A Newsletter of the Hermetic Academy
A Professional Society for Scholarly Research into the Esoteric

The Hermetic Academy is a Related Scholarly Organization of the
American Academy of Religion

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            Vol. XI No. 1                                                              Summer 21 June 2002 

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Recent & Upcoming Conferences & Events

*Editor’s Note:  If you plan a conference or other event related to esotericism, please let us
know well in advance so that we can announce it here.

E-mail: James B. Robinson James.Robinson@uni.edu or Karen-Claire Voss karenclairenet@bnet.net.tr

Academic Programs & Openings

*** UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY ***
MA in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience

In the academic year 2001-2 the University of Kent at Canterbury will be offering a new module as part of their MA in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience, under the auspices of the Sophia Trust for promoting the critical and historical study of astrology in higher education.  An eighteen-week seminar course on Cosmology and Divination (preceded by a ten-week undergraduate programme to which MA students are also invited) will explore the theme of divinatory thought and experience, with emphasis on the theory and practice of astrology.

MA in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience

The MA as a whole is centred in the broad field of religious studies, and involves disciplines as diverse as philosophy, theology, psychology, parapsychology, anthropology, sociology, classics, history, literature, linguistics, art history and medicine.  Students come from a variety of academic backgrounds. Applications are invited from graduates with good academic qualifications and an open, critical outlook.  A piece of written work is required for submission, as evidence of academic competence.  Those without a first degree may apply to take the course for a Diploma, with the possibility of upgrading to MA registration if their work meets the required standard.  The course may be taken on a one-year, full-time basis, a two-year, part-time basis, or on an extended part-time basis (completing the modules over three or four years).

For a small fee, interested individuals not wanting or not able to take the full MA programme may arrange to attend selected courses or modules as 'occasional students'. For the award of MA, students must complete eight pieces of written work: five essays, a commentary on a text, a research skills exercise and a dissertation.  Each piece of written work is associated with one of seven modules.

Modules

Modules in the MA comprise the following:
Core Course I: Methods and Theories in the Study of Religious Experience
Core Course II: Mystical Traditions: Texts and Hermeneutics
Mysticism and Religious Experience: Research and Computing Skills
Mysticism and Religious Experience: Contemporary Issues
Mystical Traditions: the Western Traditions
Mystical Traditions: the Eastern Traditions
Dissertation on an approved topic

Full details on all modules may be found on the MA website:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~alfar/makent.htm

COSMOLOGY AND DIVINATION

This module, which is of special interest to astrologers, falls into the category Mysticism and Religious Experience: the Western Traditions, and will run from January to May 2002, on Thursdays 12.00-2.00 pm.  Occasional students may attend this module independently of the MA programme, subject to academic approval. The course will focus on the relationship between human beings and the cosmos they inhabit, with an emphasis on the connection between divination and astrology in both historical and modern cultural contexts.  The course will be divided into three parts, roughly corresponding to the ancient and classical worlds, the Renaissance and the modern world.

The objectives of the course are to introduce students to the area of divinatory thought as a serious investigation into the nature of human knowledge, and to assess the importance of this mode of thought in relation to spiritual traditions and practices.  The relevance of astrology and divination to contemporary culture will be sought, in relation to the predominance of the 'scientific' mode of understanding reality.

The module will be convened by Dr. Leon Schlamm.  Seminars will be given by Geoffrey Cornelius, Dr. Patrick Curry, Dr. Joseph Milne, Dr. Leon Schlamm and Dr Angela Voss, with guest speakers Dr. Marie Angelo, Michael Baigent, Jeremy Naydler and Graeme Tobyn.

