AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has announced the establishment of a new PhD concentration in Islamic Studies, a move that officials say is intended to advance the church’s broader mission of global engagement with Muslims.
The new doctoral track has been developed on the basis of years of academic coursework and doctoral research related to Islam and is designed to provide a focused educational pathway for training scholars, pastors, and Christian missionaries. According to the seminary, the program seeks to promote informed engagement with the Islamic world from a Christian theological perspective.
Ayman Ibrahim, Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Center for Christian Understanding of Islam at the seminary, said the launch of the new concentration represents a natural step in the expansion of the institution’s academic and missionary activities and could position it as a leading voice within evangelical circles.
Seminary officials stated that the PhD program emphasizes the critical study of Islam through a Christian theological lens. Students will be encouraged to examine primary Islamic sources, learn the Arabic language, and study Islamic history, theology, and contemporary movements. At the same time, the curriculum underscores adherence to biblical teachings and the church’s evangelistic mission.
The seminary’s provost, referring to the large global Muslim population, described the program as a necessary response to preparing church leaders for religious engagement and missionary outreach with Muslims at both local and international levels.
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