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Bridging Islam and the West
An Interview with Professor John
L. Esposito
Is there a role that Singapore can
play in terms of developing Muslim and non-Muslim relations
internationally?
I think that Singapore—to the extent that it addresses
its multi-religious and multi-ethnic situation in constructive
and sometimes innovative ways—can become an example
to others. No other society can exactly duplicate the circumstances
but lessons can certainly be learnt. For example, a society
with a very different configuration might still look at you
and say, "One of the key factors here is that government
provides assistance in terms of a partnership and that’s
what made it successful."
I also think that Singapore can contribute
in terms of moving from a notion of co-existence and accommodation
to a richer notion of people knowing, interacting and respecting
each other more. I think it can make a big difference, for
example, when a government is willing to devote resources
to this issue in a significant way and again do it in terms
of a partnership.
Also, the strong Arab influence on Malaysian
Islam and Southeast Asian Islam can be intrusive. The important
thing in Singapore would be to present the Southeast Asian
side of Islam; to foster, if you will, a more indigenous form
of Islam that is not simply dependent on or totally influenced
by the Arab World.
To be blunt, part of the education process
has to involve Christians becoming more pluralistic, just
as with Muslims. In many societies overseas, the forms of
Christianity or Catholicism are often conservative. Look at
the debates in the Anglican Church on the ordination of women.
Where are the predominant voices against the ordination of
women? They are among the Anglicans in Africa and other non-European
and certainly more conservative communities.
The issue also needs to be addressed among
many who do not believe in any religion at all and do not
value religion. It is not so much that they have to become
religious but they nevertheless must respect other people’s
beliefs, and acknowledge that however different somebody’s
faith is, that person can be as critical a thinker and as
professional as the next person.
That is where the idea of ‘inter-faith’
education in community relations becomes important, particularly
with globalisation. One has to go beyond accommodation and
co-existence.
This article is extracted from an interview
by Andrew Kwok, Researcher, Centre for Governance and Leadership
following Professor Esposito’s New Insights Lecture
on "Islam and the West", conducted at the Civil
Service College, Singapore on 19 October 2006.
University Professor as well as Professor
of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies
at Georgetown University, John
L. Esposito is Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin
Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh
School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
A consultant to the Department of State as well as corporations,
universities, and the media worldwide, Professor Esposito
specialises in Islam, political Islam, and the impact of Islamic
movements from North Africa to Southeast Asia. He has served
as President of the Middle East Studies Association of North
America and the American Council for the Study of Islamic
Societies, Vice Chair of the Center for the Study of Islam
and Democracy and is currently a member of the World Economic
Forum’s Council of 100 Leaders and President of the
Executive Scientific Committee for the Maison de la Mediterranee’s
2005-2010 project, "The Mediterranean, Europe and Islam:
Actors in Dialogue".
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