Yaser Mirdamadi

Thesis title: Revelation as Poetics The Problem of Revelation in the Modern Jewish and Muslim Theology: Buber and Soroush, a Philosophical Appraisal

Biography

CV

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Qualifications

2012-present     University of Edinburgh, School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures              Edinburgh, UK

                        PhD candidate in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

                        Mohammad Arkoun Doctoral Scholarship, (full tuition fee and living expenses)

 

2008 - 2010       Aga Khan University, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations (AKU-ISMC)    London, UK

                        Master of Arts in Muslim Cultures                                                             GPA: Distinction (3.4/4.0)

                        Dissertation: “Soroush on Non-Orthodox Interpretation of Muslim Revelation” (86%)

                        Aga Khan Scholarship (full tuition and living expenses)

 

Summer 2009    Bourguiba Institute for Modern Languages                                                          Tunisia, Tunisia

                        Achieved the highest ranking in level five of the Modern Standard Arabic course 

 

1999 – 2008      Hawza ‘Ilmiyya (Islamic Seminary)                                                                          Mashhad, Iran

                        Level 3 Diploma (equivalent to Master’s degree) in Classical Islamic studies, full scholarship

 

2004 - 2007       Ferdowsi University of Mashhad                                                                            Mashhad, Iran

                        Master of Arts, Islamic Theology                                                                               GPA: 16.95/20

                        Dissertation: “Translation and Critical Review of ‘An Introduction to Islamic Law’ by Josef Schacht”

 

1999 – 2003       Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Responsibilities & affiliations

 

2016-                 Institute of Isma‘ili Studies– Research Assistant in Muslim Biomedical Ethics Project     London, UK

2016                  Institute of Isma‘ili Studies–Graduate Program of Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) London, UK

                        Taught history of Sunni and Shi‘i legal methodology (usul al-fiqh)                                                           

2015-                Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education – Visiting Teaching Fellow in Islamic Studies   Dundee, Scotland

http://www.almcollege.org.uk/mr-yaser-mirdamadi/

 

2012-13             University of Edinburgh, Department of Islamic Studies – Library assistant                     Edinburgh, UK

 

2010-14             Institute of Isma‘ili Studies– Translator and Editor                                                                London, UK

                       

2004 – 2008      Jahad Daneshgahi, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad – Instructor                                  Mashhad, Iran

                        Taught Applied Logic and Philosophy of Religion

 

2007 – 2008       Payam-e Noor University of Mashhad – Instructor                                                       Mashhad, Iran

                        Taught History of Islamic Social Thought in Iran, Introduction to Law, and Comparative Law

 

2002 – 2004       Hawza ‘Ilmiyya (Islamic Seminary) of Mashhad – Instructor                                         Mashhad, Iran

Taught Methodology of Jurisprudence (usul al-fiq), Theology (‘Agha’id), Classic Arabic and Epistemology

Undergraduate teaching

2016-                 Institute of Isma‘ili Studies– Research Assistant in Muslim Biomedical Ethics Project     London, UK

2016                  Institute of Isma‘ili Studies–Graduate Program of Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) London, UK

                        Taught history of Sunni and Shi‘i legal methodology (usul al-fiqh)                                                           

2015-                Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education – Visiting Teaching Fellow in Islamic Studies   Dundee, Scotland

http://www.almcollege.org.uk/mr-yaser-mirdamadi/

 

2012-13             University of Edinburgh, Department of Islamic Studies – Library assistant                     Edinburgh, UK

 

2010-14             Institute of Isma‘ili Studies– Translator and Editor                                                                London, UK

                       

2004 – 2008      Jahad Daneshgahi, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad – Instructor                                  Mashhad, Iran

                        Taught Applied Logic and Philosophy of Religion

 

2007 – 2008       Payam-e Noor University of Mashhad – Instructor                                                       Mashhad, Iran

                        Taught History of Islamic Social Thought in Iran, Introduction to Law, and Comparative Law

 

2002 – 2004       Hawza ‘Ilmiyya (Islamic Seminary) of Mashhad – Instructor                                         Mashhad, Iran

Taught Methodology of Jurisprudence (usul al-fiq), Theology (‘Agha’id), Classic Arabic and Epistemology

Research summary

Islamic studies (esp. Islam and modernity), Philosophy of religion, Philosophical theology, Comparative theology, Iranian intellectual history 

In the press

 

2015                 Taslimi Foundation                                                                                             Los Angeles, USA

