Abdal Hakim Jackson – Whither the Modern Muslim: Negotiating Creed, Theology, & Spirituality

About this lecture

In this keynote lecture, Dr. Sherman Abdul Hakim Jackson addresses the theological, epistemological, and spiritual challenges facing Muslims in modern America, with particular focus on the next generation. He examines the threat of scientism to belief in God, the "social scientification" of Islam driven by the social sciences, the need to revitalize classical Muslim theology for a contemporary Western context, and the importance of addressing questions of theodicy and core Quranic concepts. His central conclusion is that intellectual engagement alone is insufficient — a healthy spiritual state is the prerequisite for Muslims to effectively navigate the demands of faith in the modern world.