Observations On the Scholarly Study of Religions as Pursued in Some Muslim Countries'

Abstract

The article examines the study of at scholarly institutions in Muslim countries. As far as Islam and thought is concerned, both traditional and overly ideological approaches are problematic from a scholarly point of view. With regard to the study of other than Islam, interesting initiatives have been taken in several countries. Difficulties on a practical level include a lack of good handbooks in the Islamic languages, while books published in the West are mostly too expensive to acquire. Training in the languages of the various religious Scriptures is virtually absent. History of or religious studies have rarely been institutionalized. The study of some is seriously handicapped by political conflicts. Among the positive developments at present is, first, the increased interest in religions among students and the general public. The historical, anthropological and sociological research carried out in several Muslim countries pays attention to the social role of religion. A number of Muslim students enrolled at Western universities take courses in religions. The conclusion contends that the medieval tradition of Muslim studies of other