CHAPTER 2: ON THE EVE OF ISLAM: THE HELLENISTIC–IRANIAN WORLD
2.1 Who were the "superpowers" of the Hellenistic–Iranian world during and before Muhammad’s life time?
2.2 What are the main features of the "Axial Age" and how are they illustrated (or not) by two of the religious or philosophical groups described in this chapter??
2.3 Which religions depended most heavily on state support and involvement? How? Were there any religions or philosophies that opposed state support or involvement in principle?
2.4 What were the main Christian doctrines and how did Christians differ on them?
2.5 What were the communal aspects of Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism and how did they differ from each other?
CHAPTER 17: EGYPT: BETWEEN SECULARISM AND ISLAMISM
17.1 Discuss the ideas and influence in Egypt of Muhammad ‘Abduh.
17.2 To what extent has law become secularized in Egypt?
17.3 Discuss the history and significance of the Muslim Brothers in Egypt.
17.4 Discuss the ideas of Sayyid Qutb and those who claim to be his followers and successors.
17.5 How have the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims or non-Sunnis developed in Turkey and Egypt?
17.6 Discuss the various forms of Salafism in Egypt.
17.7 Compare and contrast the role of Islamic religion in the events that replaced the Monarchy with the Republic, 1950–54 and those of the “Arab spring” in Egypt since 2011.
CHAPTER 19: INDONESIA: ISLAMIC SOCIETY OR ISLAMIC STATE?
19.1 How have the development and practice of Islam differed in Indonesia from Turkey, Egypt and/or Iran?
19.2 How did Dutch rule affect the development of Islam in Indonesia?
19.3 What is pancasila and what were the “seven words”; what has been their significance for Islam and Muslims in Indonesia?
19.4 Describe and compare the Muhammadiya, Nahdlatul Ulama and Persatuan Islam.
19.5 Discuss the Darul Islam movements and their link with the later violent movements such as Jemaah Islamiyah.
19.6 Discuss the role of Islam in politics during the Suharto period and since then.
19.7 What are the three social groupings, abangan, santri and priyayi, and what is their significance in relation to religion and politics in Indonesia?
CHAPTER 20: GLOBALIZATION: CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY
20.1 What are the main opportunities that globalization offers Muslims?
20.2 What are the main challenges and opportunities faced by Muslims in America and Europe? How do their situations differ?
20.3 Discuss the connections of al-Qaeda with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Afghanistan.
20.4 Discuss the liberal/progressive interpretations of Islam presented in this chapter along with those of the “neo-modernists” of Indonesia.
20.5 How does al-Qaeda justify its actions and to whom might this justification be plausible?
20.6 Indicate some non-political aspects of the “resurgence” of Islam since about 1970.
20.7 At the beginning of Chapter 15 it is stated that the fundamental problem of modern Muslims is how to rehabilitate Islamic history. Which of the countries or movements discussed in Chapters 15–20 has in your view done the most toward accomplishing this? Why do you choose this one?
CHAPTER 21: THREE CULTURAL FLASHPOINTS: GENDER, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
21.1 Are the reforms in gender relations, democracy and human rights often proposed for or in the Muslim world an example of Western cultural imperialism? Does it matter?
21.2 What are main issues for Muslims today in relation to gender?
21.3 What model does the Prophet Muhammad's personal and family life offer in relation to gender?
21.4 What is the significance of the statement “When a woman becomes a 'man' in the path of God, she is a man and one cannot any more call her a woman”?
21.5 What are the possibilities for an “Islamic feminism”?
21.6 To what extent were the governments of the Right Guided Caliphs democratic?
21.7 Of Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia which would you say has the most democratic government today? Why?
21.8 Is it possible to reconcile the Shari‘a and human rights? Do they need to be reconciled?
21.9 Some Western writers on human rights criticize “cultural relativism”. Why? Is the criticism justified?
21.10 Is the statement “all men are created equal” a myth? In what sense? What difference does it make?