Seminar Topics

1.      Divination in the Ancient World (GC)
2.      How the Soul becomes a Star: Cosmology and Initiation in Ancient Egypt (JN)
3.      Astrology as Divination: Beginnings in Katarche (GC)
4.      The Classical Tradition: Astrology as a Natural Science (PC)
5.      Mesopotamian and Babylonian Astrology (MB)
6.      Astrology as Philosophy: the Platonic Cosmos (AV)
7.      Providence, Time and Destiny (JM)
8.      Medical Astrology in the Galenic Tradition (GT)
9.      The Renaissance Crisis for Astrology: Ficino and Pico della Mirandola (AV)
10.  Magic and the Hermetic tradition in the Renaissance (AV)
11.  Music and the Cosmos: the Magical Power of Sound (AV)
12.  Astrology as Natural Magic in Ficino, Agrippa and Paracelsus (AV)
13. Fludd, Kepler, Lilly and 17^th Century Cosmology/Astrology (PC)
14.  Spiritual Astrology and Magic in the 19^th/20^th Centuries (PC)
15.  Jung and the Occult Tradition (LS)
16.  Archetypal Psychology and Active Imagination (MA)
17.  I Ching: The Book of Changes in Modern Contexts (PC/GC)
18.  Contemporary Astrological Perspectives: Psychological, Traditional, Linguistic, 'New-Age' (PC/GC)

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It is also hoped to run a subsidiary course in practical astrology for those who are interested in this area.

Supporting facilities: The University Library is well stocked with books and periodicals relevant to this module, under the sponsorship of the Sophia Trust. Students have access to a wide range of library-based services and computer-based resources. The MA programme actively promotes the development of skills in computing and IT.

University of Kent: The University of Kent enjoys an ideal location in the South East corner of England, on the outskirts of Canterbury, overlooking the city.  London is less than 60 miles away, with good road and rail connections; and the European mainland is easily accessible via the nearby channel ports and the Channel Tunnel.  Established in 1965, the University has about 10,000 students.  The MA in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience is taught within the School of European Culture and Languages, which is part of the Faculty of Humanities.

To Find out More: If you are interested in applying for the programme, would like to receive further details or would like to discuss whether it would suit your own interests and circum-stances, you should contact

Dr Peter Moore. Religious Studies
School of European Culture and Languages
Cornwallis NW
The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF
(01227) 452804 (evenings, after 6 pm)
E-mail: p.g.moore@ukc.ac.uk

An application form and Graduate Prospectus can be obtained from

The Graduate Office, The Registry
The University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ
(01227) 824040
E-mail: graduate-office@ukc.ac.uk

*** MASTER’S DEGREE IN MYSTICISM AND WESTERN ESOTERICISM***
University of Amsterdam

“The Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) is the world's first academic institution to have created a complete program for research and teaching in the field of western esotericism.”

”Its subdepartment GHF is committed to the highest standards of critical academic scholarship, independent of any worldview.” 

Starting in the academic year 2002-2003, the University of Amsterdam (Dept. Religious Studies; Sub-Department GHF: History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents) will offer to international students the unique possibility of following a M.A. (Master’s) trajectory, Mysticism and Western Esotericism, in either  a 1-year or  2-year variant.

All courses will be in English. The currents and traditions in question are approached from a critical empirico-historical perspective, based upon close reading of relevant textual materials and applying various theoretical and systematic perspectives. For course descriptions and practical information (admission requirements, how to enroll, etc.), see the section “Prospective Students” at www.amsterdamhermetica.com

Wouter J. Hanegraaff
Jean-Pierre Brach
Olav Hammer

***COURSE IN FIRENZE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
GRAND ORIENT LODGE OF ITALY**

Firenze. Massoneria online su Parvapolis. In esclusiva nazionale per 15 giorni il convegno di studi “La soglia del sacro: esoterismo e iniziazione.”

