Dialogue of Traditions: Moroccan Sufism and the West
AMI & Columbia University, New York, April 15, 2005The American Moroccan Institute and Columbia University invited two academic experts to discuss Sufism in the context of the past and present challenges of East-West relations. In his talk entitled “Sufism and the ‘clash’ of Civilizations”, Professor Eric Geoffroy demonstrated how Moroccan Sufism has profoundly shaped religious and political history from the Middle Ages to the present: Sufi orders and scholars from Moorish Spain and the Maghreb provided the medium for Islamic, Judaic, and Christian interactions and tolerance; fought against nineteenth-century colonial exploitation; and currently constitute a well-organized front against all forms of religious fundamentalism and global terrorism. From a more specific perspective, Professor Ahmed Kostas’s “The Role of Sufism in Moroccan Tradition” explored the vital contributions of Sufism in fusing diverse layers (Arab, Berber, Jewish, and Sub-Saharan) into a modern unified Moroccan society. Other issues and questions addressed by the participants included: How does Sufism reconcile its spiritual vision with the “secular” needs and values of modern society? Is the growing influence of Sufism a result of the persistence of “traditional” communities, or of Sufism’s continuous adaptations and self-redefinitions? What impact does Moroccan Sufism have on the Muslim diaspora or immigrant communities in Europe and the US? What is the relation between Islamic Sufism and mysticism? How can Sufism be used as theoretical reference to challenge religious fundamentalism and fanaticism?
The Two panelists have been internationally recognized for their solid publications and scholarly achievements by numerous governments, academic institutions, and NGOs, including the Moroccan Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Scientific Council of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the CNRS.