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Session 13: The Clash of Fundamentalist Forces: Islam and Environmentalism

Students participating in this class session will prepare their homework assignments and post their responses in Drop box 13 on the course lesson board by 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday evening immediately following each on-campus class meeting. However, all class readings must be completed prior to class convening to insure students can participate in class discussion. Remember you are required to know the answers to each and every one of these questions for the Comprehensive Exam.

Video Assignment:

Film: The Third Jihad (Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4)

Reading Assignments:

Readings: Edward T. Wimberley (2009) "Cosmic Ecology," p. 67-119; Marjorie Boer (2002) "Fundamentalism"; Hope and James Young (1994) "Islam and Ecology"; Atiya and Irshaad Hussain (1991) "Man and Ecology: An Islamic Perspective" Nick Megoran (2009) "Theocracy"; Steven E. Landsburg (1993) "Why I am not an Environmentalist" Stephen D. Tansey and Nigel A. Jackson (2008) "Ecology as Political Radicalism" p. 84-86; David Tokar (1999) "Eco-Apocalyptics"; Daniel Schwammenthal (2009) "The Mufti of Berlin"

Text Discussion Questions

Answer the following 10 questions. Students participating in this class session will prepare their homework assignments and post their responses in Drop box 13 on the course lesson board by 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday evening immediately following each on-campus class meeting. However, all class readings must be completed prior to class convening to insure students can participate in class discussion. Remember you are required to know the answers to each and every one of these questions for the Comprehensive Exam.

1. Describe the concept of Fundamentalism as it applies to Islam and environmentalism.

2. In what ways does Islamic fundamentalism threaten (a) personal ecology, (b) social ecology, (c) environmental ecology and (d) cosmic ecology or "the ecology of the unknown.?"

3. What are "eco-apocalypitcs" and what is the downside to being of such a persuasion?

4. Why is Steven Landsburg "not an environmentalis?"

5. Describe the Islamic perspective on nature and the environment.

6. Describe deep ecology's perspective on nature and the environment.

7. Compare the perspectives on the nature of human beings between Islam and eco-apocalyptics and identify areas of agreement and disagreement.

8. Describe the relationship between Islamic fundamentalism and the Third Reich.

9. What factors are principally fueling the rapid growth of Islam in Europe? Can it also grow quickly in the U.S.? How?

10. How does the spread of Islamic fundamentalism impact international efforts to deal with climate change?