RLST 483

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Introduction to salvation in Islamic thought, with emphasis on discussions of the fate of "Others" (i.e. non-Muslims). Begins with a study of the origins and sources of this discourse, followed by an examination of evolving orientations from the formative to the post-formative periods. Important controversies generated along the way, including exclusivist-inclusivist, universalist-anti-universalist, and Sufi-anti-Sufi debates, will be explored. This is followed by an assessment of the new approaches to salvation in modern Islamic thought, with particular emphasis on the contemporary pluralist-inclusivist debate. Finally, alternative approaches to the topic of salvation, including reincarnation, will be examined.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Previous coursework on Islam or consent of instructor.