During this technical course, the major historical and theological topics on Shi’ism including the origins and branches, sources of Shi’a thought, Shi’a ethics, Imamate and Mahdism doctrines, Shi’a in contemporary Iran, mourning and festival ceremonies, Shi’a political thought, Shi’a authority, Ijtihad and Fatwa, Shi’a and women and Shi’a and dialogue were discussed.

Professors like Dr. Kurt Richardson, University of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Vera Mironova, Harvard University, USA, Dr. Alena Kulinich, London University, Britain, Dr. Franz Winter, University of Graz, Austria, Dr. Filiz Kartal, Institute for Turkey and the Middle East, Turkey, Dr. Charles Ramsey, Forman Christian College, Pakistan, Dr. Edith Szanto, The American University, Iraq, Dr. Javier Guerrero, Francisco de Vitoria University, Spain, Dr. Kamran Ahmed, Western University, Canada participated in this course.

Eminent university and howzeh professors like Mohammad Legenhausen, Mohammad Ali Shomali, Seyed Hasan Eslami, Hamid Reza Shari’atmadari, Imdat Turan, Sadeg Haghighat, Ahmad Fazeli, Mohammad Samiei, Bagher Talebi Darabi and Fatemeh Tofighi presented lectures.

Mentioning the previous courses, Mr. Salehi, head of international and scientific co-operations office and the executive official of the course, said: the main difference of the fifth course was the presence of Iranian participants which was quite interesting for foreign guests. Dr. Richardson, the full professor of Toronto University, was of the idea that the presence of Iranian participants prepared the context for dialogue among religions and denominations.

Salehi expressed hopefulness to hold the sixth course later this year hosting wider range of participants.

The participants will also go on a cultural tour in Isfahan and Tehran for a week.