Here are two more video clips from Mizan’s panel last April at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, “Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Islamic State.”

First, Jessica Stern addresses the Islamic State organization’s appeal to its recruits. She argues that we must evaluate that appeal in terms of the material incentives ISIS provides to its supporters as well as its ideology. Further, the appeal ISIS makes to its recruits relies on a selective reading of scripture and religious tradition. The “convoluted hermeneutics” they use to justify violence resembles that of the Christian Identity movement, which makes a comparable appeal in urging its followers to violence.

Second, Michael Pregill describes the political exegesis of the biblical and qur’anic image of Noah’s Ark in Dabiq, the Islamic State’s propaganda magazine. The propagandists of ISIS depart from traditional interpretation of such scriptural motifs and symbols to bolster the claim that it is legitimate to use force to compel Muslims to accept its doctrine and leadership of the community. Breaking with traditional Sunni interpretation, the theme of Noah’s Ark is used to promote the idea that ISIS alone offers a path to safety in this world and salvation in the next.

In coming weeks we will post more video from the panel, and the complete video will be available on our website sometime in early 2016.

Here are two more video clips from Mizan’s panel last April at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, “Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Islamic State.”

First, Jessica Stern addresses the Islamic State organization’s appeal to its recruits. She argues that we must evaluate that appeal in terms of the material incentives ISIS provides to its supporters as well as its ideology. Further, the appeal ISIS makes to its recruits relies on a selective reading of scripture and religious tradition. The “convoluted hermeneutics” they use to justify violence resembles that of the Christian Identity movement, which makes a comparable appeal in urging its followers to violence.

Second, Michael Pregill describes the political exegesis of the biblical and qur’anic image of Noah’s Ark in Dabiq, the Islamic State’s propaganda magazine. The propagandists of ISIS depart from traditional interpretation of such scriptural motifs and symbols to bolster the claim that it is legitimate to use force to compel Muslims to accept its doctrine and leadership of the community. Breaking with traditional Sunni interpretation, the theme of Noah’s Ark is used to promote the idea that ISIS alone offers a path to safety in this world and salvation in the next.

In coming weeks we will post more video from the panel, and the complete video will be available on our website sometime in early 2016.