                        An interview entitled: ‘Towards a Baha’i-friendly Muslim theology’:

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Nov 2015          The Voice of America, Persian News Network (VOA-PNN)                      Washington, D. C., USA

Analyst of religious and intellectual affairs in Iran

An interview about 2015's world day of philosophy: on the significance of philosophy for public sphere: https://www.academia.edu/18613585/2015s_world_day_of_philosophy_on_the_significance_of_philosophy_for_public_sphere                                                                                                                                                                    

2008-2015          BBC Persian TV – Analyst of religious and intellectual affairs in Iran                                          London, UK

An interview about the significance of the Birmingham's Qur’anic manuscript (July 2015):

https://www.academia.edu/14301879/On_the_significance_of_the_Birminghams_Qurānic_manuscript

An interview about the religions prohibition of the depiction of the family of Imams in Iranian cinema (July 2015):  https://www.academia.edu/14548065/On_prohibition_of_the_depiction_of_the_family_of_Imams

An interview about the encyclical letter issued by Pope Francis on the environmental crisis (May 2015):    https://soundcloud.com/yaser-mirdamadi/bbc-persian-radio-1962015-pope-and-enviromental-crisis-yaser-mirdamadi

An interview about anti ‘Arab racism in Iran (Jun 2015): https://www.academia.edu/11985267/Anti-Arab_racism_in_Iranian_culture

An interview about plagiarism in Iranian academia, (Dec 2013): https://www.academia.edu/12968865/On_plagiarism_in_Iranian_academia

An interview about ‘Racism and Islam’ (May 2009)

An interview about ‘the rights of religious minorities in post-revolutionary Iran’ (Dec 2008)

                       

  1. 2011        Electronic Magazine of Tehran Review – Columnist:                        
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2008- 2010        Negah-e Mo‘aser Press – Academic Consultant in Islamic Studies                                           Tehran, Iran

 

2006 - 2007       Hammihan Newspaper – Journalist                                                                                 Tehran, Iran

 

2004 - 2006       Hubab Monthly Magazine of Ferdowsi University – Chief Editor                                Mashhad, Iran

 

2005- 2008        Jahad Daneshgahi Press – Head of Andishe Section                                                         Mashhad, Iran

 

2004- 2006        Naqid Press – Academic Consultant in Islamic studies                                                                 Qum, Iran

 

2003- 2006        The Institute of Moral Society - Researcher and Editor                                                            Qum, Iran

Book Translations (From English or ‘Arabic into Persian)

 

  • A translation of the first part of Joseph Schacht’s book entitled “An Introduction to Islamic law” accompanied by a critical epilogue, published by Gam-e No publisher, Tehran, Iran, January 2009.
  • A Philosophical Critique of Islamism, Adel Daher (translated from ‘Arabic), published by Tavaana, Washington, 2015: https://www.academia.edu/13007691/A_Philosophical_Critique_of_Islamism_Persian_translation
  • Reformation of Islamic Thought, A Critical Historical Analysis. Nast Abu Zayd. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2006. To be published by Tavaana, Washington, Dec. 2015. https://www.academia.edu/20317734/Reformation_of_Islamic_Thought_by_Nasr_Abu_Zaid_Persian_translation
  • Fear of Knowledge: Against Relativism and Constructivism. Paul Boghossian, Oxford /New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. Edited by Babak ‘Abbasi, To be published by Kargadan, Tehran, 2016.
  • Philosophy of religion, Charles Taliaferro, to be edited by Mas‘ud ‘Ulya, Quqnus, Tehran, 2017.

 

Book Chapter:

 

  • ‘Divine Inspiration and Mystical Experience: Abdolkarim Soroush’s Theory of Qur’anic Revelation, A Historical-Philosophical Appraisal’, in: Approaches to the Qur'an in Contemporary Iran, ed. by Alessandro Cancian, to be published by Oxford University Press, in collaboration with the Institute of Isma‘ili Studies (IIS), 2017.

