Prof. Jamel Velji: Associate Professor, Religious Studies, Claremont Mckenna College

Can coffee be religious? Many of us who drink coffee might describe it in terms that are sacred—awakening, invigorating, even eye-opening. The earliest people to popularize the beverage in the 15th century also described it in terms that are strikingly similar to those that we use today. This talk shows how early proponents of the bean argued that it should be part of the sacred landscapes of Islam. I then show how coffee drinking impacted changes in Middle Eastern architecture and ritual. I then consider how knowledge about coffee changed as the beverage took hold in Europe.

Reception at 5:30pm;  Dinner at 6:00pm; Lecture at 6:45pm.

REGISTER