Gary Scudder

Gary Scudder, a historian and the director of Champlain's Global Modules program, will be travelling to Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Oman to explore the diversity within the Islamic world.

Contrary to the oversimplified American view of a monolithic Islam, the Islamic world is a place of true religious diversity. During the hajj Muslims wear garments of seamless white to express the unity of all true believers. However, a closer look at the material will always reveal almost invisible inconsistencies and subtle differences, and it's that way with the faith as well. The split between Sunni and Shia is only the most visible of many divisions.

Scudder will be researching material for a 2009 CORE course entitled "Islam: Unity and Diversity." While the course will examine the factors pulling the Islamic world apart, it will also focus on the role of the faith, both historically and in the future, in creating a unified dar al-Islam (house of Islam).  In addition Gary will be visiting universities in all four countries to promote an expanded Global Modules network and closer dialogue between this dar al-Islam and the U.S.