This series of lectures feature current issues of Muslim-Christian dialogue, and are funded by the Heritage Trust, in honor of Dr. Taha Al-Alwani. Upcoming and recent lectures can be found below.
View previous years’ event videos or read more by clicking the year: 2023 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | or View all event videos in this YouTube playlist.
2023: The Rise of Islamic Education for Leaders and the Contribution to Theological Education in the U.S.
The 11th Annual Taha Al-Alwani Lecture in Muslim-Christian Dialogue was presented by Dr. James (Jimmy) Jones of the Islamic Seminary of America. Dr. Larry Golemon, Executive Director of the Washington Theological Consortium, offered a response.
Introductions
Lecture: Dr. Jimmy Jones
Response: Dr. Larry Golemon
2020: Interfaith Visions of Peace
Muslim, Hindu, and Christian perspectives on Peacebuilding and their impact on today’s conflicted world. Presenters: Dr. Sathianathan Clarke, Bishop Sundo Kim Chair of World Christianity, Wesley Theological Seminary and Dr. Salih Sayilgan, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University.
2019: Mary the Mother of Jesus: a Connection for Muslims and Christians?
The 2019 lecture featured Dr. Rita George-Tvrtkovic, associate professor of theology at Benedictine University in Illinois, and author of Christians, Muslim, and Mary: A History (Paulist Press, 2018), and Dr. Younus Mirza, Scholar in Residence at Shenandoah University and visiting Researcher at Georgetown University, co-author of The Bible and the Qur’an: Biblical Figures in the Islamic Tradition with John Kaltner (T & T Clark, 2018), and director of the Barzinji Project.
Following the lectures, there was an opportunity for discussion and a Q&A session.
2018: Islamic and Christian Education in a Diverse Society: Ta’aruf and Co-Existence
The March 14, 2018 lecture featured Dr. Mualla Selcuk, Professor at Ankara University, Turkey and Dr. Ian Markham, President of the Virginia Theological Seminary. Dr. Selcuk is Professor of Religious Education at the Divinity School of Ankara University. She has written on transformational forms of Islamic Education for youth, families and adults. She is President of the international Religious Education Association. Dr. Markham also serves as Professor of Theology and Ethics at Virginia Theological Seminary. He has written books on the reality of God, against the new atheism, on Christian ethics and worship, and on dialogue in inter-Anglican, ecumenical and interfaith contexts. His recent books focus on Islam and Said Nursi.
2017: Religious Faith in a Pluralistic Society: Islamic and Christian Perspectives
Two experts in interreligious dialogue and the scholarship of their own religious traditions explore the timely issue of how religions co-exist and thrive in a modern, pluralistic society. Presenters were Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina, Professor and IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies, George Mason University, and Rev. Dr. Dan Madigan, SJ, Associate Professor at Georgetown University and
Senior Fellow at the Al-Waleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.
A discussion period followed the presentations.
2016: Post-Colonial Nationalism in Africa and its Impact on Interfaith Dialogue
The distinguished presenter at the 2016 lecture was Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Professor of African Studies at Howard University, with a response from Dr. Kwasi Kwakye-Nuako, Associate Professor of World Religions, Howard University School of Divinity.
A valuable discussion followed the presentations.
2015: Violence in the Name of Religion: Origins, Recent Developments, and Promising Transformations – Islamic and Christian Perspectives
Our presenters at the 2015 lecture were Dr. Amr Abdalla, the Senior Advisor on Policy Analysis and Research at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of Addis Ababa University, and Ambassador Anthony Quainton, the Diplomat-in-Residence and a Professor of U.S. Foreign Policy at the School of International Service, American University, in Washington D.C.
A question and answer session followed the presentations.
2014: “People of the Book: Quranic Interpretations of Jews and Christians”
The Fifth Annual event featured Dr. Amir Akrami, Visiting Luce Scholar from the Iranian Institute of Philosophy, Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Eastern Mennonite University. He was joined by Dr. Wilhelmus Valkenberg, Professor of Religion and Culture from Catholic University of America. They provided Quranic interpretations of Jews and Christians being called “People of the Book” and explored the implications for reframing Muslim understandings and Christian approaches to interfaith dialogue. The first video is of Dr. Akrami.
The second video features the presentation of Dr. Valkenberg.
2013: “Religious Law and the Law of the Land”
Dr. Azizah Al-Hibri, professor emerita of T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, and Dr. Richard J. Jones, Al-Alwani Chair of the Washington Theological Consortium keynoted the Fourth Annual Al-Alwani Lecture.
2012: “Good Work and Good Works”
The Third Annual Al-Alwani Lectures featured presentations by Dr. El-Ansary of Xavier University and Dr. Richard Jones of the Washington Theological Consortium.