Lenn E. Goodman is Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. Among his many publications are In Defense of Truth (2001), Jewish and Islamic Philosophy: Crosspollinations in the Classic Age (1999), Judaism, Human Rights, and Human Values (OUP, 1998), and God of Abraham (OUP, 1996).
"The range and depth of this well documented, richly detailed, and
elegantly written survey of human centered, even secular dimensions
of classical Islamic civilization--its poetry, music, wine, war,
love, play, hunting, dress/display, ethics, theology, epistemology,
metaphysics, and grand tradition of Arabic universal history-are
unparalleled. Islamic Humanism fills a serious gap in the
literature and provides a rare opportunity to learn about
significant
dimensions of the Muslim heritage that deserve to be appreciated in
our era of sectarian Muslim extremism and clashing civilizations.
Although the expression 'Islamic humanism' may strike some as
an
oxymoron in today's world, Lenn E. Goodman's remarkable book is
fascinating and inspiring, neither apologetic nor
meddlesome."--Frederick Mathewson Denny, Professor, Islamic Studies
and the History of Religions, Department of Religious Studies,
University of Colorado at Boulder
"The work underscores the need to reread the religion of Islam and
its civilization without succumbing to the events of the recent
past, especially in the post-9/11, that have captured only partial
images of those who call themselves Muslims. Goodman's life-long
endeavor to understand the profound encounter between Muslim
philosophers and the Greek heritage, and its implications for the
unfolding of Islamic modernity is enlightening, intriguing and
highly
accessible. The book captures Muslim wisdom and humanism that is
meant to be read and shared with intelligent Muslim and non-Muslim
readership. The inspiring message that comes across the volume is
its
challenge to Muslims today to rise above ideology in order to
critically appropriate their great heritage with openness and
confidence--the Islam that is 'tolerant, pluralist, cosmopolitan
without triumphalism and spiritual without repression.'"--Abdulaziz
Sachedina, author of The Islamic Roots of Democratic Pluralism
"Lenn Goodman has undertaken a tour de force in Islamic Humanism
and successfully accomplishes his goals. He demonstrates with
masterly skill, entertaining prose and with an eye for detail, the
complex cosmopolitan world of classical and medieval Islam: a world
that Jews, Christians, Muslims and people of many faiths inhabited.
It was a not a perfect world, as Goodman tells us, but it is
nonetheless a world that by today's standards would make us
nostalgic. At the same time it also gives us hope: for if Muslims
in the past did not only imagine a great civilization but actually
created one, then what prevents them from imagining a better world
for themselves
and others in the twenty first century? Imagination, Goodman shows,
is one element of that story." --Ebrahim Moosa, Duke University
"A compelling reading for Muslims and non-Muslims, specialists, and
general readers alike. A stimulating guide to the thought of Muslim
writers and thinkers who articulated sympathetic and critical
approaches to their tradition."--Choice
"This study is compelling reading for Muslims and non-Muslims,
specialists, and general readers alike. .Goodman is a stimulating
guide to the thought of Muslim writers and thinkers who articulated
sympathetic and critical approaches to their tradition."-Choice
"Lenn Goodman has undertaken a tour de force in Islamic Humanism
and successfully accomplishes his goals. He demonstrates with
masterly skill, entertaining prose and with an eye for detail, the
complex cosmopolitan world of classical and medieval Islam: a world
that Jews, Christians, Muslims and people of many faiths inhabited.
It was a not a perfect world, as Goodman tells us, but it is
nonetheless a world that by today's standards would make us
nostalgic. At the same time it also gives us hope: for if Muslims
in the past did not only imagine a great civilization but actually
created one, then what prevents them from imagining a better world
for themselves
and others in the twenty first century? Imagination, Goodman shows,
is one element of that story." --Ebrahim Moosa, Duke University
"The work underscores the need to reread the religion of Islam and
its civilization without succumbing to the events of the recent
past, especially in the post-9/11, that have captured only partial
images of those who call themselves Muslims. Goodman's life-long
endeavor to understand the profound encounter between Muslim
philosophers and the Greek heritage, and its implications for the
unfolding of Islamic modernity is enlightening, intriguing and
highly
accessible. The book captures Muslim wisdom and humanism that is
meant to be read and shared with intelligent Muslim and non-Muslim
readership. The inspiring message that comes across the volume is
its
challenge to Muslims today to rise above ideology in order to
critically appropriate their great heritage with openness and
confidence--the Islam that is 'tolerant, pluralist, cosmopolitan
without triumphalism and spiritual without repression.'"--Abdulaziz
Sachedina, author of The Islamic Roots of Democratic Pluralism
"The range and depth of this well documented, richly detailed, and
elegantly written survey of human centered, even secular dimensions
of classical Islamic civilization--its poetry, music, wine, war,
love, play, hunting, dress/display, ethics, theology, epistemology,
metaphysics, and grand tradition of Arabic universal history-are
unparalleled. Islamic Humanism fills a serious gap in the
literature and provides a rare opportunity to learn about
significant
dimensions of the Muslim heritage that deserve to be appreciated in
our era of sectarian Muslim extremism and clashing civilizations.
Although the expression 'Islamic humanism' may strike some as
an
oxymoron in today's world, Lenn E. Goodman's remarkable book is
fascinating and inspiring, neither apologetic nor
meddlesome."--Frederick Mathewson Denny, Professor, Islamic Studies
and the History of Religions, Department of Religious Studies,
University of Colorado at Boulder
"Goodman's approach and perspective throughout this book are
inspiring and thought-provoking."Ali Caksu, Faith University
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