SCP in Iran
By Justin D. Barnard
Volcanoes with unpronounceable names rarely impede philosophical progress. But last spring a volcano at Eyjafjallajoekull in southern Iceland nearly did. For two years prior to the volcanic dust and ash that hovered over most of Europe, several SCP members had been corresponding with philosophers in Iran about the possibility of a Christian-Muslim philosophy symposium. That possibility was on the cusp of becoming a reality just as airspace was being shut down all across Europe.
Despite this last minute glitch, in late April 2010, six (out of an original group of eleven) SCP members were honored to participate in a major symposium on religious epistemology in Iran. Representing the SCP at this conference were Justin Barnard (Union), Andrew Chignell (Cornell), Tom Crisp (Biola), Stephen Davis (Claremont McKenna), Dan Howard-Snyder (Western Washington), and Michael Murray (Franklin and Marshall). Alex Arnold (Notre Dame), Kelly Clark (Calvin), Timothy Mawson (Oxford), William Wainwright (UW Milwaukee), and Jay Wood (Wheaton) were sadly prevented from attending.
During our week-long stay in Iran, we presented papers at the Universities of Tehran, Qom, and Esfahan. Local arrangements for the conference were provided by the Institute for Humanities & Cultural Studies, a significant interdisciplinary research center in Tehran. And the hospitality we experienced overwhelmingly exceeded our expectations.
Food figured prominently in the generosity extended by our Iranian hosts. Whether feasting on traditional Persian lamb or chicken kababs and saffron rice with Fesenjan stew (made with a pomegranate puree) or sipping tea or Doogh (a popular yogurt drink), philosophical conversation seemed to fit hand-in-glove with a shared table. And those with whom we were privileged to dine were no less remarkable than the edibles themselves. For after a full day of papers in Ferdowsi Hall at the University of Tehran, we were invited to a banquet with Ayatollah Muhammed Khamenei, brother of Iran's supreme leader and a distinguished Iranian philosopher who directs the Mulla Sadra Institute in Tehran.
In each of the main venues (Tehran, Qom, and Esfahan), we were welcomed by large, eager student audiences, and we interacted with engaging Islamic philosophers -- many of whom specialize in subfields of contemporary Western analtyic philosophy. This welcome discovery contributed to more fruitful dialogue. For example, while at the University of Qom, Steve Davis and Mike Murray joined two other Muslim scholars in contributing to a lively panel discussion on the relationship between morality and religious belief.
One of the highlights of our trip was a reception with a revered, distinguished Muslim cleric in Qom, Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli. Javadi Amoli was a key figure among Khomenei's leadership during the Iranian revolution and at one time served as the Iranian ambassador to Mikhail Gorbachev. Despite our obvious exhaustion from a full day of travel and paper sessions, Javaid Amoli, himself an accomplished philosopher, received us graciously and in an eloquent address in Persian (through an interpreter) spoke beautifully about the common task that religious philosophers share in combatting unbelief and immorality in an increasingly secular age.
Our trip to Iran concluded with some sightseeing in the beautiful cities of Kashan and Esfahan. In addition to tours of ancient Persian homes in Kashan, with a stop for saffron and pistachio ice cream with lemon sauce and rosewater, we visited the village of Qamsar, famous for manufacturing rosewater and perfume. While in Esfahan, we toured mosques and bargained for Persian rugs at the bazaar in Imam Square after walking on the Khaju Bridge over the Zayandeh River, built in the 17th century.
We are grateful to have experienced what many would describe as the proverbial opportunity of a lifetime. At the same time, we are hopeful that future collaborative opportunities may result from the collegial relationships we have established. As a downpayment toward those future opportunities, we were able to distribute 100 copies of Kelly Clark's, Return to Reason (recently translated into Farsi) as gifts to some of the Iranians with whom we interacted. And if the opportunity to return presents itself in the future, we hope that no unrest, volcanic or otherwise, stands in the way.