 

Book review:

 

  • The review of ‘The Misty Land of Ideas and the Light of Dialogue (An Anthology of Comparative Philosophy: Western & Islamic), edited by Ali Paya, published in the journal Philosophy East and West, 66:3 (July 2016).
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Peer-review journal article:

 

 

Encyclopedia Entries

 

 

Other Publications (Persian)

 

Persian Publications exceed 60 articles, mainly covering philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, political theology, Muslim law and modern Islam, a representative list of which can be found at: https://edinburgh.academia.edu/YaserMirdamadi

 

http://www.mardomak.org/news/religion_and_young_people/

  • A translation of Shabir Akhtar’s essay entitled “ex-defender of the faith” with introduction, published in Tehran Review, December 2010: http://tehranreview.net/articles/6183.
  • A translation and annotation of the entrance of “Ethics” written by Daniel H. Frank in: Nasr, Seyyed Hossein and Leaman, Oliver (ed.) History of Islamic philosophy (Routledge, NY, 1996), Published in Ḥikma, the Journal of Islamic Propagation Office of Isfahan, August 2008.
  • An article entitled “An Account of the Effects of Internet on Religious and Moral Life”, published in Sahand, the student monthly magazine of faculty of theology, University of Tehran, June 2009.
  • An article entitled “The Evaluation of Jusef Shacht’s Thesis About Inauthenticity of Prophetic Traditions”, published in Moṭaleʿat-e Eslami, the quarterly journal of the Faculty of Theology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, February 2009. 
  • A book review of “Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas”, by Amyn B. Sajoo (University of Simon Fraser, Canada), I.B.Tauris, 2004, published in Ḥikmat, the Journal of Islamic Propagation Office of Isfahan, August 2008.
  • An article entitled “An Introduction to Fideism”, published in Hamshahri Newspaper, 2007: http://www.noormags.com/view/fa/ArticlePage/317115
  • A translation of the entrance of “Religious Diversity” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, written by David Basinger, published in Khirad-name Hamshahri, issue 22, 2007: http://www.noormags.com/view/fa/ArticlePage/567279
  • An article entitled “Human Knowledge versus Revealed Knowledge: The Relation between Reason and Religion”, published in the Journal Ḥubab, Second Series, Vol. I, Spring 2005.
  • A translation of “Is God Important? (An Inquiry into the Importance of God)” by Austin Cline, published in the Journal Ḥubab, Second Series, Vol. I, Spring 2005.
  • An article entitled “Four Challenges Faced by Human Rights”, published in Hashour, the internal Journal of the Student Union of Department of Mathematics of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2005.
  • An interview with the Iranian intellectual, Aḥmad Qabil, about “Superstition in Islam from a Theological Point of View”, published in Soroush-e Kherad, the students' journal of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2005.
  • An article entitled “A Study of the Anti-Islamic Websites on the Internet”, published in Nawak, the Journal of the Sixth National Conference of Iranian Students' Journals, Vol. II, Winter 2004.
  • An article entitled “Has Mass Media Made It Impossible to Believe in the Supernatural?” published in Nawak, the Journal of the Sixth National Conference of Iranian Students' Journals, Vol. II, Winter of 2004.
  • An article entitled “Toward A Philosophy of Law in Islam: An Introduction to Shaṭibi’s Ideas about Maṣlaḥa”, published in The Book of Month, July 2004. http://www.ensani.ir/fa/content/254109/default.aspx
  • An article entitled “An Introduction to Epistemology”, published in Hamshahri Newspaper, April 7, 2004.
  • An article entitled “Modernizing the Islamic Laws (Fiqh)", published in Shargh Newspaper, October 19, 2003.
  • An article entitled “Goldziher and the Qurʾan” published in Hamshahri Newspaper, November 10, 2004.
  • An article entitled “Earthquake and the Problem of Evil: A Reflection on Natural Calamities from the Viewpoint of Philosophy of Religion”, published in Nigah-e Taze, 2004.
  • An article entitled “Do We Need a Religion to Live a Moral Life?” published in Hamshahri Newspaper, February 26, 2004.
  • A interview with the journal Soroush-e Kherad on “The Impacts of Modern Technology on the Nature and Destiny of Human Being”, 2003.
  • An article entitled “An Examination of Contemporary Iranian Thinkers' Ideas on our Expectations from Religion”, published in Hamshahri Newspaper, Spring 2003.
  • An interview with Dr. A. Ali-Zamani (lecturer in philosophy at Qum University) and Dr. M. Legenhawzen (lecturer in Philosophy at Qum University) about “The Spiritual Crises of Modern Human” published in the journal Ḥubab, Series I, Vol. II, Winter 2002.
  • An interview with Prof. Sachadina (Virginia University) on “Muslims and Modernity” published in the journal Ḥubab, 2002.
  • An interview with M. Malekian (lecturer in philosophy at Tehran University), M. M. Shabestari (Professor of Theology at Tehran University) and A. Rashad (President of Islamic Research Foundation in Qum) about “Our Expectations from Religion”, published in the journal Ḥubab, Series I, Vol. I, Spring 2002.
  • An article entitled “A philosophical Reflection on Suicide”, published in the journal Ḥubab, Vol. I, Spring 2002.
  • An article entitled “Bitter Facts: A Reflection on Political Dictatorship from an Anthropological Point of View”, published in Waḥi, the Journal of the Organization of Jahad Daneshgahi, 2002. 

