news
2023 marks the 70ᵗʰ anniversary of IDEO. What better way to celebrate this milestone than by announcing the establishment, on October 1ˢᵗ, of a Chair named after Father Anawati, our Egyptian founder from Alexandria? With the support of the European Union Delegation, this Chair embarks on the ambitious mission of uniting research and education in order to combat religious extremism through dialogue. The tumultuous and distressing situation at hand today in the Middle East reminds us of this endeavor’s importance as well as its challenges. The Chair will take a particular approach to this vast mission, one rooted in the history of IDEO and Father Anawati, as it aims to nourish dialogue with the fruits of research and education.
The Chair will not only strengthen existing partnerships in Egypt, such as the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, but will also initiate new collaborations with the Observatory for Combating Extremism at al-Azhar and the Hindawi Foundation. Furthermore, it will expand our network to include numerous universities and academic institutions in the Mediterranean region dedicated to promoting dialogue. In the near future, these activities will help facilitate the participation of young individuals in the Abu Dhabi conference on human fraternity, organize a conference dedicated to the literal interpretation within monotheisms, launch a certificate program in “Theology and Humanities” fully delivered in Arabic, and champion the publication of Islamic heritage texts that illuminate the concept of Islamic humanism, a radiant star in our shared destiny’s constellation.
Lectures
On October 5ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave à lecture entitled “What is Islam?”. This conference took place in the seminar room at the IDEO in collaboration with the French-speaking association Caire Accueil.
On October 14ᵗʰ, Emmanuel Pisani, OP gave à lecture entitled “Georges C. Anawati at the 1958 Toumliline international meetings: philosophy and mysticism in dialogue”, during the study day entitled “Theological and Islamic debates in Toumliline: actors and witnesses”, organized by the Institute of Sciences and Theology of Religions (ICP).
On October 16ᵗʰ, Jean Druel, OP gave a lecture to students at the American University in Cairo about the work of IDEO and its experience in intercultural and interreligious dialogue.
Scholars’ House
During the month of October, we had the pleasure of welcoming at the Scholars’ House, Ms. Juliette Brissart, student at EM Lyon Business School and on an academic exchange at the American University in Cairo; Ms. Caitlin Buckley, currently a fellow at the Center for Arabic Study Abroad in Amman, and on a six-month internship at IDEO for the processing of the Rodinson Fund; and Ms. Nadirah Mansour, assistant curator of Islamic art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Publications
- Emmanuel Pisani, « Al-Ġazālī (m. 505/1111), figure d’une autorité magistérielle en islam sunnite ? » dans Michel Younès et Ali Mostfa (dir.), L’autorité en islam. Quelle régulation ?, Valence, Peuple libre Eds, 2023.
- Emmanuel Pisani, « Islam et islamisme. Le défi de la question théologique », Hors-Série « Religions et nationalismes », Études HS9, 2023, p. 19-30.