Renowned scholar of Islam to speak

John L. Esposito, an internationally known scholar of Islam whose expertise has been called on extensively in recent weeks, will address in an Oct. 24 speech at Vanderbilt the origins and political ramifications of the radicalism that is being blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

The public address, titled "Politics and Islam: Radicalism or Reform?", is scheduled for 7 p.m, in Room 115, Furman Hall.

Esposito, the founding director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, has lent his perspective to media reports and to the government in recent weeks. He is one of the scholars who translated and provided their interpretation of a handwritten letter left behind by one of the hijackers of the American Airlines flight that hit the first of the World Trade Center towers.

A prolific author, many of Esposito's books have been recommended to help the general public understand the complexities of current events. He is editor-in-chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World and The Oxford History of Islam. He has authored or co-authored a number of other books on Islam.

The public lecture is being offered in conjunction with the interdisciplinary class, "The Origins of Religious Conflict in the Middle East." The Classics Department's Robert Drews, lead professor for the class, said arrangements were made before Sept. 11 for Esposito to visit the campus. "We were very fortunate that we were able to initiate this invitation before then and that he was able to honor it."