Speaker

Aaron Spevack gives talks at various universities, mosques, churches, and programs around the country.

Podcasts!
He also has a Podcast where he discusses a wide range of interesting and important topics related to Islam, music, ethics, culture, arts, and society. He also interviews really interesting people!

Check it out on the Podcast page!

Past Talks (Lectures, Conference Papers, Presentations, Colloquia, etc.)

Conference Papers Delivered:

  • “Kurdish Ash’aris on God’s Speech” conference paper presented on panel named Divine Speech and Attributes at American Oriental Society, Omni Parker House, Boston. March 2016.
  • “The Myth of Islamic Decline” Humanities Colloquium lecture, Colgate University, March 2015.
  • “On Human Consciousness: Sensory, Rational, and Spiritual perception in Sunni Kalam,” conference paper presented as part of panel discussions for Soul and the Unseen Working Group (an invited working group commissioned by Kalam Research and Media), U. of Strasbourg, France (Skype). January 2015.
  • “Reverence and Realism: The Persistence of pre-Modern Islamic law in Contemporary Egyptian Law,” a conference paper presented on panel named Transmutations of Shari’a: Fashioning and Refashioning of Islamic Law in the 19th – 20th Century Egypt (conference paper, panel), Middle East Studies Association, DC. November 2014.
  • “Continuing Conversations: An Exploration of Developments in post-Thirteenth-Century North African and Egyptian Ash‘arism,” a conference paper presented at invited conference entitled Philosophical Theology In Islam: The Later Ash’ari Tradition, School of Oriental and African Studies, London (Skype). September 2014.
  • “Knowing the Soul in Kalam Theology,” a conference paper presented as part of two full-day panel discussions for Soul and the Unseen Working Group (an invited working group commissioned by Kalam Research and Media), of Chicago, Chicago. May 2014.
  • Panel Discussant on panel named Reform and Islamic Law: A Look at the Causes North American Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies, Princeton University. September, 2013.
  • “Islam and the American Dream,” lecture given as part of annual Yamauchi Lecture Series, Loyola University New Orleans. April, 2011.
  • “The Traditionalism of al-Bajuri,” conference paper given as part of invited workshop called Contours of Late Sunni Traditionalism, Duke University (Skype), April 28-29, 2010.
  • “Ali Thanvi’s Response to Modernism,” talk given as part of panel named Encountering the Cult of Progress: Abrahamic Traditions in the Secular Academy at Hamilton College, December 2009 (part of: Humanities Forum “The Secular Gaze: Humanistic Representations of the non-Secular”).
  • “Disconnection and Doubt: Revisiting Schacht’s Theories of Origins, Authenticity, and ” Paper delivered at two-day workshop named Joseph Schacht Revisited, Islamic Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School, April 5-6, 2008.
  • “Cosmology in Order: An examination of the ordering of proofs in the cosmological arguments of al-Sanusi and al-Bajuri.” A guest lecture delivered to Prof. Martin Ngyun’s class “Introduction to Islamic Theology.” Brandeis University, April 1 2008.
  • “Al-Bajuri and 19th Century Egypt.” A guest-lecture delivered to Prof. Kecia Ali’s class “Modern Islam.” Boston University, Fall 2007.
  • “Traditional Islamic Scholarship on the Brink of the Modern Era: The Life and Thought of al-Bajuri.” Talk delivered at Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations, Boston University. October 2006.
  • “Music and Islam,” paper delivered at Islam In America Conference, Harvard University. 2003.

Public Lectures:

Colgate University (2012-present)

  • “Islam in Southeast Asia.” MSA/SEAL Brown bag lecture (11/17/16)
  • “Syrian Refugee Crisis,” brief talk given as part of panel discussion for MIST’s What’s up in the Middle Eas (10/13/16)
  • “Rumi and the Sultan: Reflections on my research in Konya, Turkey.” Talk (4/21/16)
  • “Islam and the Golden Age of Science,” MSA Brown bag lecture, student provided topic (2/5/16)
  • “Why Muslims Don’t Do Drugs,” MSA Brown bag lecture, student provided topic (4/3/15)
  • “Inside Boston’s Muslim Communities: Before and After the Marathon Bombings,” Heretics Lunch talk and informal discussion (5/2/13)
  • “Bob Marley as Religious Saint Heretics Lunch,” talk (9/5/13)
  • “Turkish Sufi Music,” talk and hand drumming workshop for students preparing for trip to Turkey (12/3/12)
  • “Islam and Jerusalem,” lecture on sacred history of Jerusalem for students preparing for trip to Israel (12/3/12)
  • “Coptic Christians in Egypt,” brief talk given as part of panel discussion for MIST’s What’s up in the Middle Eas (2012)

Hamilton College (2008-10 and 2012-present)

  • Deliver annual (or more frequently) talks on topics related to Islam, Religion and Music, the Muslim world, etc. Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • “How Does Religion Shape the Behavior of its Followers?” Talk and panel discussion. Hamilton College, (2/11/15).
  • “Islam and the Modern World.” Talk delivered to the Little Thinkers Group, (1/1/10).

Public Lectures around Syracuse, NY:

  • “Islam and Ecology,” Lecture and panel discussion at Syracuse U. (Fall, 2013)
  • “The Prophet Noah,” Lecture and panel discussion at Syracuse U. (Fall, 2014)

Public Lectures around New Orleans:

  • “Cognitive Dissonance, Culture Shock, and Cookies: Reflections on Best Practices in Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue,” Lecture delivered to Tulane University students, followed by a panel discussion. April 2011

Trinity Church (New Orleans):

  • Introduction to Islam lectures. (monthly interfaith dialogs 2010-2012)
  • Raising Muslim Children talk (October 19, 2011)

Additional Community Lectures:

  • Numerous additional community lectures in and around Boston, MA, New Orleans, LA, and Syracuse, NY between 2001-present.