Fundamentalism and Liberalism in Christianity & Islam

World Chechnya Day
Sunday 18th February 2007

1944 saw two of the most racist events in human history - the Holocaust and the Chechen mass deportation. Unfortunately, the Chechen mass deportation went unnoticed by the world, though it's devastating implications remain till today. Join us and revisit the history of the Chechen people, described by many as the 'bravest people in the world'. This year, our guest speakers are: Mr. Tony Wood - Chechen deportations: antecedents and aftershocks. Dr.Satany Dorken - Chechnya: The Humanitarian Crisis

Date: Sunday 18th February
Time: 7pm
Venue: Chetwynd Room and Keynes Hall, King's College

 

CAMBRIDGE MOSQUE
OPEN DAY

Abu Bakr Siddique Mosque, Mawson Road, Cambridge

Everyone welcome!

Come along any time between 10.30am and 5.00pm on Saturday 2nd December 2006

FREE tea and coffee.

Islamic Exhibition & FREE books on Islam

Guided TOURS of the mosque

Dates: Tuesday 5th December
Time: 7.15 pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

Islam today is the most misunderstood and controversial religion. In this series Akbar Ahmed, a leading Islamic scholar, takes us on a journey to the beauty and sophistication of Islamic art and architecture. In three stunning programs we see the glories of the great historical cites of Istanbul, Damascus and Cairo. The first part has been aired, another two remain.

Programme 2 - A main theme of the series is introduced here, i.e. how Islam, for centuries, has held a special respect for knowledge and learning - ilm in Arabic. Professor Ahmed argues that it was when this respect for learning was weakened, so was the force of the whole religion. He finds cause for optimism in the huge modern library built at Alexandria, on the site of the old Hellenic library. It is a magnificent building where the most sophisticated computer data-banks sit near precious manuscripts of medieval poets. Cairo's role as a centre for glassware and ceramics is examined in this episode. The city's influence spread so far that even modern Sicily displays evidence of the time when the Fatimids ruled the island.

Akbar Ahmed is the author of numerous books on Islam and associated topics. He is the Ibn Khaldun Professor of Islamic Studies at the American University, Washington DC. Akbar Ahmed was the Pakistani High Commissioner in London and has taught at the universities of Cambridge and Princeton. He has been at the forefront of efforts to reconcile the adherents of different religious faith, working with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi of the UK, and especially working with the father of Daniel Pearl, the American journalist murdered in Pakistan. He has just finished a major research project and book for the Brookings Institution. Akbar Ahmed is a regular contributor to the BBC and to American stations including CNN, Fox, CBS and NBC.

Dates: Tuesday 12th December
Time: 7.15 pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

Islam today is the most misunderstood and controversial religion. In this series Akbar Ahmed, a leading Islamic scholar, takes us on a journey to the beauty and sophistication of Islamic art and architecture. In three stunning programs we see the glories of the great historical cites of Istanbul, Damascus and Cairo.

Programme 3 - The final of the three which deals with the last great Islamic dynasty, the Ottomans, and their great capital at Istanbul. The Ottomans continued the theme of borrowing from, or adapting, the work of their Byzantine predecessors. The two dominating buildings of historic Istanbul are the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. The latter is a converted Christian cathedral, still containing the images of Jesus and Mary alongside the motifs of the early caliphs. This episode also looks at calligraphy, the peculiarly Islamic art-form which grew out of the careful copying of the word of God. Akbar Ahmed also considers Sufism, a warm and attractive branch of Islam which focuses on meditation, inner strength and religious passion. There is something of a revival of Sufism in Turkey and its influence can be found too in modern Turkish painting.

Akbar Ahmed is the author of numerous books on Islam and associated topics. He is the Ibn Khaldun Professor of Islamic Studies at the American University, Washington DC. Akbar Ahmed was the Pakistani High Commissioner in London and has taught at the universities of Cambridge and Princeton. He has been at the forefront of efforts to reconcile the adherents of different religious faith, working with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi of the UK, and especially working with the father of Daniel Pearl, the American journalist murdered in Pakistan. He has just finished a major research project and book for the Brookings Institution. Akbar Ahmed is a regular contributor to the BBC and to American stations including CNN, Fox, CBS and NBC.

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
FACULTY OF DIVINITY

CAMBRIDGE INTER-FAITH PROGRAMME

His Eminence Dr Ali Goma,
Grand Mufti of Egypt

 is visiting from Alazhar University
 and will be giving a lecture

at 1pm, Thursday 2^nd November 2006
in the Runcie Room, Faculty of Divinity, West Road  (Sidgwick Site),  Cambridge CB3 9BS

All welcome

 For further information please contact Catriona Laing, chl30@cam.ac.uk, Tel: 01223 763012

FILM: Visit Palestine
a film by Katie Barlow

Date: Friday 3rd November
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: Chetwynd Room, King's College

Free entry & open discussion following the projection.

What prompts a young, well-educated Westerner to risk life and limb as a peace activist in the Middle East? Caiomhe Butterly defies initial expectations of the 'typical' activist. "When you're surrounded by violence, it's a very human reaction to struggle for people to be allowed basic rights," she explains. Motivated by idealism, she blocks bullets with her body and ignores threats to her own safety to alleviate the suffering that surrounds. Her story provides a rare insight into the everyday lives of Palestinians, moving beyond usual depictions of one-dimensional heroes or victims. During a siege of Jenin, Caiomhe's luck finally runs out and she is shot and wounded. But her love for the Palestinians remains undiminished.

Awarded Time Magazine 'Hero of our Time', she travels the world publicising their plight. With its harrowing frontline footage and intimate character portraits, this is surely one of the most powerful films to come out of Palestine in recent years.

"An astonishing piece of work, a wonderful film, quite unlike anything I've seen"  John Pilger

Short listed for a Grierson Award for Best New Comer, 2005. Short listed for a Rory Peck Award for documentary feature 2005.

9:00pm

Organisers: Phoenix Society Forum, Churchill College

Date: Tuesday 7th November, 2006

Venue: Club Room, Churchill College, at 9 pm for the talk (drinks served)

Ben White is a freelance journalist specialising in Palestine/Israel and the broader Middle East. A graduate of Churchill College, he has recently returned from the West Bank. His articles can be viewed at http://www.benwhite.org.uk.

Fri 10 Nov 8:30pm - 10pm (1 hr & 30 mins)

Abu Bakr Siddiq Masjid, Mawson Road, Cambridge

PARENTS! HELP YOUR KIDS!!!
Are you interested in a Mentoring & Tutoring scheme for your Kids?

The first general meeting will be held on:

Saturday November 11th at 1:15pm
AbuBakr Siddiq Masjid (off Mill Road)
Enter via Tenison Road entrance.

Cambridge University Islamic Society

Wednesday Circle: "A Time for This and a Time for That."
Date: Wednesday 25th October
Time: 6.00pm (after Maghrib salaah at 5.48pm)
Venue: Sidgwick Site Prayer Room.

The circle will be given by Dr. Usama Hassan. Usama Hassan, a Cambridge graduate, has given many excellent talks in Cambridge before, such as on being a Muslim student and life for a youth in the west. And this time, among other things he will be speaking on what we can reflect on and change once Ramadan is over.

Click here for Map (Muslim Prayer Room 17)

Eid-ul-fitr Party

Time: 2:00 pm