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The 2025 International Conference on Muslim-Christian Society and Thought
Surabaya, Indonesia October 14-16 2025
About Conference ICMUST 2025
The contemporary world is marked by increasing societal complexity and diversity, where religion frequently emerges as a force with dual potential: while it can inspire values of peace and compassion, it can also be manipulated as a catalyst for conflict. This paradox underscores the urgent need for rigorous and dynamic scholarly engagement.
The 2025 International Conference on Muslim Society and Thoughts (IC-MUST) is convened as a constructive response to these pressing global realities. Organized collaboratively by two prominent Indonesian institutions—the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Philosophy, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya (FUF UINSA), and the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Religion and Culture (CISRC), Semarang—this event serves as an international platform for critical inquiry and academic exchange.
The conference aims to invigorate intellectual discourse and spotlight cutting-edge research that interrogates the intricate intersections among religion, conflict, and peace within today’s pluralistic societies.
Anchoring all discussions is the timely and thought-provoking theme: “Religion, War, and Peace: Nurturing a Peaceful Life in Plural Societies.” This theme calls upon scholars, researchers, and practitioners to re-examine belief systems—often construed as sources of division—and consider their potential to function as powerful drivers for social harmony, cooperation, and mutual understanding in an increasingly diverse world. Through this engagement, the conference endeavors to generate practical insights and strategic contributions that can effectively support and sustain peaceful coexistence.
The event features eight distinguished keynote speakers from New Zealand, Jordan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Indonesia, each contributing unique perspectives on the roles of faith, ethics, and dialogue in fostering global peace and mutual respect. Complementing these keynote addresses, twenty presenters will share their research findings and theoretical reflections on issues related to religion, social harmony, and contemporary challenges in pluralistic societies. With the participation of more than one hundred attendees, including scholars, students, policymakers, and community leaders, the conference aims to serve as a catalyst for critical thought, collaborative research, and practical strategies for nurturing peace and coexistence among diverse communities. Ultimately, the conference aspires to strengthen academic networks and contribute meaningfully to global efforts in building a more just, inclusive, and harmonious world
Christopher M. Joll, PhD—New Zealand
Dr. Christopher M. Joll is a New Zealand-born religious anthropologist and historian whose primary research focuses on Muslim communities in Thailand. After two decades in Thailand, he relocated to New Zealand in 2020, where he remains deeply engaged in the study of Southeast Asian religious practices. His interdisciplinary work spans anthropology, history, linguistics, and Islamic studies, particularly in the context of Muslim-Buddhist-Christian interactions in Thailand and broader Southeast Asia. Dr. Joll’s first monograph, Muslim Merit-Making in Thailand’s Far-South (Springer, 2011), investigates the integration of Islamic and Thai cultural practices through the lens of merit- making among Malay Muslims in Thailand’s southern provinces. His publications appear in respected academic journals such as Sojourn, Studia Islamika, and Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. His recent research delves into issues like the role of Malay identity within Thai society, the dynamics of conflict and coexistence between ethnic and religious groups, and the historical movements of Muslim communities in the region. His forthcoming works include a chapter in Malay World-Making from the 13th to the 21st Century, which examines the role of Malay magic in historical conflicts. Currently, Dr. Joll holds positions as a research fellow at the Center of Excellence for Muslim Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and as an adjunct fellow at Victoria University of Wellington’s Religious Studies Program. His teaching roles have included instruction on religious ethnography and sociolinguistics, and he has been a visiting scholar at various institutions across Thailand and Malaysia. Through his work, Dr. Joll seeks to provide alternative analyses of ethnoreligious and ethnolinguistic dynamics, offering insights into the intricate cultural landscape of Muslim communities in Southeast Asia.
Susan Barbara Smith, PhD—Australia
Dr. Smith is an Honorary Postdoctoral Associate at Alphacrucis University College in Sydney, Australia, specializing in gender studies and Islamic ethics, with a focus on honor and shame in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Her recent work has centered on the influence of women in South Asia’s public sphere, with an emphasis on female leadership and cultural transformation in Muslim- majority contexts. Her research and experience extend from scholarly work to hands-on leadership roles within educational and humanitarian organizations in Pakistan. Her forthcoming book Sitting with Melons: Female Influence at Work (accepted by Brill) explores how women's roles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shape cultural and social norms. Additionally, Dr. Smith has presented papers such as “A Person of Honor or a Woman of Shame,” which delve into the complex dynamics of female agency in traditional societies. Her earlier roles as Chief Operations Officer and Executive Director at the Interlit Foundation Trust allowed her to influence cultural and educational initiatives across Pakistan, including the development of language and cultural materials in English, Pashto, and Dari. She has authored original works for publication under the Interlit imprint and has been actively involved in educational projects through the Overflowing Mercy Foundation. In her academic roles, Dr. Smith has contributed to conferences and seminars addressing themes of gender, honor, and social change, and she continues to engage with issues at the intersection of women’s studies and Islamic ethics. Her multilingual capabilities and extensive background in cross-cultural settings reinforce her commitment to understanding and advocating for women’s roles in transforming their communities.
