ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent one day before class begins.
Due to popular demand, this class will be a continued discussion of the material presented in the Spring 2026 class. With more than 1.8 billion Muslims in the world today, Islam is the world’s second largest religion. Islam’s association with conflict and instability in the Middle East has led to persistent misconceptions and misunderstandings about the faith. In this class, Michael Fahy will continue to discuss the origins of Islam and its relationship to other Abrahamic monotheistic faiths of Judaism and Christianity, as well as the main tenets of Muslim theology and varying trends within the faith. Like all major religions, Islam is internally diverse, and we will continue to discuss how different ideas and beliefs are practiced at different times and in different places, referencing, in particular, gender roles and religious extremism.
Michael Fahy holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan and taught for 20 years at the University’s School of Education. He is an anthropologist of the Middle East, where he lived and pursued research for several years. Since 2004, Michael has offered presentations on Middle Eastern history and culture to American military personnel across the United States and Europe.
