Events
5/27/2016 – Khutba, Lunch & Lecture with Shaykh Yahya Rhodus
On Friday, May 27, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus gave a Khutba and lecture at RGS on the importance of “living in the now” as a means of attaining greater spiritual fulfillment.
5/2/2016 – Director Jose M. del Corral, along with colleagues from “Scholas,” an International Organization of Pontifical Right, visited Respect Graduate School from Argentina. They took a tour of the facility, learned about the important work being done at RGS, and discussed with ideas with staff about strengthening communities.
4/6-5/4/2016 – Spring Muslim and Christian Dialogue Series – Muslims and Christians Talking Together: Transforming Violence’s Legacies into Peace Building
The horrific events of the past several decades have bred fear and anxiety among many persons. Those responses have often led to accusations about cultural and religious clashes between Western, Christian and Islamic values and aspirations. In this installment of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue, presenters examined the contexts, root causes, and proposed actions for our local organizations to overcome the violence in our communities.
3/27/2016 – The Islamic/Arabic Background of the Western Scientific Tradition
Presented by Dr. George Saliba – Professor of History of Islamic Science at Columbia University
In this presentation, Dr. Saliba discussed the historical rise and decline of the Arabic World’s influence on the realm of scientific discovery, especially in the field of medicine and astronomy. He captivated the audience with his detailed examples illustrating how many of the Western world’s greatest scientific scholars, such as Copernicus and Galileo, built their ideas on knowledge that had been established hundreds of years earlier by scholars in the Islamic world, such as Abu al-Barakat al-Baghdadi and Ibn Sina.
2/21/2016 – Islam’s Jesus Presented by Dr. Zeki Saritoprak – Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University
Before an audience made up of members from multiple faiths, Dr. Saritoprak examined multiple intellectual traditions regarding the eschatological role of Jesus in Islam, as well as different interpretations of the return of Jesus. Dr. Saritoprak then argued that Muslim’s and Christian’s shared belief in Jesus presented an excellent opportunity for finding understanding, and as more than half of the world’s population, he reasoned, such an understanding could be a foundation for global peace.
12/8/2015 – Counseling Muslim Couples Presented by Dr. Saima Sandhu
On December 8, Dr. Sandhu gave a lecture at RGS about her experience and perspectives regarding counseling Muslim couples. Dr. Sandhu works as a therapist and clinician, and is the founder of Calmness LLC.
11/12/2015 – The Month of Muharram Presented by Mohammed Khaku
Mohammed Khaku joined us to discuss his reflections of the month of Muharram, and to share his experiences as a Shia in the US. Mr. Khaku is a leader in the Muslim community representing the Shia perspective within the Lehigh Valley area. He has had several pieces published in the local newspaper, The Morning Call.
10/7-10/28/2015 – Fall Muslim and Christian Dialogue Series
More than 50 guests joined RGS for this installment of the Muslim and Christian Dialogue Series, hosted by Dr. Walter Wagner and Professor Halim Calis. This event focused on the question of whether there are there limits to what we say, print, draw, paint, post, tweet and claim? And how might a person and groups respond to inaccuracies, insults, bias, and sacrilege?
9/15/2015 – Dr. Walter Wagner Discusses His Most Recent Book, Beginnings and Endings and Signs Copies at the ANT Bookstore.
Taking time between teaching at Respect Graduate School and Moravian College, Dr. Walter Wagner made an appearance at the ANT Bookstore in Clifton, NJ to discuss his latest book Beginings and Endings and to answer questions. In his book, Dr. Wagner present a framework of understanding that outlines the philosophy and theology of Fethullah Gulen, a world famous scholar of Islam who inspired a global movement of education and interfaith dialogue.
8/20/2015 – RGS Inaugural Convocation
On Sunday, August 20, 2015, the Respect Graduate School opened its doors for its inaugural convocation ceremony. More than 200 guests showed up to celebrate this historic event, and to hear speeches by President Suleyman Eris (above), the Honorable Ryan Mackenzie, Dr. Frank Crouch, Dr. Peter Petit, Patricia Robinson, and Meryem Teke.
