The last of three potential candidates for a prominent position within the Department of Religious Studies has been reviewed and evaluated for professorship and is now awaiting the final decision of the department.
Erik Ohlander, the third man being considered for a position as professor in the field of Islam, gave his lecture on Friday in the Gerlinger Lounge.
The position was left vacant last spring when Timothy Gianotti accepted a position at the University of Virginia. Gianotti’s departure last year was seen as a large loss to the department. At the University, he contributed several multi-year programs concerning Islam, along with adding nine new courses to the curriculum.
Ohlander saw the open position in the department as an opportunity to add his name to what he thought was an already distinguished group of professors.
“There is a fantastic and growing community of scholars here at the University of Oregon,” he said. He later added that he felt there was a “sense of vibrancy” within the faculty here as well.
Ohlander is currently an assistant professor of religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
His presentation, “Authority and the Text in the World of a 13th Century Sufi: ‘Umar al-Suhrawardi’s Rhetoric of Circumscription,” focused on the development of the idea of Islamic Mysticism and the rise of the Sufi brotherhood in Baghdad, led by ‘Umar al-Suhrawardi during the 13th century. It outlined the life of al-Suhrawardi and how he gave rise to the Suhrawardi Order, which led Sufis in their search for mystical science and spiritual perfection. These were thought to be the ideals of Islamic Mysticism, he said.
They also sought to become as close to al-Suhrawardi as possible. Ohlander showed this with a quotation from al-Suhrawardi himself, who stated that “the bearers of knowledge are heirs to the prophet.” Those with enough understanding, he said, could actually succeed the prophet.
In researching for his lecture, Ohlander came across handwritten manuscripts dating back to the 13th century, which were actually signed by al-Suhrawardi himself. He showed copies of these as part of his presentation. His work on the subject is also being directed toward a book he is currently working on, to be entitled “Master of Masters: al-Suhrawardi and the Rise of the Sufi Brotherhood.”
Ohlander concluded the lecture by fielding questions from members of the Department of Religious Studies and others in the audience.
Ohlander said he would like to see the department expand in the future and suggested that a closer tie to others would be beneficial.
“I want to see this department add scholars who can bridge the other departments,” he said.
Ohlander also said he wanted to convey to his students the historical and contemporary diversity in Islam, that “Islam is not a monolith.”
When the choice for the position becomes official, it will be formally announced by department head Judith Baskin. The other two candidates, Najam Haider and Tariq Jaffer, gave their lectures during the past two weeks. Baskin said a decision can be expected within a few weeks.