Spirit is a Bone is a website and blog that belongs to Daniel Tutt, activist, speaker, and Ph.D. student in philosophy and communication. Daniel’s research and writing focuses on continental philosophy and religion.
Bio
Daniel is an activist, speaker, and Ph.D. student in philosophy and communication. His work seeks to build greater understanding across religious and cultural lines with a particular emphasis on Islam and Muslims. He frequently delivers presentations, lectures, and training’s at conferences, colleges, and other institutions both in America and abroad.
As the Outreach Director of Unity Productions Foundation, an educational foundation dedicated to working for peace through the media, he implements educational and awareness campaigns around social media, film, and dialogue aimed at increasing understanding between Muslims and people of other faiths and backgrounds.
A PhD candidate in continental philosophy at the European Graduate School, a Switzerland-based university, and a Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, his research and writing concentrates on continental philosophy, and issues relating to Islam and Muslims.
His writing and work has appeared in Think Progress, Common Ground News Service, TheThe Poetry, Lacan.org, the Washington Post, and he is a regular blogger for the Huffington Post.
In 2006, he served as an Americorps VISTA after graduating college, and in 2010, he received a Masters of Arts in religion, philosophy, and human rights from American University.
Daniel Tutt
wish the print was darker so i could read what seems to be a great essay!
Hi Martha,
I’m going to try and make the font darker. Sorry that it isn’t read-able.
Best,
Daniel
Hi, I am following some of your essays. Actually I am interested with the word “Islamophobia”. In my opinion, the problem is not “Islamophobia”. But, “Muslimophobia”. As an ex-muslim, I have a very reasonable phobia toward Islam. But I don’t have any reason to be afraid of muslim. My big families in Indonesia, are muslims. Some of them even known as Quran teachers.
I think, the idea to stop Islamophobia is a mistake. What we need to do is, stopping Muslimophobia. As a former journalist, I notice, there is a big different between Islam in Indonesia before 1998 and after 1998. After 1998, lots of Islamic incidents (riots, bombings, murders, etc) occured. Before 1998, Soeharto regime with his dictatorial system, succeed to make Islam as a religion of peace in Indonesia. Lots of muslims, but very rare who actually practice 100% Islamic teachings. There is a well known phrase related to those kind of muslims, “Abangan”. All of these, happened, because Soeharto always eliminated all muslim fundamentalist. There is no Islam Kaffah movement, Syariah movement, etc. Indonesia has Pancasila as a main source of Indonesian constitution. And Soeharto with his strength system, able to prevent Islamic quality growth.
So, what I am trying to say, we need to stop Muslimophobia, not Islamophobia. People must be aware about the danger of Islamic teaching and strategy. If to eliminate Islam is an utopia, then we need to have a strong government that defend Human Rights and Secularism.
(actually I would like to attend your lecture in SFU May 15, 2012 at 7:30pm
…but I am afraid, as there is no guarantee that I will not be killed by muslim fundamentalist…I almost get killed 3 times in Indonesia, just because asked some questions about Islam…..I am very grateful to live in Canada, but to attend any seminar about Islam, I still am afraid, as for sure I will criticize Islam….So, I just wish you have a good time while in Vancouver).
Best Regards,
Ray
Ex Muslim Indonesia