Richard Stanford, PhD—United Kingdom
Dr. Richard Stanford is a specialist in marine fisheries and coastal livelihoods with over 15 years of experience working in Indonesia, Canada, and the UK. He completed his Ph.D. at the Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia, where his research focused on the socio-economic conditions affecting traditional fishing communities in Indonesia. His work addresses issues of poverty, sustainability, and resilience among small-scale fisheries, aiming to empower coastal communities and inform policy changes for sustainable resource management. Dr. Stanford’s research has been published in journals such as Marine Policy and the Journal of International Development. Notable works include his “The Fisheries Livelihood Resilience Check (FLIRES Check),” a tool for assessing the resilience of fishing communities. His findings emphasize the need for community-centered approaches in marine policy, particularly in poverty alleviation for Indonesia’s coastal populations. Dr. Stanford also co-founded the Perahu Nusantara Foundation, which implements education and entrepreneurship programs designed to strengthen the economic resilience of Indonesian fishing villages. In addition to his research, Dr. Stanford teaches courses in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture at the University of Andalas in Padang, Indonesia. He is the founder of The Indigo Consultancy, an initiative supporting academic excellence and leadership development for Indonesian students and professionals. Dr. Stanford’s collaborative projects with organizations like USAID and ACIAR reflect his ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable practices and promoting the well-being of fishing- dependent communities across Southeast Asia.
Dr. Robert John Pope--Australia
Robert John Pope is an Australian citizen who has lived in Indonesia for nearly 30 years. He completed his doctoral studies (Doctor of Islamic Religious Education) at the Muhammadiyah University of Malang, Indonesia, with a dissertation titled: “The Impact of the Islamic State University in Introducing Critical Thinking in Islamic Education in Indonesia.” His research interests focus on Islamic education and multiculturalism. His concerns also extend to strategic partnerships in the field of education. All these have led him to work closely with Muhammadiyah University, particularly with the Department of Religious and Multicultural Studies. He has previously served as the Director of Intercultural Dialogue and Engagement at Alphacrucis College, and he is currently the Director of Equal Access International, Australia.
Iyad M. I. Aburabee, PhD—Palestine
Dr. Iyad M. I. Aburabee, a Palestinian national, is a distinguished scholar in the field of Islamic Jurisprudence and History. Dr. Aburabee completed his doctoral degree in Islamic Jurisprudence at the University of Jordan in 2022. Dr. Aburabee has extensive academic and religious experience. From 2008 to 2011, he served as an Imam at Mu’ath bin Jabal Mosque in Al-Ram, Jerusalem. His research focuses on various aspects of Islamic law and history, with significant contributions in the fields of financial exchange in Islamic economies, Muslim-non-Muslim relations in early Islam, and modern interpretations of Shariah objectives. He has authored several books and articles, including the notable Good Friday, Death of Jesus in the Cross: Qur’anic Study (2022), and has presented his research at prestigious conferences around the world. He is also actively involved in interfaith dialogue, having participated in events hosted by the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies and the International Qur’anic Studies Association. His work bridges the gap between Islamic scholarship and interfaith dialogue, contributing significantly to the understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, Qur’anic studies, and the history of Muslim-Christian relations. His ongoing research and international presentations highlight his commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering mutual understanding in both academic and religious communities.
Richard McCallum, PhD—United Kingdom
Dr. McCallum is a sociologist of religion, recognized for his research on Christian-Muslim relations and his work as Director of the Solomon Academic Trust and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Muslim- Christian Studies (CMCS) in Oxford, UK. His research interests center around the dynamics of Christian-Muslim encounters, particularly in the UK, and he has developed various frameworks for evaluating interfaith initiatives. He draws upon sociological theories to understand how Christians and Muslims navigate shared societal spaces and how public intellectuals influence these engagements. Dr. McCallum’s publications include books, chapters, and articles on topics like Christian responses to Islam and Islamophobia. His book, Evangelical Christian Responses to Islam: A Contemporary Overview (Brill, 2024) examines how evangelical Christians address questions about Islam within the public sphere. His academic contributions also extend to teaching at Wycliffe Hall and other Oxford theological colleges, University of Oxford, UK, where he instructs courses on Islam, Christian- Muslim engagement, and contemporary sociological perspectives on religion. Through these roles, Dr. McCallum aims to foster an informed, critical, and respectful approach to interfaith relations.
Dr. Georgina Jardim, PhD—United Kingdom
Dr Jardim is a Research Associate of the University of Gloucestershire, UK, a scholar with research interests in comparative scriptural studies and women’s studies within the context of Christianity and Islam. Currently a Research Associate at the University of Gloucestershire, she is known for her work on female characters in the Qur'an from a Christian perspective. Her book Recovering the Female Voice in Islamic Scripture: Women and Silence (Ashgate, 2014) explores the depiction of women in Islamic texts, focusing on themes of voice and silence. Dr. Jardim’s recent projects include studying Christian-Muslim interactions as documented by 19th-century Scottish explorer David Livingstone and co-editing a forthcoming volume in Routledge's Reading the Bible in the Context of Islam series. She published numerous journal articles that delve into scriptural themes that resonate across both faiths to promote public dialogue. She also engages with interfaith initiatives that foster community dialogue and understanding, such as the Women at the Well project, which creatively intertwines Christian and Muslim narratives around women in scripture. Her work in teaching and facilitating interfaith understanding reflects her commitment to bridging gaps between Christian and Muslim communities, particularly through scriptural engagement and arts-based projects.
International Conference on Muslim Society and Thought
Faculty of Ushuluddin and Philosophy, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya
Jl. Ahmad Yani 117 Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60237, Indonesia.
Map Coordinate: Lat. -7.322719, Long. 112.734973