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As the world’s Muslim population approaches the 2 billion mark, the global community must find a way to coexist with a religious tradition that has so far consciously resisted making peace with modernity. Finding a path forward will be no easy task considering that suspicion runs high on all sides. 

In a lecture titled “Islam and the Future of Civilization,” leading cultural studies scholar Anouar Majid, Ph.D., examined this important challenge facing the world community. The lecture took place at the University of Helsinki on May 17, 2016 at 4 p.m. 

The event was organized by The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Helsinki and the Department of World Cultures, University of Helsinki. It was attended by ambassadors from the United States, Spain, Iran and Ireland and other diplomats.

Majid argued that Muslims and the world community must pursue the path of the Enlightenment, open the study of Islam to modern methods, and chart new ways to more liberal Muslim-majority societies, ones that allow individuals to experience their full humanity without the constraints of prohibitions, taboos and retributions. He explained that while Muslims must accept the largest share of responsibility in making this shift, the Finns and peoples of other non-Muslim-majority nations cannot afford to be bystanders in the process of reform.

Majid serves as vice president for Global Affairs at ɫ����Ƶ as well as founding director of its Center for Global Humanities and managing director of its campus in Tangier, Morocco. Described by Cornel West as one of today’s “towering Islamic intellectuals,” he frequently authors opinion pieces on this topic, and several of his books are required reading in many college cultural studies programs. Majid has appeared on Bill Moyers Journal, NPR, Al-Jazeera, and scores of other U.S. and international media channels.