Do the above speak to you? If so, then you may be interested in attending a critical reading group that will engage with the writing of thinkers, all manner of scientists, philosophers and theologians – some well-known, others not so well-known – who have had or continue to have a profound, perhaps surprising influence in the world of ideas as we experience it today. We anticipate that the group will consist of Muslims who take seriously but critically the undeniable edifice of most, if not all, great civilizations: fellowship, faith, learning and scholarship.  

The group will meet weekly and, following a main presentation by a convener, discuss and debate the issues contained in and raised by readings from a core set of texts. The experience may be unfamiliar, uncomfortable, perhaps unsettling but the aim will always be clear: to be moved, transformed and inspired by the experience. We also hope that the secondary, transferable skills of critical thinking, systematic enquiry and collaborative learning are developed along the way. Above all, participants should bear in mind that neither agreement nor closure on subjects will be given much weight. Here, it may help to see the spirit of the sessions through one of Deleuze’s remarks: “Every time someone puts an objection to me, I want to say: OK, OK, let’s go on to something else ” 

Examples of the kind of thinkers and the issues would include: John Polkinghorne on religion and science; Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn on the philosophy of science; Ibn ‘Arabi on ontology, ethics and knowledge; G. H. Hardy on Mathematics; Kant on metaphysics and morality; Ziauddin Sardar and others on Islam and development. Readings of contemporary articles from peer reviewed journals will also be included.     

Click here for weekly listings

The details of the meetings are as follows: 

VENUE:   King’s College London (Strand Campus), Room 4A, Chesham Building 

DIRECTIONS:  Walk from the reception towards the Great Hall, go down the stair case opposite the Great Hall to the first basement. Take a right and then a left through the first set of doors continue up the stairs and follow the corridoor until you hit the wall, take the door on your left, follow the corridoor until you reach another pair of doors, take the stairs down and you have reached your destination.

TIME:  6.30pm until 8pm

DAY:   Every Tuesday

CONVENORS:  Dr Usama Hasan (Senior Lecturer, Middlesex University) & Dr Mahbub Gani (Lecturer, King’s College London)                                            

CONTACT:   mahbub.gani{at}kcl.ac.uk