Nel solco della Tradizione della Libera Muratoria Universale e dopo il convegno “L'arca vivente dei simboli: Massoneria e Tradizione esoterica”, il Grande Oriente d'Italia di Palazzo Giustiniani, la prima e più numerosa comunione massonica italiana, intende realizzare una riflessione sulla natura dell'esoterismo - elemento fondante nella cultura e nell'esperienza massonica - sulle sue origini e sulla sua presenza nelle grandi religioni, riproponendo in modo critico e stimolante le ragioni profonde dell'iniziazione massonica, come componente significativa, e non alternativa, del pensiero europeo. Per due giorni, a Firenze, filosofi, storici ed esperti del mondo storico-religioso antico e orientale hanno voluto chiarire - attraverso le loro relazioni - il senso della dimensione iniziatica come esperienza di ricerca della conoscenza, sfatandone il significato di strumento di acquisizione di poteri magici e di veicolo d'irrazionalità e di asocialità.

Prestigiosi, dicevamo, gli interventi: Mario Vitali (Università di Bologna, “La dimensione iniziatica nel dionisismo”), Paolo Renner (Istituto di Scienze Religiose di Bolzano, “L'iniziazione sacerdotale cristiana”), Alessandro Catastini (Università di Roma, “L'iniziazione nel mondo ebraico”), Alberto Ventura (Istituto Orientale di Napoli, “La dimensione iniziatica sufica”), Pietro Mander (Istituto Orientale di Napoli, “L'iniziazione nel mondo mesopotamico”), Antonio Carile (Università di Bologna, “Regalità sacra e mondo bizantino”), Mariano Bianca (Università di Siena, “Rituali e simboli nell'iniziazione massonica”), Marco Zecchi (Università di Bologna, “L'iniziazione nella cultura religiosa egizia”), Giorgio Renato Franci (Università di Bologna, “La tradizione iniziatica nelle religioni dell'India”), Antonio Panaino (Università di Bologna, “Iniziazione e dimensione iniziatica nella tradizione mazdaica”), Paolo Chiozzi (Università di Firenze, “Antropologia dell'oniziazione”), Morris Ghezzi (Università di Milano, “Sociologia dell'iniziazione massonica”), Vinicio Serino (Saggista, “Iniziazione ed ermetismo”), Claudio Bonvecchio (Università di Trieste, “Esoterismo ed iniziazione”), Silvio Calzolari (Università di Bologna, “Iniziazione nelle tradizioni orientali”), Natale Mario De Luca (Università di Roma, “L'iniziazione massonica nei paesi europei”), Dino Fioravanti (Saggista, “La Massoneria nel contesto degli scenari iniziatici contemporanei”), Moreno Neri (Saggista, “La simbologia astrologica dell'iniziazione”), Vittorio Vanni (Saggista, “Iniziazione nel rituale Emulation”), Yury Stoyanov (London's Wamburg Institut, “Initiatory practices in Ancient and medieval gnostic-dualist”).

In un'epoca caratterizzata dalla perdita di saldi riferimenti etico-morali ed in cui vengono proposti modelli aggregativi che intendono piuttosto soggiogare la libera coscienza dell'uomo, o che individuano nel potere e nella ricchezza il senso della vita, approfondire il tema dell'esoterismo diventa di stretta attualità: significa, infatti, riflettere sulla continua ricerca di spiritualità che caratterizza il percorso intellettuale dell'uomo libero, cosciente del suo operare e della sua ragione di esistere. Il convegno è stato organizzato dal Collegio dei Maestri Venerabili della Toscana e da “Il Laboratorio”, la Rivista periodica della Comunione Massonica Toscana e sarà disponibile in audiovideo su Parvapolis a partire dal prossimo 11 marzo, in esclusiva nazionale per 15 giorni.

Mauro Cascio

Periodicals

Alexandria: The Journal of the Western Cosmological Tradition. http://cosmopolis.com/

Edited by David Fideler.  Volume V now available.  Back issues also available. 

Alexandria’s purpose is to “provide a meeting place for everyone who is vitally interested in ancient and modern cosmological speculation, and in how the humanities may contribute to contemporary life.” 

Aries, edited by Roland Edighoffer, Antoine Faivre, and Wouter J. Hanegraaff.  

Previously published (since 1985) by La Table d’Emeraude (Paris) the journal has been published since January 2001 by Brill Academic Publishers (the Netherlands) in “a strongly revised format and with a new editorial formula.”

