the early nineteenth century. Such debates are now integral to the struggle for power between a variety of political groups and their opponents, and are vital to understanding the modern Middle East. This unique volume introduces writings of Arab Christian and Muslim revisionist and radical "free thinkers" who have tried to redefine the relationship. It challenges the deeply entrenched idea that the contemporary Islamic world has been impermeable to a critique of religious ideas and practices. Authors from the nineteenth century to the present are included. Some are avowed believers, even if they adopt positions many might regard as heretical; others are openly agnostic and atheistic. Despite their differences, all have been united in disputing the notion that life should conform exclusively to a system of values and laws based upon the Qur'an or the Bible, or, in some cases less radically, upon these as they were widely understood before the onset of modernity. They have also rejected many of the standard religious 'liberal' assumptions that are regularly invoked against traditionalism. The book's originality lies in its evaluation of the social and cultural impact of these thinkers."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Contents:

1. Muhammad 'Abduh: 1849-1905

2. Shibli Shumayyil: 1850-1971

3. Ameen Rihani: 1876-1940

4. Taha Husayn: 1889-1973

5. Isma'il Mazhar: 1891-1962

6. Isma'il Adham: 1911-40

7. Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi: 1863-1936

8. Ma'ruf al-Rusafi: 1875-1945

9. Muhammad Ahmad Khalaf Allah: 1916â-98

10. Mahmoud Mohamed Taha: 1909-85

11. Sadiq Jalal al-'Azm: 1934-2016

12. 'Ali Ahmad Sa'id (Adunis): 1930-

13. Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd: 1943-2010

14. Mohammed Arkoun: 1928-2010

15. Muhammad Shahrur: 1938-

16. 'Abdallah al-Qusaymi: 1907-96

17. Nawal El Saadawi: 1931-

Notes:

Compliant with Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Content is displayed as HTML full text which can easily be resized or read with assistive technology, with mark-up that allows screen readers and keyboard-only users to navigate easily.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781350987937

135098793X

9781786723628

178672362X

9781786733627

1786733625

OCLC:

1114451826