A Vietnamese American Muslim Theologian at a Catholic Funeral with Dr. Martin Nguyen

Brad speaks with Dr. Martin Nguyen, who explains how his personal story impacts his understanding race, theology, culture, and heritage. As he explains, "t is difficult for me to imagine doing theology, then, without also considering who I am—my being Vietnamese, Asian, American, once Catholic, and now Muslim. Race and religion are entangled in the narrative of my life. They even shape my childhood memories as a son of Vietnamese Catholic refugees, born and raised in Virginia." Dr. Nguyen is a scholar of Muslim theology and Islamic studies. His scholarship revolves around ethics, constructive theology, Qur’anic studies, and the intersection of race and religion. His most recent book Modern Muslim Theology: Engaging God and the World with Faith and Imagination presents a contemporary theology rooted in the practice of the religious imagination. A professor of religious studies, he is presently chair of the department at Fairfield University in Connecticut. Learn more about APARRI. APARRI’s vision is to create a society in which Asian Pacific American religions are valued, recognized, and central to the understanding of American public life. Since 1999, The Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) has been a vibrant scholarly community advancing the interdisciplinary study of Asian Pacific Americans and their religions. Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi: @bradleyonishi Audio Engineer and Musician: Scott Okamoto: @rsokamoto For more information about research-based media by Axis Mundi Media visit: www.axismundi.us Funding for this series has been generously provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.