“Aries welcomes articles and book reviews on all aspects of the study of esoteric curents in modern and contemporary western culture. Contributions focusing on earlier periods will be considered if clearly relevant to the study of modern and contemporary western esotericism.  “Western esotericism” is understood as including the revival of Hermetism and the so-called “occult philosophy” in the early modern period as well as its later developments: alchemy, Paracelsianism and Rosicrucianism, Christian Kabbalah and its later developments, theosophical and illuminist currents, and various occultist and related developments during the 19th and 20th centuries. Aries concentrates on historical rather than sociological reserach, but encourages interdisiplinary approaches including the use of social-science methodologies within a historical framework. While critical scholarship is very welcome, Aries is not a podium for religious or ideological apologetics or polemics.”

Editoral Address:
Aries
C/o Andréa Koon
Faculty of Humanities
Dept. of Theology & Religious Studies
Oude Turfmarkt 147
NL- 1012 GC Amsterdam
The Netherlands

E-mail: hermetica@hum.uva.nl
Tel: 31 20 525 3571  Fax +31 20 525 3572

You can also find information about Aries, including Tables of Contents and summaries of articles (since 2001) in two languages,  at www.amsterdamhermetica.com, in the section entitled “Journals and Book Series.”

Esoterica, edited by Arthur Versluis http://www.esoteric.msu.edu

Esoterica  “is an academic, peer-reviewed journal, , and our goals are to act as a means for communication among existing scholars in the field, to be a resource for those in academia encountering this field for the first time and considering introducing their students to it, to encourage new scholars in this emerging discipline, and to offer a reliable source of knowledge to all who are interested in esoteric studies. More than most, this field of inquiry lends itself to electronic media because it is so replete with illustrations, music, and often enigmatic writings. We are not simply placing written materials online, but seeking to offer a new form of scholarship that takes advantage of technology to present a fuller understanding of the ambience of any given work or figure. In this way, our journal will be of benefit not only to researchers in this field, but also to those who wish to draw upon our resources in order to study and teach this field in university and college classrooms.”

“Now on its fourth volume, Esoterica features a wide range of articles, including, from our series Studies in American Esotericism, "Powwowing: A Persistent American Esoteric Tradition," by David Kriebel, as well as "Astrology: Between Religion and the Empirical" by Gustav-Adolph Schoener, "Within This Darkness: Incarnation, Theophany, and the Primordial Revelation," by Tom Cheetham,"What is Esoteric?  Methods in the Study of Western Esotericism," by Arthur Versluis and, in  a new series on contemporary society, "Magic and Cyberspace" by Nevill

Drury. You'll also find here our usual book reviews, announcements of forthcoming or recent conferences, as well as listings of all recent doctoral dissertations and many recent books in the field. Our current and previous volumes can be found by clicking on "Archives." Our cover image comes to us courtesy of Adam McLean, an indefatigable Scottish researcher of alchemy and a well-known painter of alchemical images. Our most recent previous volume included two new full-length studies on a global theme: Lee Irwin's "Western Esotericism, Eastern Spirituality, and the Global Future," and Harry Oldmeadow's "The Western Quest for 'Secret Tibet.'" These articles, taken together, constitute what is perhaps the first full-length look at how Western esotericism has been influenced by the influx of Asian religious traditions,  particularly in the twentieth century. In our last issue issue is also  the first translation from Latin of John of Morigny's Liber Visionum edited, translated, and introduced by Claire Fanger and Nicholas Watson. Readers are strongly encouraged to read Hugh Urban's remarkable article on "The Omnipotent Oom: Tantra and Its Impact on Modern Western Esotericism." And we included another painting exhibition with commentary, this one by contemporary painter John Eberly. Earlier issues include other major articles: an exceptional examination of Renaissance magic by Wouter Hanegraaff entitled "Sympathy or the Devil," and a groundbreaking article by Marsha Keith Schuchard entitled "Why Mrs. Blake Cried: Swedenborg, Blake, and the Sexual Basis of Spiritual Vision." We also featured the online audio premiere of composer Paul Wesley Hofreiter's "Mystical Sonata #19," with the composer's commentary, and a painting exhibition with commentary of the work of contemporary painter Don Karr.”

