ARCHIVED: On September 28, Malone University hosted the Worldview Forum Peacemaking through Mutual Understanding: Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Scripture, Clothing, Democracy, and the Afterlife.

 

The Malone University Worldview Forum Series will open the 2010-2011 academic year with Peacemaking through Mutual Understanding: Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Scripture, Clothing, Democracy, and the Afterlife, Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts, located at 2600 Cleveland Avenue N.W. in Canton.

Proponents include Nader Taha, imam of the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent; and Gregory Miller, Ph.D., professor of history at Malone University. Moderator is Scott Waalkes, Ph.D., professor of international politics at Malone University.

  Nader Taha has served as the imam of the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent for the last 20 years, is assistant professor in mathematics at Kent State University, and also teaches physics at St. Vincent-St. Mary high school. Taha earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from Riyadh University in Saudi Arabia and a master of science in mathematics from Tennessee State University. He was born in Nablus (60 miles north of Jerusalem), and lived his youth in Kuwait. He is married and has two sons and two daughters with ages ranging from 7 to 19.

 

Gregory Miller, Ph.D., is professor of history at Malone University.  He earned a bachelor of arts degree in theology from Oral Roberts University, a master of arts in history from the University of Tulsa, and a Ph.D.  in history of Christianity from Boston University. A specialist on the history of Christianity and on the development of Christian views of Islam, Dr. Miller has made numerous presentations at national conferences on these topics and is widely published in books and academic journals. He is currently writing the book for publication, Toward Armageddon, which explores Christian views of the end times. He is married and has three sons.

Scott Waalkes, Ph.D., is professor of international politics at Malone University. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Calvin College, and both the master of arts and doctorate of philosophy in foreign affairs from University of Virginia. He is the author a book entitled The Fullness of Time in a Flat World: Globalization and the Liturgical Year, and was a Fulbright Scholar in the Middle Eastern nation of Bahrain in 2004-2005.

 

 

Worldview Forum Series
The intent of the Worldview Forum Series is to provide the community with an opportunity to practice critical thinking and civil dialogue in the comparison of various worldviews in a professionally moderated, academic environment.  It is expected that the forums will help those who attend learn to identify the constituent elements of differing worldviews as well as their implications upon belief and practice.

In the fall of 1999 Dr. John Geib, former Malone professor, in working with a small group of students initiated the Worldview Forum Series.  Since its inception, the Worldview Forum Series has presented various forums including explorations of atheism; paganism; Earth-centered religions; the commonalities between the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant faiths; just-war and pacifism; homosexuality; Islam; Buddhism; capital punishment; and the 2008 presidential election.

Additional Forums for 2010-2011 Academic Year

November 9, 2010
You are what you grow: Food Systems and the Human Soul
Proponents:
Joel Salatin, full-time farmer, speaker, and author
Laura Yordy, Ph. D., assistant professor of philosophy and religion, Bridgewater College, Virginia              
Moderator:
Joel Soza, Ph.D., associate professor of Old Testament     

January 25, 2011
The Competitive Edge: The Role of Christians in Sport
Proponents:
Shirl J. Hoffman, professor of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greg Linville, D. Min., assistant professor of sports and youth ministry, Malone University
Moderator:
Todd Blackledge, ABC/ESPN College Football Commentator

March 22, 2011
Civil Disobedience: Should Christians Break the Law?
Proponents:
Shane Claiborne, Christian activist, author, speaker, one of the founders of The Simple Way
Steven Brown, radio broadcaster, seminary professor, author
Moderator:
Geoffrey Bowden, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, history, and social science at Malone University