SeyedAmirHossein Asghari, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Law
Education:
- Ph.D., Indiana University Bloomington (2022)
- M.A., Middlesex University London (2013)
- B.A., Azad University Tehran (2000)
Biography:
Amir Asghari serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Law and interreligious understanding within the Department of Religion at Baylor University. He completed his Ph.D. at Indiana University, Bloomington. His extensive research spans topics such as natural law, the Islamic Intellectual tradition, Sufism, religious interpretation, and interreligious understanding. He takes an active role in interreligious dialogues aimed at promoting the expansion of interfaith understanding. As a postdoctoral research assistant, Dr. Asghari contributes to our comprehension of how natural law, or its equivalences, can be interpreted and understood in an Islamic context. Moreover, his work delves into how this conceptual framework fosters interreligious especially Islamic- Christian cooperation, addressing the complex array of contemporary global challenges such as justice, equality etc. Dr. Asghari has taught at institutions like Indiana and Butler Universities, and his scholarly work has been featured in prominent journals.
Additionally, he made significant contributions to the creation of the first Persian, Albanian, and English Dictionary.
His doctoral dissertation, titled "Philosophy and Ṣūfīsm in The Contemporary Shī‘Ī Seminary and Their Opponents," delves into the intellectual history surrounding the confrontation and coexistence of opposing schools of thought within the contemporary Shi’a seminary.
A native of Iran, Dr. Asghari was born in Hamadan, a city steeped in the traditions of Abrahamic religions, contributing to its rich historical and cultural dialogues.
Academic Interests and Research:
- Natural law
- Islamic Intellectual Tradition
- Sufism
- Shia Studies
- Comparative Religion
-Theology and Ethics
Notable Publications:
- (2023) "Sufism in the Contemporary Shii Seminary?" Religions 14, no. 10: 1248. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14101248
-(2023) "Understanding Human Dignity in Shi’i Islam: Debates, Challenges, and Solutions for Contemporary Issues" Religions 14, no. 4: 505. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14040505
- (2021) "Replacing Sharīʿa, Ṭarīqa and Ḥaqīqa with Fiqh, Akhlāq and Tawḥīd," Journal of Sufi Studies 9, 2: 202-214, doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/22105956-bja10010
- (2021) "Presence, Manifestation, and Visitation in Abrahamic Religions: The Notion of “Presence” in Shi’ism," Journal of Religious & Theological Information, doi: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10477845.2021.1926629
- (2021) "The Bektashi Order, Sufism, and Shi’ism in the Work of Baba Rexheb, a Bektashi Sufi of the 20th Century," Turkish Journal of Shiite Studies 1-24. https://doi.org/10.48203/siader.799560
- (2021) "Sufism and Philosophy of Modern Science: Notes on Nasr’s Philosophy," Journal of Turkish Culture and Haci Bektash Veli Research Quarterly (Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Velî Araştırma Dergisi) (98) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352092423_Sufism_and_Challenges_of_Modern_and_Secular_Philosophy_Nasr's_Perspective
- (2020) "Shiʻa Mystical Theology: Notes on Sayyid Ḥaydar ĀmulĪʼs Jāmiʻ al-Asrār wa Manbaʻ al-Anwār," Kom Casopis Za Religijske Nauke 9(3): 65-80, doi:10.5937/kom2003065A
- (2017) "Ontology and Cosmology of ‘Aql (Intellect) in Ṣadrā’s Commentary on Uṣūl al-Kāfī," Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies 10 (2): 157-182 (July 2017), doi: 10.1353/isl.2017.0011
Professional Achievements:
- Future Faculty Teaching Fellowship, Indiana University (2021-22)
- Wonkai Lee Fellowship, Indiana University (2021-22)
- The Linda S. Walbridge Fellowship, MELC, Indiana University (2019-20)