Supremacist Theological Entanglements: Christianity, Supersessionism, Racism and Islamophobia

21 Oct 2021

pittadmin

*promoted by University of Pittsburgh*

Most histories of Islamophobia begin where most genealogies of colonialism and racism begin: 1492. The beginning of our colonial, racial capitalist system, in addition to the limpieza de sangre system of discrimination used in early modern Spain and Portugal, is certainly a formative source of contemporary Islamophobia. This lecture traces Islamophobia further back: Christian supersessionism (replacement theology), anti-Judaism, and medieval anti-Islamic theology are all connected in the formation of contemporary Islamophobia. These supremacist entanglements, which also include antisemitism and Orientalism, arguably find their discursive foundation in the words, symbols, narratives, and metaphors that historically constituted a Christian supremacist theology of religion in general, and a theology of Islam in particular. After tracing these supremacist entanglements, the lecture will offer constructive and praxis-oriented theological responses to subvert and challenge global Islamophobia today.

Event Date: 
Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Institution(s): 
Location: 
Online