OSHER 894 - Sunnism and Shiism: Have "Orthodox" and "Heterodox" Terms Become Inadequate?

Textbook accounts often use these two terms to describe extremely important distinctions in the Islamic belief system with scant factual development. Current world issues have made clearer understanding of different paths followed by dissenting movements within Islam increasingly important. This course will compare the main tenets of both Sunnism and Shiism. Issues that are more difficult to understand, particularly what is now being called 'radical' Islam, also have historical precedents - some distant, some relatively recent - that beg objective examination. Explore whether movements that claimed precedence as dissenters in the past prepare the way for radical Islamic trends that have gripped world attention in recent years.