“Esoterica does not endorse any particular methodological approach to the study of esoteric traditions, but does discourage reductionism - that is, the denigration rather than the study of esoteric traditions or figures. The scholarly study of esotericism as a field is still relatively new, and we encourage a variety of approaches to this rich field of inquiry as well as open discussion of methodological differences, while bearing in mind our common aim of broadening and deepening our understanding of the vast range of esoteric works and figures.”

Science & Spirit  http://www.science-spirit.org

“Connecting, science, religion and life,” Science and Spirit seeks “to encourage dialogue between science and religion.”  You can subscribe or read selected articles from the current issue.

Books

Recent books by Phanes Press.  For a complete list of titles go to http://phanes.com

The Pagan Dream of the Renaissance by Joscelyn Godwin
To order, go to:  http://www.phanes.com/pagdre.html

Living the Magical Life: An Oracular Adventure by Suzi Gablik
To order, go to: http://www.phanes.com/livmag.html

Blackfoot Physics: A Journey into the Native American Universe by F. David Peat
To order, go to: http://www.phanes.com/blaphy.html

Worldly Virtues: A Catalogue of Reflections by Johannes Gaertner
To order, go to:  http://www.phanes.com/worvir.html

New Editions:

The Secret Rose Garden of Shabistari 
To order, go to: http://www.phanes.com/secros.html

The Alchemical Mandala by Adam McLean
To order, go to:  http://www.phanes.com/alcman.html

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Manifesto of Transdisciplinarity by Basarab Nicolescu, translated by Karen-Claire Voss
New York: State University of New York Press, 2002.  To order, click here.

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L’İmmaginazione gnostica, a new volume in the series "Hermetica" edited by PierLuigi Zoccatelli.  Nathaniel Deutsch. 
To order this and other books on related topics, go to: http://www.cesnur.org/plz_hermetica.htm

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An Invitation to the Presentation of a book

La corrispondenza Alain Daniélou-René Guénon 1947-1950, a cura di Alessandro Grossato, Firenze, Leo S. Olschki Editore, 2002

Un importante contributo alla conoscenza dei due autori nel volume della Collana “Orientalia Venetiana” della Fondazione Giorgio Cini

Il libro sarà presentato il 14 maggio p.v. alle ore 16, presso la Sala Barbantini della Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venezia, con la partecipazione del Curatore Prof. Alessandro Grossato dell’Università di Gorizia, del Prof. Gianroberto Scarcia del Dipartimento di Studi Eurasiatici di Ca’ Foscari e del Prof. Alfredo Cadonna, Condirettore dell’Istituto ‘Venezia e l’Oriente’.  Il volume offre nella sua completezza il breve, quantitativamente e cronologicamente, ma qualitativamente tutt’altro che irrilevante scambio di lettere fra Alain Daniélou e René Guénon.

Nel presentare al pubblico questo volume l’Istituto ‘Venezia e l’Oriente’ della Fondazione Giorgio Cini è stato guidato da una duplice intenzione: da una parte, portare avanti il progetto di pubblicazione di tutti i materiali d’archivio del Fondo Daniélou, applicando criteri rigorosi che ne garantiscano la piena integrità e ne permettano un uso più ampio, rispettoso degli intenti della donazione (voluta e attuata dallo stesso Daniélou in successivi momenti della sua vita), dall’altra, offrirne adeguatamente il contenuto (che già nel fermo convincimento dei due autori voleva porsi ben al di là dell’ambito “privato,” come il lettore attento potrà prontamente rilevare).

