The Hungarian Jewish scholar Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) is remembered among the founders of the historical study of Islam, its religion and literature. More than other Orientalists of his age, he approached Islam with personal admiration. “Don't make our Islam look too bad,” he once wrote this in his correspondence. In his religious convictions, Goldziher was devoutly committed to the Jewish faith while advocating its historical evolution and reform. Islamic jurisprudence being one of his favorite research areas, he made numerous comparisons between Islamic and Jewish religious thought and legal practice. This workshop will explore how Goldziher's oeuvre bridges two religious cultures and how it was informed by the Central European context.

The event consists of two lectures by Aysun Yaşar (Department of Islamic-Theological Studies, University of Vienna), Consensus and Change – An Islamic-Theological Discussion of Ignaz Goldziher’s Ijmāʿ, and Tamás Turán (Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest), Consensus and Dissent: Goldziher's Ideas about Reform in Judaism and Islam, followed by a discussion moderated by Carsten Wilke (Department of Historical Studies, CEU).

Reception to follow at the 4th floor A-B lounge.
For registering as an external guest, please write to religion@ceu.edu