Always more to think about

Yesterday afternoon I attended another workshop on integrating the study of Islam into religion courses. The workshop leader, Mehrzad Boroujerdi, is a political scientist who participated in the Iranian revolution in 1979 when he was a student. He had many fascinating insights into the appeal of the revolution and its failure to fulfill its promises once in power. Another topic of discussion included analysis of some of the factors contributing to the September 11 attacks. The broader theme was the intersection of modernity and Islamic societies. (I missed the previous evening's lecture on that subject, though.)