Centre News

Gabriel Said Reynolds will give a convocation address titled
“The Muslim Jesus and a Table in Heaven,” at 7 p.m. on March 6
in Weisiger Theatre. Reynolds is a noted scholar on the link
between the Qur’an and Biblical literature.

An upcoming convocation will allow students to think about religion in a unique way.

Gabriel Said Reynolds will lead a discussion, “The Muslim Jesus and a Table in Heaven,” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6 in Weisiger Theatre. Reynolds is associate professor of Islamic studies and theology, director of the master of theological studies program and Tisch Family Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at Notre Dame University.

“This lecture will bring together some of the key issues related to the formation and interconnectedness of religious traditions,” says Visiting Instructor of Religion Matthew Pierce. “The inter-textual nature of Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures is a critical facet of Western societies.”

Reynolds is known for his scholarship about the relationship between the Qur’an and Biblical literature. As such, in his convocation address, he will take an in-depth look at a passage in the Qur’an in which Jesus calls down a table of food from heaven, and how this passage is believed to relate to the Bible. In turn, Reynolds will explore what this portion of the Qur’an suggests for how Islam may be connected to the New Testament.

“In addition to being relevant to many of Centre’s classes on religion, literature and history, this convocation will likely have broad appeal and facilitate a more nuanced discussion of the Islamic scriptural tradition,” Pierce says. “I suspect there will be members in the community for whom this lecture will be of interest.”

The convocation is free and open to the public. For a complete list of convocations for the spring semester, click here.

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail elizabeth.trollinger@centre.edu with your feedback.

Centre College, founded in 1819 and chosen to host its second Vice Presidential Debate in 2012, is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges, at 42nd in the nation, and ranks 27th for best value among national liberal arts colleges. Forbes magazine ranks Centre 34th among all the nation’s colleges and universities and has named Centre in the top five among all institutions of higher education in the South for three years in a row. Centre is also ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News for its study abroad program. For more, click here.