La presentazione della corrispondenza è stata affidata ad un saggio introduttivo di Alessandro Grossato, curatore del presente volume, ma anche di un primo catalogo del Fondo librario che già nel 1970 Daniélou volle donare alla Fondazione. Il saggio introduttivo analizza in dettaglio le quattordici lettere, e mette a punto il quadro storico, cronologico e teorico in cui la corrispondenza va inserita. Ad esso si  affianca un saggio di Jean-Louis Gabin.

Il volume è corredato da una preziosa testimonianza fotografica del carteggio (manoscritto e dattiloscritto).

Comings & Goings

Editor’s Note:  Please let us know about significant professional transitions so we can publish that information here. 

Jean-Pierre Brach has been appointed Directeur d’Etudes at the École Pratigue des Hautes Études (Sorbonne) and on September 1, 2002, will assume the chair of Histoire des courants ésotériques dans l'Europe moderne et contemporaine, that has been held by Antoine Faivre since 1979.  Prof. Antoine Faivre will become Directeur d’Études Emeritus.

Websites

Each issue of Hermes will feature one or two websites that are in some way dedicated to the development of the consciousness of what it means to be human.

The Temenos Academy http://www.princes-foundation.org/foundation/temenos-b.html

Whereas in Shelley's words, 'the deep truth is imageless', the Arts (from architecture, painting, music and poetry, to the songs and dances of the villages and the designs of textiles and pottery), have within every civilisation been the flowering of a vision of the Sacred, embodied in some tradition of spiritual teaching.

The arts of the imagination flourish therefore in the Temenos - the precinct of that sacred centre, be that centre temple, synagogue, church, mosque, or the invisible sanctuary within the heart. Since knowledge is universal, we seek to learn from all traditions. Within western civilisation, Temenos follows the Platonic and Plotinian tradition from its pre-Socratic origins to the present day.

Our purpose is to study the learning of the Imagination, both in the arts and also in such metaphysical teachings as are likewise the expression of traditional spiritual knowledge. We reject the premises of secular materialism, widespread at the present time, which deny the very ground of meaning and value. W.B. Yeats wrote of the soul:

Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own magnificence

Therefore, we look also for contemporary expressions in the arts and other modes of thought which are rooted in that unageing spiritual reality.

by Dr. Kathleen Raine, CBE, Founder of the Temenos Academy

CIRET http://perso.club-internet.fr/nicol/ciret/index.htm

The International Center for Transdisciplinary Research (CIRET) is an international, non-profit organization, located in Paris and founded in 1987. The aim of the organization is to develop research in a new scientific and cultural approach - the transdisciplinarity - whose aim is to lay bare the nature and characteristics of the flow of information circulating between the various branches of knowledge. CIRET is a privileged meeting-place for specialists from the different sciences and for those from other domains of activity, especially educators. The aim of the organization is fully expressed in its moral project.  (See below)

Moral Project of CIRET

Varia

***In view of the fact that all or most of  the readers of Hermes are involved in education, we call attention to the website of the Learning Development Institute http://www.learndev.org/ where statements from various scholars about the implications of the events of September 11, 2001 for education have been published.   

***Again, in view of the events of September 11, we have also included the following very thoughtful and informative statement (dated June 4, 2002) by two scholars of Islam at Qatar University. Sheikh 'Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari and Dr. 'Abdallah Shihatah.  They call for a radical conceptual reform as well as reform of the educational system now prevalent throughout the Middle East.  Sheikh 'Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari, (1) dean of the Faculty of Shar'iah (Islamic Law) at Qatar University, known for his liberal positions, published an article in the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat. In the article, [en]titled "Landmarks in Rational and Constructive Dialogue With the 'Other,'" he writes:

“Since September 11, there has been a buildup of mutual misunderstanding, evil thought, suspicions, and distortions between West and East... This buildup has led to an unhealthy atmosphere that fostered two phenomena: the rise of the extreme right in the West known as the Le Pen phenomenon which sees the other as an enemy foreigner who abhors [Western] culture and values, and on the other hand the rise of extremist movements in Arab and Islamic societies who see the West as an enemy plotting against Islam and Muslims.”

