Islamic studies and religious reform. Ignaz goldziher - A crossroads of judaism, christianity and islam

TY - JOUR

T1 - Islamic studies and religious reform. Ignaz goldziher - A crossroads of judaism, christianity and islam

AU - Jung, Dietrich

PY - 2013/4

Y1 - 2013/4

N2 - In light of the dichotomous representation of the relationship between Islam and the West, the life and work of Ignaz Goldziher appears to be an utter anachronism. By applying the methodologies of Protestant biblical criticism to the study of Islamic traditions, the Hungarian scholar of Islam and secretary of the liberal Jewish community in Budapest became a crossroads of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Personally driven by a Jewish reform agenda, he became a founding father of modern studies on Islam. The article analyzes the complex historical and political context in which Goldziher developed the field of Islamic studies. In order to understand the origin of modern images of Islam, the article suggests putting the rise of the discipline of Islamic studies into the context of nineteenth century movements of religious reform.

AB - In light of the dichotomous representation of the relationship between Islam and the West, the life and work of Ignaz Goldziher appears to be an utter anachronism. By applying the methodologies of Protestant biblical criticism to the study of Islamic traditions, the Hungarian scholar of Islam and secretary of the liberal Jewish community in Budapest became a crossroads of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Personally driven by a Jewish reform agenda, he became a founding father of modern studies on Islam. The article analyzes the complex historical and political context in which Goldziher developed the field of Islamic studies. In order to understand the origin of modern images of Islam, the article suggests putting the rise of the discipline of Islamic studies into the context of nineteenth century movements of religious reform.

KW - Biblical criticism

KW - Goldziher

KW - Islamic studies

KW - Muslim intellectuals

KW - Religious reform

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885412634&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1515/islam-2013-0005

DO - 10.1515/islam-2013-0005

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84885412634

SN - 0021-1818

VL - 90

SP - 106

EP - 126

JO - Islam - Zeitschrift fur Geschichte und Kultur des Islamischen Orients

JF - Islam - Zeitschrift fur Geschichte und Kultur des Islamischen Orients

IS - 1

ER -