Preliminary Registration Form (one per child):

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MAS Young Professionals and College Students

Friday Night Study & Social

presents

The Rescue of Religion in the Modern Intellectual World: Tools for Public Discourse

A 3-Part Series with Dr. Mohamed Lazzouni

Fridays at 7pm sharp

@ ISBCC’s brand new Common Word Cafe

First lecture: Friday December 4, 2009

Second lecture: Friday December 18, 2009

Third lecture: Friday January 8, 2010

(Directions at bottom)

Series Description:

In serious public conversations, people today continue to ask: What is the relevance of religion? Isn’t religion guilty of a lot of wrong? How can the truth of religion make an impact in our modern lives? The Muslim contributions to this discussion have often been lacking and differ greatly in content, rigor and sophistication. In this discussion series we will learn how to frame and decode these complex problems. We will also learn from scholars of great reputation successful strategies on how to enter and participate in the discourse successfully. More importantly we will learn to better appreciate our tradition and be honest about its strengths and limitations. And most importantly, we will learn from each other and strengthen our faith. The only three things you need to bring with you when you attend this series are: Your passion, a sharp intellect and an open mind.

The series will be delivered in three parts, with a brief reading for each week.

Dr. Lazzouni requests you to review the readings each week so that you can participate fully in the discussion.

Part 1: Introduction and Problem Statement

Reading assignment: Dawkins_Armstron (read first) and Without_Borders

http://www.masboston.org/files/Dawkins_Armstrong.pdf

http://www.masboston.org/files/Without_Borders.pdf

Date: Dec 4th, 2009

Part 2: The Tools and the Solution Framework

Reading assignment: Rescue_of_Religion

http://www.masboston.org/files/Rescue_of_Religion.pdf

Date: Dec 11th, 2009

Part 3:  Putting it Together: A Use Case and How Would You Weigh In?

Reading assignment: Bruckner, Buruma and Gustafsson (read in this order)

http://www.masboston.org/files/Bruckner.pdf

http://www.masboston.org/files/Buruma.pdf

http://www.masboston.org/files/Gustafsson.pdf

Date: Dec 18th, 2009

About the instructor/moderator:

Dr. Mohamed Lazzouni is a Visiting Scholar of Islamic Studies at the department of Arts and Humanities at Boston College. Dr. Lazzouni was trained in Classical Islam in Traditional Schools in North Africa, and was affiliated with the Oxford Center of Islamic Studies. The focus of his training was on Islamic Jurisprudence, Islamic Philosophy, and the History of Spiritual Islam. He was one of the founding members of the Oxford University Muslim Student Association, and served for many years as the academic adviser to the Muslim Student Association of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Lazzouni was a Director at the United Way or Central Massachusetts, and a Community Trustee at the Worcester chapter of the National Council of Christians Jews and Muslims (now the National Conference for Community and Justice). Dr. Lazzouni holds a PhD in Physics from Oxford University (England), and a Master in Physics from London University (England). Dr. Lazzouni holds a degree in finance from the executive education program at the Harvard Business School (USA).Dr. Lazzouni is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at L1 Identity Solutions the largest high technology company in the world focused on providing identity management solutions for governments.

NOTE: If you are unable to access the readings through the links provided, email YPhalaqa@masboston.org.

Directions:

The address is 100 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury, MA 02120.

If you are using google maps, please type in ‘99 Malcolm X blvd’ because our address is new so it is not yet in google’s database.

By T:

Orange Line T to Roxbury Crossing Stop. Upon exiting the station, walk to your right, cross the street and you will see the Center with its distinctive architecture in front of you.

By Car:

If you’re coming on I-93 South, take Exit 18.

Right turn at 1st light.

Keep straight and you will eventually be on Melnea Cass Boulevard.

Drive for about a mile and turn left onto Tremont Street.

Drive about half a mile and turn left onto Malcolm X Boulevard.

Make your first right onto Ellwood Street, and then your first left onto Roxbury Street, and another first left onto King Street. Halfway down the block you will see the entrance into the back parking lot of the Center.

If you’re coming on I-93 North, take Exit 18.

Left turn at 1st light.

Keep straight and you will eventually be on Melnea Cass Boulevard.

Drive for about a mile and turn left onto Tremont Street.

Drive about half a mile and turn left onto Malcolm X Boulevard.

Make your first right onto Ellwood Street, and then your first left onto Roxbury Street, and another first left onto King Street. Halfway down the block you will see the entrance into the back parking lot of the Center.