This series of papers deals with Islam in its historical as well as normative aspects. The subjects covered include, among others, the foundational texts of Islam; the intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic traditions of Islam; the universal, regional, and local manifestations of the Islamic ethos in various eras and contexts; and the interaction Islam with other religions and cultures.

Paper 1: Frederick M. Denny, University of Colorado, Boulder, "The Spiritual-Intellectual Hospitality of Islam and Muslims: Reflection of a Christian Scholar," 2005. 

Paper 2: Bruce B. Lawrence, Duke University, "Islam in the Public Square: Minority Perspectives from Africa and Asia," 2009.