Diversity Must be Respected

There are mutual needs and joint interests between the East and West. But before everything else, there is a common human heritage that must be protected, and must be strengthened, recognizing human diversity and differences, respecting the unique aspects and religious and cultural identities of various peoples and nationalities...”

The Koranic verse says, 'Oh people, we have created you male and female, and we have made you peoples and tribes, in order to make it easier for you to know each other. Indeed, the one Allah honors most are those amongst you who are the most righteous.'(2) This verse forbids imposing a single culture, regime, idea, or faith on the entire human race. Jihad, in its real meaning, is a means of preserving the right of pluralism and variety and guaranteeing freedom of choice for all, because diversity is considered a natural and universal truth..."

"In my opinion, this requires dialogue on two fronts: internal and external. The internal dialogue must include all the people and organizations in society, without banning any party, without accusing it of treachery or heresy or without slandering it... We will not attain a healthy, mature, and constructive relationship with the foreign 'other' without establishing a healthy relationship with the 'other' within us – the one with a different political, ideological, religious, [or] ethnic opinion, or the one belonging to a different school of thought, [and] without correcting our attitude towards women, based on values of tolerance and respect for pluralism and acceptance of the 'other'..."

"With regard to the external dialogue... The necessary point of departure, in my opinion, is that each party reveals itself genuinely, from the outset, along with the prejudices and stereotypes regarding the 'other.' After that, there must be self-criticism of these ideas and views. Before we complain to the 'other' about the negative way in which he perceives us, we must monitor ourselves and correct our misconceptions towards the 'other.'"

"The West must reexamine the foundations of its view towards us and the ideas it has formulated about us since the period of Orientalism [i.e. Orientalist research] which were based on the [perceptions] of the Middle Ages – according to which Islam is a religion of violence spread by the sword, and the Muslims are wreaking vengeance on modern civilization and do not respect human rights, do not guarantee minority rights, do not believe in the values of democracy and tolerance, and do not behave properly towards women. Similarly, the West needs to refrain from generalizing about Islam and Muslims because of the behavior of a small minority among them."

"At the same time, we, the Muslims, must rid ourselves of world and Western conspiracy theories against us; we must free ourselves of the complex of the Crusader wars and the weighty colonialist heritage. We must stop presenting the 'other' as a Satan devising colonialist, imperialist, or global conspiracies or cultural invasion against us. We must stop thinking that the world has nothing to do but plot against us and hate us for being Muslims..."

"There is no escape from revealing the flaws in our social system, in politics, in culture, in the media, in education, and in the religious curriculum for the past fifty years."

The Pan-Arab Discourse

"According to this discourse, in most cases, it is the West that sabotaged the Arab revival and prevented their progress; prevented their unity by occupying the Arab countries and sketching out borders for them; struck at their attempt to institute democracy; exhausted their natural resources, and delayed development..."

"However, a fair and objective examination shows that even if the colonialist West bears some of the responsibility, most of the responsibility lies at the door of the Arabs themselves..."  "Similarly, the separate countries preceded colonialism. When the borders were drawn, tribal balances were taken into account more than Western interests. Democracy was never more than a false slogan in the world of the Arabs, and never had any practical expression – not by the regime, and not by the opposition... Moreover, we were the ones who squandered our own resources, with stupid policy and wars against each other and against others."

The Religious Discourse

"A significant part of the [Islamic] religious discourse is rife with concepts such as 'ideological invasion,' 'world conspiracy,' 'Crusader hostilities,' and 'perpetual enmity towards Islam and Muslims.' Like the pan-Arab discourse, the religious discourse incites and mobilizes.  It is always directed against the foreign 'other,' or the local 'other'… Many religious rulings are issued that accuse intellectuals, writers, and artists of heresy or sin; no one escapes them."

"In all fairness, it should be said that the Western churches have gotten over the complex of the Crusader wars. In contrast, our pulpits still live their bitterness from those wars, and still call for the annihilation of the West – of the 'Jews and Christians.'"  "The religious discourse must be amended and renewed so that it will be able to fulfill its true role of disseminating knowledge and enlightenment, and dealing with the nation's fundamental problems in a way that will draw the individuals in society closer together, and not sow hatred towards others... The mosques are Allah's, and they must not be allowed to become an arena of political and factional dispute."

