A leading scholar in Islamic and Christian studies, university professor John Esposito could barely find a job after receiving his doctorate in Islamic studies in 1974. Now, he’s in great demand.

As director of Georgetown’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and a professor of religion and international affairs at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Esposito has written more than 35 books and numerous articles translated into 28 languages on Islam and Muslim-Christian relations. He also has organized and edited entire encyclopedias on Islam.

“Relative to when I first studied and began to write, I focused on the role of Islam in modern states and society at a time when many in Islamic studies and much of the literature was past oriented,” says the professor. “Religion (was seen), at best, as a relic from the past and an obstacle to development.”

That changed drastically after Sept. 11, Esposito says.

“Islam and Christianity are great faiths; but like all religions they have had their transcendent and dark sides; their periods of conflict and of co-existence. In a post 9/11 world, the situation has become more difficult and often politicized,” Esposito explains. “It has been exacerbated and exploited by the threats and rantings of terrorists, preachers of hate and growing Islamophobia (anti-Muslim and anti-Islam bias and racism).”

Esposito has made it his life’s work to emphasize the similarities between Islam and Christianity, and to increase global understanding about both religions.

“Having been raised to think of a Judeo-Christian tradition, I was astonished to discover that the children of Abraham or Abrahamic tradition consists of three inter-related religious traditions,” says Esposito, who was raised Catholic. “However, different each (faith) is, they also share much in common. The result? A Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition.”

When Muslims around the world are asked where to turn for more information about Islam, they recommend books written or edited by Esposito.
 

“Many of the introductions to Islam written by non-Muslim scholars essentially denigrate Islam. Many Muslim scholars, who write introductions to Islam, get involved in advocacy rather than explanation,” says John Voll, professor of Islamic history and associate director of the Alwaleed Center. “(Esposito’s) work … is neither advocacy nor refutation. It’s a balanced examination that provides an appropriate introduction to a major world religion.”

The scholar’s latest book, “The Future of Islam” (Oxford University Press, 2010), will further explore Muslim-West relations in the 21st century. Esposito looks at Islam as it relates to global politics, human rights and democracy and the effect religious fundamentalism will continue to have on the development of modern societies.

On Oct. 6-8, the Alwaleed Center and the president’s office will host a two-day conference, “A Common Word Between Us and You: A Global Agenda for Change." The Common Word initiative began in 2007 to advance peace and reconciliation between Muslim and Western societies by bringing together global political and religious leaders from various faiths, scholars, members of the media and other stakeholders.

View Live Common Word Webcasts

“We have attracted many key Muslim signers of the original (open letter to the pope about the true teachings of Islam),” Esposito notes, “including the Grand Muftis of Egypt and Bosnia.”

The conference will also convene major Christian leaders within the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Evangelical denominations; feature major political leaders such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, ordained Lutheran priest and former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; and many others.

Esposito possesses an ability to bring together scholars to produce works that have impact on Islamic studies, colleagues say.

“One of the things professor Esposito excels at, despite the fact that he’s been in the field as long as he has, is that he doesn’t rest on his laurels,” says Melanie Trexler (G’14), Ph.D candidate in theological and religious studies.
 
Trexler, a teaching assistant for the professor, says Esposito talks to everyone from corporate executives to government officials and college freshman, explaining Muslim-Christian relations and how it affects them.

“He spends a lot of time talking to people and tries to help them understand how religious ideas influence the way people act in their social, political and economic lives.”

Source: Blue & Gray