It’s great to see you again and we hope you enjoyed the start of Season 2!
 
Our second episode features Richard McGregor, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. The episode focuses on his work around material objects in islam.
 
We explore the significance of objects in Islamic religious practices, including a study of the Mahmal and the role it played for 700 years in the Hajj ritual. Professor McGregor discusses how objects serve as powerful symbols of devotion and community, and how their historical and cultural contexts shape their meanings. The conversation also addresses the evolution of relics, opposition to devotional objects in modern times, and the power of museums in shaping how religious material culture is preserved and experienced. 
The episode concludes with a discussion about why broadening our understanding of religion to encompass its material and spiritual dimensions matters.

It’s great to see you again and we hope you enjoyed the start of Season 2! Our second episode features Richard McGregor, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. The episode focuses on his work around material objects in islam. We explore the significance of objects in Islamic religious practices, including a study of the Mahmal and the role it played for 700 years in the Hajj ritual. Professor McGregor discusses how objects serve as powerful symbols of devotion and community, and how their historical and cultural contexts shape their meanings. The conversation also addresses the evolution of relics, opposition to devotional objects in modern times, and the power of museums in shaping how religious material culture is preserved and experienced. The episode concludes with a discussion about why broadening our understanding of religion to encompass its material and spiritual dimensions matters.

It’s great to see you again and we hope you enjoyed the start of Season 2!
&nbsp;
Our second episode features Richard McGregor, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. The episode focuses on his work around material objects in islam.
&nbsp;
We explore the significance of objects in Islamic religious practices, including a study of the Mahmal and the role it played for 700 years in the Hajj ritual. Professor McGregor discusses how objects serve as powerful symbols of devotion and community, and how their historical and cultural contexts shape their meanings. The conversation also addresses the evolution of relics, opposition to devotional objects in modern times, and the power of museums in shaping how religious material culture is preserved and experienced.&nbsp;
The episode concludes with a discussion about why broadening our understanding of religion to encompass its material and spiritual dimensions matters.

S2 Ep 2: Seeing Religion: Islam and the Devotional Object with Richard McGregor

An opportunity to deep-dive into Islam and Muslim civilisations, history and spirituality through the ages, accompanied by some of the best experts and academics in their field. 

Join us as we discover how Muslim societies and individuals have lived, thought about, and expressed their faith in their own ways as a pathway to the divine. We explore the far-flung lands that Muslims have lived in, the traditions – scientific, artistic, religious and cultural – they’ve contributed to, and the revelation itself, the Qur’an. 

Our guests have devoted their professional lives to producing robust scholarship about the rich heritage of Islam. Our mission is to bring that knowledge to our listeners – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – so as to better understand the world and address some of the biggest questions about life and meaning.

This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about Islam and its contributions to the world.

Follow us on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/muslimfootprints/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/muslim-footprints
https://x.com/MFootprintsPod
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557285590197
http://www.youtube.com/@MuslimFootprints
https://www.threads.net/@muslimfootprints

Religion & Spirituality

History

Islam

An opportunity to deep-dive into Islam and Muslim civilisations, history and spirituality through the ages, accompanied by some of the best experts and academics in their field. Join us as we discover how Muslim societies and individuals have lived, thought about, and expressed their faith in their own ways as a pathway to the divine. We explore the far-flung lands that Muslims have lived in, the traditions – scientific, artistic, religious and cultural – they’ve contributed to, and the revelation itself, the Qur’an. Our guests have devoted their professional lives to producing robust scholarship about the rich heritage of Islam. Our mission is to bring that knowledge to our listeners – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – so as to better understand the world and address some of the biggest questions about life and meaning. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about Islam and its contributions to the world. Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/muslimfootprints/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/muslim-footprints https://x.com/MFootprintsPod https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557285590197 http://www.youtube.com/@MuslimFootprints https://www.threads.net/@muslimfootprints

Share S2 Ep 2: Seeing Religion: Islam and the Devotional Object with Richard McGregor

Sign up to save your podcasts

S2 Ep 2: Seeing Religion: Islam and the Devotional Object with Richard McGregor

S2 Ep 2: Seeing Religion: Islam and the Devotional Object with Richard McGregor

More shows like Muslim Footprints

Ideas

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The LRB Podcast

a16z Podcast

Hidden Brain

The Daily

Throughline

The Thinking Muslim

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Consider This from NPR

This Being Human

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

Empire

What Now? with Trevor Noah

Gems of Wisdom