Skip to main content

Recent Symposium Brings Muslims, Scholars on Islam and Democracy to Campus

The Regent Journal of International Law (RJIL) recently hosted the 2007 Fall Symposium on campus themed "Islam, Democracy, and Post-9/11 Nation Building." More than 100 people were in attendance at the event held in the Regent University Library Atrium.

According to RJIL's Symposium Director Zack Hofstad , a third year law student, this year's symposium was a historic event bringing three practicing Muslims to campus to debate with other noted scholars on Islam and democracy. The speakers shared their views on reforming Islam in a thought-provoking panel, which also featured spirited debated with a former Muslim who is now a Christian. "We had an overwhelming response from both our attendees and the speakers," said Hofstad. "One of the main goals of this symposium was to get people talking about these issues and I believe we succeeded in doing so." Hofstad also noted that in the days following the event a number of students have remarked about their interest in continuing to study and debate this issue in the future.

One attendee Farnaz Farkish, a 2007 Regent Law alumnus of Persian descent, remarked that the speakers were "refreshingly honest and unafraid of disagreeing with one another." She also noted that from her observation the speaker's views on the compatibility of democracy with Islam seemed to depend on the types and interpretations of sharia law. "In the end, they reframed the issue after their debate with one another," said Farkish.

This year's speakers included Dr. Vali Nasr, internationally recognized expert on Islam and democracy, Stephen Schwartz, author and executive director of the center for Islamic Pluralism, Mehrangiz Kar, author, attorney, and an Iranian political exile, Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, President of the Center for the Study and Democracy, and Dr. Thomas Najjar, author, lecturer and former Muslim, and General John H. Johns, ret., twenty-six year Army veteran. Finally, two professors from Regent's Robertson School of Government took part including Dr. Joe Kickasola, Professor of International Affairs and Professor Jennifer Jefferis.

Popular posts from this blog

Regent Law Hires Two New Faculty Members—Both Yale Law Graduates—for Fall 2022

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (July 5, 2022) – Today, Regent University School of Law announced the appointment of two new members of its faculty, Erin Morrow Hawley and David D. Velloney.  Both Hawley and Velloney are graduates of Yale Law School.  Professor Hawley will teach constitutional law and serve as a senior fellow at the Robertson Center for Constitutional Law.  Professor Velloney will focus on criminal law, military law, and constitutional criminal procedure.   Professors Hawley and Velloney are the third and fourth professors added to the Regent Law faculty in the past year.  “We are incredibly fortunate to attract such exceptional teachers, mentors, and scholars to our faculty,” said Brad Lingo, dean of Regent University School of Law.  “Our students will love learning from professors Hawley and Velloney and benefit from the depth of experience and Christian perspectives they bring.” New Faculty Appointments: Erin Morrow Hawley: Associate Pro...
Read more

Regent Alumna Nominated for Two Judgeships

Tanya Bullock, a 2000 Regent Law graduate, has been nominated for a judicial position on Virginia Beach’s Circuit Court and for a vacancy in the city’s General District Court. Bullock founded the firm Bullock & Cooper with her twin sister, a 2002 Regent Law graduate. Bullock has been honored numerous times for her outstanding work in the legal field and on behalf of the community. Awards include Inside Business’s Top 40 Under 40 and Hampton Roads’s Outstanding Professional Women . Previous to founding her firm, Bullock worked as a local prosecutor. Only four others were nominated for the Circuit Court vacancy, including a current general district judge and a former delegate. Ten others were nominated for the General District Court position. Nominations were submitted last month to the Virginia Beach Bar Association, which distributed the names to members and asked them to rate the nominees. When the General Assembly’s regular session convenes on January 13, 2010, the local ...
Read more

Why is Regent’s Financial Planning Program in the Law School?

by Paul Allen ,  Associate Director of   M.A. in Financial Planning & Law Does a financial planning program really belong in a law school? I wondered about that when I first joined the Regent University team.  Financial planning is primarily about finance and money. Those topics are typically taught in business school. Why, then, would Regent put the Financial Planning Master's Degree program in the School of Law?  Turns out there are some good reasons for it! Let me state upfront that Regent University would not have a financial planning program that meets the CFP Board’s standards at Regent Law without assistance from the School of Business and Leadership (SBL). The faculty and administration at the SBL consistently exceed the CFP Board’s learning requirements. The program may be housed in the law school, but it is truly a team effort. Here are five advantages of earning your master's degree and becoming a CFP® t...
Read more