On Friday, June 10, 2011 Professor James Jones, Professor of Religion and African studies at Manhattanville College, New York, delivered a lecture  at IIIT on the challenges of Islam to and in the United States. The major thesis of his presentation was that the current contentious clash between Islam and the West is being played out both in American foreign policy and domestic affairs. The situation – he contends - is not likely to be resolved positively unless each side understands and begins to deal with the role of victimhood in how they behave in reaction to the latest aggressive act from the other side.

Professor Jones explained the power of victimhood using the latest Japanese tragedy (the Tsunami and its aftermath) as an example and cited the outpouring of sympathy and support for the victims triggered by the disaster. He argues, however, that victimhood could – and have been used in American history – to justify assault and victimization of others, and he cited the example of the nuclear attack on Japan after Peril Harbor and the subsequent victimization of Japanese Americans. He compared that example to the post-September 11^th war on terrorism policy and found many parallels. He concludes by emphasizing rage, racism and revenge as the seeds of our current conundrum.

Professor Jones, then, identified the source for addressing this conundrum: the power of Prophecy in what he called the Jewish-Christian-Islamic nexus. The Abrahamic tradition – he asserts – provides the moral and ethical common grounds that would address the transgressions of the “modern” world. He cites the Islamic Prophetic paradigm and its role in the making of the modern world and its potential in addressing its current ills.

Professor Jones concluded his lecture with highlighting the challenges the pursuit of the American dream pose to Muslims and the challenges that Islam poses to America. He contends that constructing an authentic Muslim American identity is the primary Muslim challenge in America and that it is only possible through establishing the relevance of Prophecy in the modern world.