The Media Discourse

"Our media suits no one but us. It mobilizes and incites the people, and distracts them from their real problems. What interests them more than anything else is fishing for negative comments [about the Arabs] by the Western 'other'... Since our media deliberately disseminated Hunting-ton's theory of the 'Clash of Civilizations,' this theory has become most popular, and all our intel-lectuals have begun to pen responses to it... Our media have forgotten the human alternative the 'Dialogue of Civilizations' – which Western intellectuals have also called for. When Berlusconi made the mistake of speaking of the superiority of Western culture, this slip was blown up here, while his clarification and apology, and his visit to the Islamic center, were pushed aside..."

The Educational Discourse

"Our educational discourse is based on defensiveness towards the 'other' and on historical self-aggrandizing. The child's mind is filled with his nation's glory and triumphs, while the part of others [in history] is downplayed. A significant part of our educational discourse is cut off from the modern sciences, and is based on a uni-dimensional view, creating a closed mentality and an easy slide towards fanaticism. It plants misconceptions regarding women and religious or ethnic minorities; it is dominated by memorization and repetitive methods..."

"Let us all work to mobilize spiritual energy and direct it for the good of the entire human race."(3)

Changing Islamic Curriculum

"The Dialogue of Civilizations" came up in another panel discussion on the matter at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Dr. 'Abdallah Shihatah, lecturer in Shari'ah (Islamic law) at Al-Azhar University, criticized the university’s religious curriculum, saying:

“I [too] attended Al-Azhar, but the challenges facing our Islamic society today require us to develop these curricula with the help of Al-Azhar's alumni – who combine the study of religious sciences with a grasp of the new reality and the challenges that require us [to use] other methods within a dialogue between -- not a clash of -- civilizations...”

”The Islamic sages of the modern age made a grave mistake in accusing Western civilization of corruption over many years, and not seeing the positive things in it that allowed Western societies to advance in the various sciences and gave them the power of progress... Our sages, and our media, must shift from the concept of a clash with Western civilization to a dialogue with it.”

“When Muslim civilization conquered the Persians and the Byzantines, it took the things that benefited them and left the harmful things. Muslim civilization never ceased adopting [things] from other civilizations, adding to them and inventing many other sciences...”

”Muslim society must understand that today's cruel attack on it, which distorts the image of Islam and the Muslims, obliges us to restore for ourselves the banner of science, culture, and progress because we urgently need a strong and modern society. We must acknowledge that we are in a state of stagnation, and must begin to change our curricula and the religious programs, with modern thought that will combine religious principles with the new reality. [We must] prepare an appropriate atmosphere for scientific research in all areas, and develop social life, in order to inspire self-confidence.”

Endnotes:

(1) For more on Al-Ansari, see also:

MEMRI Special Dispatch 307
MEMRI Special Dispatch 337
MEMRI Special Dispatch 338.

(2) Koran 49:13.

(3) Al-Hayat (London), May 31, 2002.

CLOSING REFLECTION

Fritz Meier compares visions of “the true I,” the Self, in an article, “The Mystery of the Ka’ba” (in The Mysteries: Papers from the Eranos Yearbooks), writing: “A glance at other ages and other cultures may make it clearer in what sphere this depth lies and what the meaning of this encounter is . . . the same encounter occurs in Novalis’ Heinrichvon Ofterdingen.  Here, Ginnistan (Fantasy), hastens with Eros to her father the moon:

Love passed through desert spaces
And through the land of the clouds
And entered the court of the moon,
Holding his daughter by the hand.
He was sitting on his silver throne,
Alone with his grief;
He heard the voice of his child
And fell into her arms. *

*Note:  The same closing reflection appeared in the last issue of Hermes, published in the Spring of 1993.

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