Islam, Reason, and Freedom

Islam has certain interpretations today that reject some key aspects of human freedom. They include imposing religious practice through state power, punishing people for "apostasy" and "blasphemy," or degrading women and minorities. This lecture will delve into the formative centuries of Islam to map out the roots of the problem, while also showing the genuinely Islamic sources of tolerance, pluralism and liberty. It will explain where the Qur'an and the Islamic tradition stand on reason, freedom, and natural law.

Suggested Reading: Liberty Was Islam's First Call