 

  • A talk entitled 'The God who talks with(out) words, A Taxonomy of Some of the Early Islamicate Theories of Revelation', delivered at AKU-ISMC, London, 12 February 2015: https://www.academia.edu/10956777/God_who_talks_with_out_words
  • A talk entitled 'Is an ‘Islamic state’ possible? A philosophical critique of Islamism' delivered at the Center for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford University, 18 February 2015: https://www.academia.edu/10956637/Is_an_Islamic_state_possible_A_philosophical_critique_of_Islamism
  • A conference presentation entitled ‘the different conceptions of the proposition ‘God exists’’ delivered at the first conference of ‘Iranian scholars of religion in Britain’ held in UCL, London, 21 Jun 2014. https://www.academia.edu/7585829/The_Different_conceptions_of_the_proposition_God_exists_
  • A talk entitled ‘Can (and how does) God talk? The problem of revelation in the modern Jewish and Muslim philosophical theology’ delivered at Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminars: Islamic Civilisation and the Islamic Tradition: Past and Present, University of Edinburgh, 24 March 2014, https://www.academia.edu/6537477/Can_and_how_does_God_talk_The_problem_of_revelation_in_the_modern_Jewish_and_Muslim_philosophical_theology
  • A conference paper called ‘The Soroushian Theory of Revelation: An Epistemological Assessment' written for and delivered at a conference titled ‘Approaches to the Qur'an in Contemporary Iran' held by The Institute of Ismaili Studies, from Sep 2-4 2013, London. https://www.academia.edu/4608223/The_Soroushian_Theory_of_Revelation_An_Epistemological_Assessment
  • A conference presentation called 'Corporeal Love in Ibn Ḥazm and Its Bearing on the Problem of Body' delivered at a conference on 'Mind and Body' held by University of Bristol, the Centre for Medieval Studies, Saturday 23rd Faburary 2013. Its PowerPoint can be read at: http://www.academia.edu/4560550/Corporeal_Love_in_Ibn_Hazm_and_Its_Bearing_on_the_Problem_of_Body
  • A talk on “political theology of Shi‘ism: between absolutism and quietism”, delivered at a conference on “The Role of Clerics and Religious Seminaries in the Contemporary History of Iran”, held by Anjoman-e Sokhan in The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), April 2011. The conference report can be read at: http://207.182.141.104/story/61364. A part of the speech can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbPPzQT8Mw
  • A talk on religious diversity in the globalized world, delivered at World Summit of Religious leaders, Baku, 26-27 Apr 2010. The lecture can be read at: http://mirdamadi.malakut.ir/2010/05/religious_diversity_in_the_age.html  
  • A talk on Robert C. Solomon’s book entitled “Spirituality for the Skeptic” (Oxford University Press, 2002) delivered at Iranian London’s Discussion Group (ILDG), September 2009.
  • A talk on “Imam ‘Ali and Tolerance”, Kanoon Towhid of London, September 2008.
  • A talk on “Dr. Soroush's Ideas about the Relation between Shi'ism and Democracy”, delivered at the Student Union of the Faculty of Mathematics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2005.
  • A talk on “M. M. Shabestari's Ideas about Revelation”, delivered at the Revelationology Seminar held in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2005.
  • An analytic-critical lecture on “Belief and Disbelief, a Debate between the Agnostic Philosopher Omberto Eco and the Prominent Priest Martiny”, delivered at the Book Review Conference held in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, 2004.
  • A talk on “Women's Rights in Islam”, delivered at Tehran's Book House, Iran, 2004.
  • A talk on “Existentialism”, delivered at Chenaran Islamic Guidance Organization, Iran, 2003.
  • A talk on “Dr. Soroush's Ideas about the Plurality of Religions”, delivered at Chenaran Islamic Organization, Iran, 2002.
  • An analytic-critical talk on “A Criticism of the Official Interpretation of Religion” by M. M. Shabestari, delivered at the Book Review Conference held at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, 2002.   
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