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Call for Applications Theme: Meaning of Life in Islamic Worldview and Perspective Type: Summer Course Institution: Institute for Short Term Educations and Sabbaticals, Al Mustafa International University Location: Qom (Iran) Date: 1.–14.9.2014 Deadline: 20.6.2014 __________________________________________________ The meaning of life is one of the most fundamental questions of contemporary man that shows its significance in all aspects of human life. Since achieving real mundane and spiritual happiness is possible for man only by gaining the light of meaningfulness of life, all mundane and spiritual efforts of contemporary human is to find a meaning for this life or make it meaningful. However, it seems that the contemporary spiritual crisis in the meaning of human’s life is one of the philosophical, scientific, religious and political results of modernism, that is, he/she lives in some circumstances in which the real and transcendent meaning of his/her life have been lost, and as a result is subjected to the crisis of the meaningless of life. Hence, he/she by appealing to human mysticisms and spiritualities tries to bring a kind of meaning for life. For answering to contemporary human’s spiritual crisis for taking meaning of life, it seems, it is possible to search the best solutions in divine religions. In this case, Islam as the final, immortal and comprehensive divine religion, introduces an Islamic theistic worldview to contemporary human which is able to answer his/her spiritual crisis and take the real meaning of life. In fact, Islamic worldview and doctrines, by introducing real picture of human, God, the world, ethics, the hereafter, society, evils and goods, and so on basic principles, determines the correct place of mentioned cases and gives right direct and meaning to human’s life. By considering above notes, in this summer course is aimed to study and rethink some fundamental categories of meaning of life in the light of Islamic worldview and perspective, and to clarify some of its functional aspects. Main Subjects of the Summer Course: 1. Meaning and virtues of "Meaning of life in Islamic Worldview" - Terminology of meaning of life - Virtues and functions of principles of meaning of life, like God, the problem of evil, place of human, the aim of life, the moral values and … - The meaning of life from Islamic sciences perspectives like the Quranic sciences, Islamic philosophy, Islamic ethics, Islamic mysticism, Islamic narrations (Hadith), Islamic theology, and the Quran, …. - Meaning of life in Muslim thinkers point of view such as philosophers, theologians, mystics and … 2. Relations between meaning and Islamic style of life - Meaning and virtues of Islamic style of life - The role of meaning of life in Islamic style of life - Practical paradigms of Islamic style of life in Muslim culture 3. Comparative and critical study in meaning and style of life - Review of Christian and western thinkers point of views - Review of divine and non-divine religions perspectives - Comparative study of meaning and style of life in Islam and other religions 4. The relation between contemporary human’s spiritual crisis and the meaning of life 5. And other related subjects Invited Speakers We try to invite some of famous Iranian and Muslim professors who have long experience in the debate of Meaning of Life in Islamic Worldview and Perspective. Information about Participation All graduate and Ph. D. students, holders of Ph. D. and faculty members of universities specially in fields like: humanities, social sciences, philosophy, mysticism, ethics, psychology, sociology, politics and related areas, are invited to apply. All participants must send an abstract or proposal in related subjects, which was mentioned above, no more than 1000 words and a 150 words brief C.V. before June 20, 2014 to: [email protected] & [email protected] The language of the course is English. Accepted proposals will be announced before August10, 2014. Participants must cover their travel expenses to Iran. The organizer cover transfers, accommodation and meals during the time of summer course. Exceptional cases are negotiable. The organizer will send official invitation letter for participants for getting visa. There will be some journey programs to some Iranian cities and historical places which will be covered by the organizer. The Schedule of Summer Course The time of summer course will be 10 days scientific debates and 4 days cultural journeys. We considered some lectures by Iranian academic professors every day, and some debates or panels by participants. For more information, please see: http://en.istes.miu.ac.ir/index.aspx?siteid=7&pageid=27936&newsview=48350 Contact: Dr. Qodratullah Qorbani Institute for Short Term Educations and Sabbaticals Al Mustafa International University P.O.Box 37195-1186 41th Alley, Noozdah-e-Dey (Bajak) st Qom Iran Email: [email protected] Web: http://istes.miu.ac.ir __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
