'Religions, Ethnicities, Identities' Series to Feature Presentation by Expert on Religion and Nationalism

Henry Munson Jr., chair and professor of anthropology at the University of Maine, will talk on "Religion and Nationalism" on Wednesday, October 9. The lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Klingenstein Lounge, Egbert Hall. It is part of the College's yearlong lecture and discussion series "Religions, Ethnicities, Identities."

Interested primarily in the comparative study of religion and its relation to politics, Munson has focused on Islam. His field research has been grounded largely in the Middle East, especially in Morocco. In his 1988 book, Islam and Revolution in the Middle East, Munson offered a thought-provoking analysis as to why an Islamic revolution took place only in Iran and why most Muslim fundamentalists elsewhere have been incapable of mobilizing mass support. Munson further explored the interrelationship between religion and politics in his two other books, The House of Si Abd Allah: The Oral History of a Moroccan Family and Religion and Power in Morocco.

The fall series of "Religions, Ethnicities, Identities" lectures will conclude on November 7 with a talk by Ali Mirsepassi, professor and associate dean of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. His presentation, "Civilizational Thinking and Modernity: Crisis of Cultural Narratives in Islamic Societies," will start at 7:00 p.m. in Klingenstein Lounge.

In addition to the talks, free film screenings and discussions will take place in Park Hall Auditorium. On Monday, September 30, Mah-Jongg: The Tiles That Bind and The Jew in the Lotus will be shown at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday, November 5, Landscape in the Mist will be screened at 5:30 p.m.

The "Religions, Ethnicities, Identities" series is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity and the Offices of Multicultural Affairs and the Provost, in collaboration with the Cinema on the Edge film series.

Additional events are being scheduled for the spring semester. More information on the series, as well as a list of suggested readings, is available at www.ithaca.edu/religion.