A scholar of Rumi once told me that if Rumi had never met Shams he would have never found the pearl of deep spiritual insight. The function of Shams was that he possessed a certain knowledge, but Shams lacked the means to retrieve this knowledge and bring it up from the deep to allow it …
What if Trump's upcoming speech in Saudi Arabia signifies a shift at the level of discourse -- one that effectively propels international relations into a new, post clash of civilizations framework? A post clash framework no longer requires any allusion to the idea that the west has a moral duty to help Islam revive its lost greatness, …
What we know right now is that the Trump era lies ahead of us. The immediate intervallic period between now and late January when he assumes office will be a time of increasing fear met with protest and resistance against the way things turned out on 11/9 and against the sinking reality that we face four …
I have a new essay up at Heathwood Press as part of their special series on Crisis Capitalism and Creeping Fascism – Bigotry, Racism, and the Rise of the Right in the Age of Neoliberal Barbarism. Please support Heathwood Press, an important new publisher working to revive the project of critical theory for today. Here …
Continue reading "Elements of Islamophobia: The State, Class and Capital"
American religious history is a vicious beast. Americans know how to demonize the other. A look at the historical record makes today's Islamophobia feel lightweight by comparison to the often violent persecution that religious others faced. Today's version of denigration, while it comes in the form of a clever Facebook "meme", or a derogatory YouTube …
Continue reading "Bigotry Towards the Other Islam of America: Mormonism"
Right now in America, Islamophobia is worse than it was immediately following 9/11. Since the election of President Obama, hate groups have expanded, and American Muslims report higher levels of employment discrimination, hate crimes, and attitudes are generally unfavorable towards Muslims in the United States. I offered a lecture on March 16th at Eastern Mennonite …
I grew up going by "Tutt". Everyone back home grew accustomed to it and even though my last name is a bit masculine sounding, even my girl friends (not romantic) would call me Tutt. Since I have grown and come of age, I've gone by Daniel. I dislike "Dan" and always have for reasons I …
