[RELGST 0455] - Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam (15 pages long!)
Document Summary
Week 1 covering islam by edward said. Said describes the western perception and study of islam as an inaccurate scholarship based on a false (cid:862)i(cid:374)te(cid:396)p(cid:396)etatio(cid:374). (cid:863) he (cid:272)o(cid:373)plai(cid:374)s that these so(cid:272)ieties a(cid:396)e (cid:374)ot de(cid:448)oti(cid:374)g e(cid:374)ough ti(cid:373)e o(cid:396) (cid:396)esou(cid:396)(cid:272)es to understanding the islamic culture and thought. He places some of the blame of this problem on the media and government of western societies who create a violent and negative image of islam by portraying all countries of this belief as a threat. Most of the studies of islam have been comprised of terrorism and hostile interpretations, thus, these societies fail to see a wholesome vision and rely on the fear of the country. The study of a religious group out of fear, rather than interest, skews the results and accuracy of this search. Said explains that by restricting the scope of study of islam, values of fear and violence become the accepted views of the western society.
