PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia (ARPA) Foundation
P.O.Box 33603
Granada Hills, CA 91394
Tel: 818-586-9660
Fax: 818-881-0010
Email: Hagop.Panossian@csun.edu

Organizer: ARPA Institute, ()
Event: Lecture
Topic: `Islam Yesterday & Today’
Lecturer: John Ahmaranian
Venue: Merdinian School in Sherman Oaks, 13330 Riverside Dr. , Sherman Oaks.
Date/Time: Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 7:30PM

Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right on
Riverside Dr.
Abstract: The lecture will cover the Christian background of Mecca and
its famous prophet Mahammad. The social and political implications on
Mahammad’s character and how it paved the road to the establishment of
a political- moral-religious system called Islam will also be
presented. Mohammad wanted, at any cost, to relate himself to the BOOK
(in its Hebrew version, given to Moses, and its Greek version, given
to Issa). Islam needed a Judeo-Christian background in order to
succeed. This book in its Arabic version which was given or revealed
in the Holy month of Ramadan must have contained every aspect of
Muslim life.

Light will be shed on the most important factor of Muhammad’s success,
mainly the Jihad and the Shari’a. These two elements are the roots
which explain why Islam is the fastest growing religion in the
world. Some ideas regarding the numerous teachings that are
incompatible with our modern values will also be discussed. Also
addressed will be some discrepancies and mistakes found in the
Koran. Finally, what about the relationship between Armenia and Islam?
Historical facts and data will be presented in relation to Armenia.

John Ahmaranian: Born in Beirut in 1945. After he studied in the
Armenian Catholic Seminary of Bzommar (Lebanon), He graduated from
Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and received his
Masters Degree in Philosophy and Theology. While he was studying in
Rome, he worked in RADIO VATICANA as a news writer for the Armenian
Program at the station. He lived in Egypt from 1971 to 1980 and got
his first Ph.D. in Philosophy, the thesis was (in Arabic) "The
Christian Influence on Muslim Sufism in the 8th-9th Centuries". In
1980, he was awarded by the late President Anwar Sadat for his book
"The Christian Muslim Dialogue". He came to California in 1981 and
since then he is involved in the Armenian communities, as a professor,
writer and lecturer. He taught Arabic and Middle Eastern History to US
officers who were in Iraq. He was invited by His Holiness Karekin II
to teach Biblical Studies at Etchmiadzin and Sevan. In 2002 he
received the "BEST LEBANESE JOURNALIST IN THE DIASPORA" Award. For the
last 25 years, He has written 720 articles in the BEIRUT TIMES about
the Middle East. In 2005, He received his second Ph.D in Ancient
History from The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. The title of
his thesis was: THE HURRIAN-ARMENIAN ORIGIN OF PATRIARCH ABRAHAM. He
has taught Armenology (Krapar, History, Church History and Armenian
Theology) at Emmanuel Bible College, in Pasadena, for 20 years, and at
The Evangelical Seminary in Yerevan, for 10 years. He has also taught
Armenian, Arabic, Latin, French and Italian in different schools of
languages. He has published many books in 4 languages about religion,
philosophy, and history. His last book is: ISLAM YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

For further information please call (818)881-0010 or contact
info@arpainstitute.org