In this short course, Diversity in religion: Islam, you will explore how attitudes and opinions within a single religious tradition can be internally diverse. You will look at Islam in particular, considering the diversity of Muslim attitudes to same-sex relationships. This will focus mainly on relationships between men because Muslim legal experts did not pay nearly as much attention to lesbian sex and did not prescribe specific punishments for it.
Completing the course "Diversity in Religion: Islam" has been an enlightening journey that opened my eyes to the rich complexity, diversity, and depth of the Islamic faith. I gained not only academic insights but also a deeper sense of empathy and understanding toward people of different beliefs and cultures.
What inspired me most was learning how Islam, as a global religion, is practiced in diverse ways across different cultures while still maintaining its core spiritual principles. The course highlighted the various schools of thought, cultural expressions, and historical developments that make Islam not a monolith, but a dynamic and evolving tradition.
I was particularly moved by the emphasis on values such as justice, compassion, peace, and intellectual pursuit within the Islamic tradition. These values transcend religion—they are human values that connect us all.
This course reminded me of the importance of interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and open-mindedness in a world where differences are often used to divide. Diversity in religion, especially within Islam, is not a weakness—it is a strength. It reflects the beauty of human interpretation and the ongoing search for meaning in our lives.
Moving forward, I feel inspired to become a more thoughtful global citizen—one who listens, learns, and builds bridges of understanding across faiths and cultures. This course didn't just teach me about Islam; it taught me how to be more human.