The Adult Education Committee of Cong. Rinat Yisrael will present Professor Charles Selengut, authority on Islam, on Sunday, December 3, at 8 p.m. He will speak about “The Many Faces of Islam: How Modernists, Traditionalists and Militants Face the Islamic Future.”

Islam is a multifaceted tradition and all its versions must interpret and respond to core theological elements as narrated in their sacred and prophetic texts. In this lecture, Professor Selengut will discuss how diverse readings and understandings shape contemporary Islam and its responses to modernity, pluralism and violence. Special attention will be given to the rise of fundamentalism and its consequences for the state of Israel.

Dr. Charles Selengut is an expert on the psychology, sociology and politics of fundamentalist religious movements. He is active in inter-religious studies and is the author of “Jewish-Muslim Encounters: History, Philosophy and Culture.” He has been a visiting scholar in Europe and Asia. He is professor of sociology at the County College of Morris as well as a former professor of religion at Drew University. He is the author of “Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence” and “Our Promised Land: Faith and Militant Zionism in Israeli Settlements,” among other books.