Omid Safi

I have taught classes on Introduction to Islam, Introduction to the Study of Religion, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion, Islamic Mysticism, World Religions, Iranian Revolution, Islamic Thought, Persian Literature (both in translation and in the original), Islam in America, Iranian History and Culture, Introduction to the Middle East (Literature, history, and politics)Middle Eastern History, a seminar on Rumi, and Women in Islam.

In addition to some of the above classes, I am planning to teach new classes on theories of mysticism, Sainthood in comparative perspective, and Islamic Literatures.

I am interested in rethinking the way that academic study of religion is conceptualized within an academic framework. I am working with my colleagues Georgia Frank and Lesleigh Cushing to rethink the introductory religion classes at Colgate. If this is an area that interests you, please feel free to contact me.

Academic Position
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006- )
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Colgate University (2004-2006)
Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Colgate University (1999-2004 )

Previous Positions
Lecturer in Department of Religion, Duke University (1992-4, 1995-1999)
Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies, Meredith College (1994-1995)

Areas of Expertise
Contemporary Islamic Thought
History of the Islamic Middle East in the Medieval Period
Classical Discourses of Islamic Thought
Rumi
Persian Poetry
Islamic Mysticism

Areas of Competence
Gender, and Sexuality in Islam
Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
Asian Religions
Middle Eastern Cultures and Literatures

Courses at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Modern Islamic Civilization (Reli 181)

Courses at Colgate University
Islam Related courses:  Experiencing Islam (Religion 328), Islamic Mysticism (Religion 337), Senior Seminar:  Rumi (Religion 412); Islam and the Modern World (Religion 329), Islamic Heritage of Turkey (Religion 327ES)  

Religious Studies Courses:  Introduction to the Study of Religion (Religion 202), Theory and Method in the Study of Religion (Religion 352)

Independent Studies: Qur’an: text and interpretations; Islamic mystical literature; Readings in Islamic Psychology

Core Culture Courses: Core 183 A/B Middle East, Core 185 A/B Iran

Courses at Duke University
Asian Religions, Introduction to Islam, Women and Islam, Pre-modern Islamic Civilization, Modern Islamic Civilization

Courses at Meredith College
World Religions, Islam, Women and Islam, Sufism