Spring Philosophy Symposium at SU April 13

SALISBURY, MD-- How has Islam influenced Western culture? How does the Islamic belief that all dimensions of human life are sacred differ from the modern secular conception of society? These are some of the issues that will be considered at the 23rd Salisbury University Spring Philosophy Symposium on Saturday, April 13, in Caruthers Hall Auditorium, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The topic for this year's symposium is "Islam and the Western Tradition: A Dialogue on the Sacred and the Secular."

The guest speakers for the symposium are two distinguished scholars, Dr. Seyd Nomanul Haq and Dr. Timothy Gianotti. Haq is general editor of Oxford University Press' Studies in Islamic Philosophy series and serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, including Islamic Studies and the Journal of Islamic Science. He is also a member of the board of

advisors of the U.N. sponsored Forum on Religion and Ecology. He currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania.

Gianotti is a professor of religious studies and history at Penn State University. His specialty is the history of Islamic thought and its relationship to the Western philosophical tradition. He has a special interest in Islamic mysticism.

"We are especially excited about this year's symposium," said Dr. Jerry Miller, chair of the SU Philosophy Department, "because it will provide us the kind of insight into the Islamic experience that can help us get past our TV-induced stereotypes."

A lunch follows the morning presentations. In the afternoon is an open discussion, to be initiated by Miller and Dr. Jim Hatley of the SU Philosophy Department.

The event, which is sponsored by the Student Philosophical Society, the Philosophy Department and the Honors Program, is free and open to the public.

For more information, please call the SU Public Relations office at 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.