Organized by the Department of Philosophy at our university, the international workshop titled “Abrahamic Reflections on Philosophy, Science, and Religion” took place on May 16–17, 2025, at our historic Süleymaniye Campus. Bringing together researchers and academics from Islamic and Christian traditions, the program hosted contemporary discussions focusing on the intersections of philosophy, science, and religion.
With the participation of scholars from various countries, including Türkiye, the United States, Canada, and Germany, the event offered rich academic content through sessions held over two days. The workshop began with a brief introduction hosted by our university faculty and continued with great interest from the participants.
Some of the notable talks from the workshop included:
Prof. Kelly James Clark (Ibn Haldun University), in his presentation titled “Fear and the Failures of Love”, offered a philosophical evaluation of religious belief, moral fears, and the concept of love.
Prof. Jeffrey Koperski (Saginaw Valley State University), in his talk “What is a Law of Nature?”, discussed the ontological and theological foundations of natural laws.
Dr. Daniel Rubio (Toronto Metropolitan University), in his presentation “Does Divine Morality Limit Possibility?”, addressed the metaphysical boundaries of divine morality.
Dr. Florence Ollivry (Ibn Haldun University), in her talk “Between Science and Contemplation: the Philosophy of Ibn Barraǧān as a Source for Redefining Our Relationship with the Natural World”, presented a unique approach to the understanding of nature in Islamic thought.
On the second day of the workshop, a book launch was held for “The Physics of Theism: God, Physics, and the Philosophy of Science”, published by Albaraka Publishing, with the participation of Prof. Jeffrey Koperski and Prof. Mehmet Bulgen. Following the launch, a book signing session allowed attendees to engage directly with the author and translator.
The program concluded with a closing panel and Q&A session that emphasized intellectual diversity.
The “Abrahamic Reflections on Philosophy, Science, and Religion” workshop not only brought together academics but also contributed to the development of original approaches regarding the impact of modern scientific developments on religious thought. Participants emphasized the importance of such interdisciplinary academic gatherings in terms of both scholarly depth and cultural dialogue.
