Lectures given since 2005 are listed here. Please see my Curriculum Vitae for a complete list of my academic paper presentations and invited lectures.

2015

Umm Musa: Revelation, Struggle, and Speaking Truth to Power in the Qur’anic Accounts of the Life of Moses, Keynote Address, Spiritual Jihad Conference, John Carroll University, Cleveland, 13 November 2015.

Moses & Pharoah, Word & Staff: Poetic, Dramatic, & Narrative Dimensions of Qur’ānic Discourse, Johns Hopkins University, 24 April 2015.

The Qur’ān and Its Audient, Duke University, Durham, NC, 2 October 2015.

New Translations of the Tarjumān al-Ashwāq (Translation of Desires), Duke University, Durham, NC, 1 October 2015.

Love, Loss, and Multiple Personae in the Translation of Desires of Ibn al-`Arabi, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 21 April 2015.

Existence is Translation: Practice and Theory in Translating Ibn al-`Arabi's Tarjumān al-Ashwāq [Translation of Desires], University of Tennessee Humanities Center, Knoxville, Tennessee, 22 April 2015.

2014

"Life” in Ibn `Arabi’s “Ringsetting of Prophecy in the Word of Jesus”, Muhyhidin Ibn `Arabi Society, Berkeley, California, 15 November 2014.

Poetry Reading: Ibn al-`Arabi’s Turjumān al-Ashwāq in Arabic and original translation, Ibn `Arabi Society, Berkeley, California, 15 November 2014, with John Mercer.

Young Moses in the Qur'an and Islamic Mysticism, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, 11 October 2014.

Jesus and Mary in Ibn al-`Arabi's "Ringstones of Wisdom", Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, 11 October 2014.

Ark, Word, and Fire in the Qur’an Moses Passages, Plenary Address, Encounters Program, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, 21 September 2014.

“Life” in Ibn `Arabi’s “Ringsetting of Prophecy in the Word of Jesus”, Thirty-Firsts Annual Symposium, Muhyhidin Ibn `Arabi Society, St Anne’s College, Oxford, 25 May 2014.

“One and Three”: Mystic, Monk, Astrologer, in poem 12 from Ibn al-`Arabi’s Tarjuman and his self-commentary upon it, Thirty-Firsts Annual Symposium, Muhyhidin Ibn `Arabi Society, St Anne’s College, Oxford, 25 May 2014.

Readings of Original Translations from Classical Arabic Poetry, Words of Praise: the Qasida with Dr. Michael Sells and Safaafir, Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Michigan 15 March 2014.

"The Religion of Love” in the Poetry of Ibn Zaydun and Ibn al-`Arabi, Boston College, Islamic Civilizations and Societies Program, 12 March 2014.

2013

Ark, Fire, Word, and Staff: A Literary Analysis of the Qur’anic Accounts of the Early Life of Moses, Inaugural Lecture, The Hajja Razi Sharif Sheikh Lecture Series, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 28 October 2013.

Teaching the Qur’an, Workshop for High School Teachers (focus on Surat Taha and Surat al-Qasas), Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education, Chicago, Illinois, 24-25 June 2013.

Labid to Ibn al-'Arabi, A reading of original translations of pre-Islamic and medieval Arabic poetry by Michael Sells, which was followed by a performance of the Zafar Tawil and His Ensemble; from the “Poetic Voices of the Muslim World” program organized by Poets House and City Lore. Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California, 18 May 2013.

The Staff, the Power, and The Voice: Translocution in the Qur’anic Musa Passages and a Treatise by Ibn 'Arabi, The Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, 10 May 2013.

Labid to Ibn al-'Arabi, A reading of original translations of pre-Islamic and medieval Arabic poetry by Michael Sells, which was followed by a performance of the Safaafir Ensemble; from the “Poetic Voices of the Muslim World” program organized by Poets House and City Lore. Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville, Florida, 26 March 2013.

America, Islam, and The Holocaust. Keynote Address, Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics, Annual Meeting of the Society of Religious Ethics, Chicago, Illinois, 06 January 2013.

2012

Revelation and Militancy in the Traditions of Abraham, Keynote Address, The Holy War Conference, University of Illinois at Chicago, 15 November 2012.

Islamophobia, Judeophobia, and The Holocaust, co-sponsored by the Oregon Episcopal School & Muslim Educational Trust, Portland, Oregon, 30 November 2012.

The Holocaust and Islam, Carroll College, 12 April 2012.

Ibn al-'Arabi and the Infinity of Desire, Eberhard IV Faber Lecture, Princeton University, 02 April 2012.

Christianity, Islam, and the Idea of Essential Difference, The House of Literature, Oslo Norway, 01 March 2012.

Ideologies of Global Conflict from 9/11 to 7/22, The Saladin Lecture, The House of Literature, Oslo Norway, 29 February 2012.

Mysticism and Poetry in Islam: Reconceptions, Yale University, 26 February 2012.

