The Teachings of Islam, Research Paper Example

The proposed topic for discussion is the teachings of Islam and how they are interpreted and practiced in other nations and cultures, such as the United States, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East (Iraq and Iran). Also, the proposed paper will discuss how Islam which is one of the three major religions in the world stands in contrast to Christianity and Judaism. Lastly, there will be some discussion on how Islam impacts the lives of Muslims and non-Muslims related to communication and interaction.

This topic was chosen because of its relevancy in today’s complex world. For example, although many would openly disagree, Islam is the foundation for many of the problems facing the U.S. and its allies in the so-called war against terror. However, the true tenets and beliefs of Islam which originated via the prophet Muhammad circa 600 A.D., have nothing in common with how Islam is interpreted by terrorists and terrorist organizations. Also, the number of followers of Islam has outpaced the number of people who convert to Christianity and Judaism on a global scale. As to cultural diversity, the people who follow the tenets and beliefs of Islam come from countries all over the world and from divergent cultures, some of which are far removed from what Islam teaches. Also, Islam represents what some refer to as a religious melting pot or a collection of people with differing views on  God, life after death, and man’s place in the universe (Esposito, 2010, p. 23).

Thus, it is hoped that the proposed paper will reveal some new information on Islam and its influence in today’s world and perhaps help to explain why so many people are drawn to Islam as their faith of choice. All of the research for the proposed paper will be drawn from books, journal articles, religious databases on the Internet, and an interview with a prominent Islamic scholar in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the largest population of Muslims in the U.S. today.

References

Esposito, J.L. (2010). Islam: The Straight Path. 4th ed. UK: Oxford University Press.