Why Does Religion Become Evil?

Friday, September 4, 2009

(Sept. 4, 2009, STILLWATER, Okla.) – Charles A. Kimball, one of the nation’s top experts on Islamic studies, will speak on “The Politics of Abraham: Understanding the Volatile Mix of Religion and Politics in Judaism, Christianity and Islam” at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Wes Watkins Lecture Hall at Oklahoma State University.

Kimball is a professor and director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma. Before joining the University of Oklahoma, he was a professor of religion at Wake Forest University and director of the Middle East Office at the National Council of Churches.

Kendall has made more than 35 visits to the Middle East and has for the last 20 years worked with Congress, the White House and the U.S. Department of State on understanding Islam. Based on the visits, he wrote When Religion Becomes Evil in the months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The book was named one of the top 15 books on religion for 2002 by Publishers Weekly.

“Dr. Kendall is the top Islamic expert in the United States and an incredible communicator,” said Mike Thompson, an adjunct associate professor in religious studies at OSU. “This is a time in our country’s history for all of us to be more fully informed about the interactions of the religions especially Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”

Kendall earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1972 from OSU and holds degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. An ordained Baptist minister, he received his doctorate from Harvard University in comparative religion with a specialization in Islamic studies.

The lecture is funded by the Converse-Yates-Cate Foundation in memory of Robert Cate, a religious studies professor at OSU. The lecture is free and opened to the public. To learn more phone (405) 744-0487 or e-mail mike.thompson@okstate.eduThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

The religious studies program falls under the philosophy department in the College of Arts and Sciences at OSU. To learn more visit cas.okstate.edu.