User talk:Astranawa

Sumanto Al Qurtuby
Sumanto Al Qurtuby (born July 10, 1975), one of the most leading young Muslim scholars in today's Indonesia, is a controversial and progressive Muslim thinker known for his books (in Indonesian) The Black Hole of Religion (2004) and The Flow of Chinese-Islam to Java (2003). In addition to these seminal works, he authored and edited a number of scholarly publications on various topics ranging from ethno-religious violence, conflict transformation, peace-building, religious pluralism, Islamic thoughts, overseas Chinese Muslims, inter-ethnic and religious relations, and human's cultures. Sumanto's articles can be found at various journals, magazines, newspapers, and webs, including Kompas, Jawa Pos, Liberal Islam Networks, Journal of Indonesian Islam, Justisia, Suara Merdeka, Suara Pembaruan, to name a few.

Born in Batang, Indonesia, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D in cultural anthropology at Boston University under the auspices of Indonesianist and celebrated scholar Prof. Robert W. Hefner. In addition to his current studies at Boston, he is an Earhart Fellow at Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs, a leading research center founded by one of the world's renowned sociologists Peter L. Berger.

Prior to coming to Boston University, he was educated at several universities both in his home country Indonesia and the United States. For his undergraduate education, he attended the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Semarang, Indonesia where he received a BA in Islamic Law. His academic training continued at Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) in Salatiga, Indonesia, where he pursued a Master’s Degree in the sociology of religion. UKSW provided him not only with the opportunity to study social science but also valuable experience in engaging with non-Muslims so as to understand their beliefs, religious practices, traditions, and cultures. At UKSW, his understanding of religious pluralism and tolerance was given experiential depth. In June 2007, he obtained a second MA from Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding in Harrisonburg, VA, in conflict transformation and peace studies. At EMU, he was trained by Mennonite, Catholic, Quaker, Protestant, and Muslim professors who were specialists in the field of conflict resolution, post-war reconciliation, and peace studies.

At present, Sumanto serves as a secretary-general of Nahdhatul Ulama Community in North America (called KNU-ASK). Founded by Indonesian doctorate students and professors across the United States and Canada, KNU-ASK aims to build “dialog among civilizations,” to “bridge the gap” between the Muslim world and the West, and to promote ideas of progressive and pluralist Islam. Astranawa (talk) 17:20, 2 March 2009 (UTC)