2011

Ibn al-`Arabi’s Lyric Mysticism and the Persian-Arabic Love Affair, Ibn al-`Arabi and Rumi Conference, New York City, The Open Center and the Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi Society co-sponsors, New York City, 5 November 2011.

Moses, Ibn al-`Arabi, and the Voice in the Fire, New York City, The Open Center and the Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi Society co-sponsors, New York City, 5 November 2011.

Illuminated Verses: Poetries of the Islamic World, Bridging Cultures Conference, New York City, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Poets House and City Lore co-sponsors, 07 May 2011.

Translating Ibn al-`Arabi’s Translation of Desires: Longing, Lyric, and the Cultural Other, Boston University, Literary Translation Lecture Series, 25 March 2011.

The God of War: America in a World of Religion, University of Washington, 07 February 2011.

2010

The God of War: America in a World of Religion, University of Indiana, Bloomington, 13 April 2010.

The Victor Danner Memorial Lecture, University of Indiana, Bloomington, 12 April 2010.

2009

Readings of Original Translations of Ibn al-`Arabi’s Turjuman al-Ashwaq, New York Open Center and the Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi Society, The Riverside Church, New York City, 06 November 2009.

Keynote Address, Bi-Co MSA, Haverford College, 28 February 2009.

Mysticism, Longing and the Erotic in the Writings of 13th-Century Sufi Master Ibn al-`Arabi, Keynote Address, Sacred Leaves Symposium, University of South Florida, 20 February 2009.

2008

Dueling Apocalypses, Bradley University, 12 November 2008.

Plenary Address, Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Symposium, Villanova University, 12 October 2008.

Within Us, Between Us, and Without Us: America, Islam, and the Religious Militancy in the World Today, Reed College, 09 October 2008.

The Enduring Legacy of Inter-religious Polemics, Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, 03 April 2008.

Understanding Islam: Religion and Conflict in the Qur’an, evening address, Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, 03 April 2008.

Religion and Genocide in Bosnia, University of South Florida, 18 February 2008.

2007

The Cultural Other and Erotic Love in Ibn al-`Arabi’s Translation of Desires (Turjuman al-Ashwaq), University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 20 October 2007.

God of War: American Power in a World of Religion, University of Wisconsin-Madison, John Carroll University, 18 October 2007.

Pilgrimage and War, Arthur C. Wickenden Lectures 1, Miami University of Ohio, 02 October 2007.

Translating the Qur’an, Arthur C. Wickenden Lecture 2, Miami University of Ohio, 02 October 2007.

Readings from my translations of the Arabic poetry of Ibn al-`Arabi, incorporated into a John Rommerein’s Convivencia for Choir, String Quartet, and Harp, performed by The Grinnell Singers, Grinnell College, September 29, 2007.

Making Religions of Peace, Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights, Grinnell College, September 27, 2007.

'Translation of Desires': the Love Poetry of Sufi Master Ibn al-`Arabi (d. 638/1240), Franke Institute Humanities Forum, University of Chicago, 02 May 2007.

Scriptural Interpretation and Contending Militancies in Contemporary Christianity and Islam, The Mason Lecture, Georgetown University, 12 April 2007.

Dueling Armageddons: Christian and Islam Extremism and the Imminent Return of the Messiah, Reed College, 27 March 2007.

2006

Apophasis and War, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, Drew Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium, 1 October 2006.

Jihad and Crusade: Religion and Violence in the Post-cold War World, St. Joseph’s University, 14 September 2006.

Encountering Islam Today: Beyond the Clash of Fundamentalisms, North Park University, Chicago, 27-28 April 2006.

Initiative for an Alliance of Civilizations, United Nations, New York City, 21-22 April 2006.

Beyond Jihad and Crusade: American Power in a World of Religion, William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia 15 April 2006.

Religion as a Source of Violence, Baker Peace Conference on Religion and Violence, Contemporary History Institute, The Ohio University, Athens Ohio, 31 March 2006.

The William Hal Furr Dialogue on Philosophy and Religion, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 21 February 2006.

The Cultural Other in the Poetry of Ibn al-`Arabi, Emory University, 6 February 2006.

American Power in the World of Religion, Women’s Board, University of Chicago, 14 February 2006.

Mysticism and Practice in the Writings of Ibn al-`Arabi, Temple Emanu-El, New York City, 26 January 2006.

2005

Jihad and Crusade: Religion and Violence in the Post-cold War World, Macallester College, November 2005.

Islam and Jihad in the Post-Cold War World, Fordham, October 2005.

The Bridge and the Dragon: Pilgrimage and 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Religion and Nationalism Conference, Harvard University, Center for World Religions, 22 May 2005.

Religion and Violence in the Post Cold-War World, Distinguished Lecture Series, West Chester University, 23 March 2005.

Mysticism and Theology in Islam, Symposium on Mysticism and Theology in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Temple Emanu El, New York City, 15 March 2005.