Building on the student’s prior study of the basic tenets of Islam, this course will focus on the impact Islam has on the daily life of Muslims in terms of economics, politics, globalization, and immigration. Attention will be given to comparing and contrasting the sociological makeup of various Muslim societies.
Learners need to develop a framework, culturally-appropriate approaches and effective techniques that help them analyze Islam and its belief system. Students ministering to those from Islamic cultures need to be aware of the variety of beliefs and lived experience of friends and acquaintances and know the important cultural differences between various interpretations of Islam.
Islam has over a billion followers spread over Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. All peoples, including Muslim friends, coworkers and acquaintances, need to hear the gospel in a way they can understand and respond and then have the opportunity to be disciples in a faith community. A focused course on understanding various Islamic cultures will help students develop more authentic witnessing relationships and communication skills.
The Bible calls all followers of Jesus to love their neighbors. Part of loving is understanding. This course will help the student understand their Muslim neighbors, which in turn, will help them find ways to share the good news in understandable ways.
As Christians, we are called to embody Christ in our interactions not only with fellow Christians but also with people of other faiths. Learning about those faiths instills in students the idea that all humanity represents God’s creation and, therefore, is worthy of respect, compassion, and understanding.
Students will examine the sociocultural contexts found in the Islamic world in order to develop culturally-appropriate methods for missional outreach.
Students will research demographic, sociographic, and geographic data for Islamic cultures in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
This course will give students knowledge and insight of religious and cultural variations that they need to create and make a difference in their areas of residence. The course also enables students to share stories of successes and challenges with others through online discussions.
This course encourages interactive dialogue that will present opportunities to learn from others who have experienced life among various cultures, religions, and countries. The interactive communication will provide an ever-expanding understanding of others and will enable everyone to be better prepared if and when missional opportunities arise.
