BRUNSWICK

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is sponsoring a public program titled “The Rise of Radical Islam in Central Asia/the Caucasus: What Is Our Christian Response?”

The facilitator will be Jane Knox-Voina, recently retired professor from Bowdoin College’s Russian department.

In addition to teaching Russian as a language, Knox- Voina taught some cultural courses on central Asia, the Caucasus region, and Muslim cultures.

One of her areas of expertise is the development of radical Islam, some of it tied to anti-Americanism in those regions.

Knox-Voina is an authority on the history of the area with special understanding of the cultural, political and economic reasons for the extremism that has developed.

In light of the recent Boston bombings, organizers feel this will be a very informative evening.

The second part of the program deals with the question of the Christian response to these developments.

The program will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, corner of Pleasant and Union streets. Enter through the side door on Union Street beyond the parking lot. Coffee, tea and small desserts will be offered at 7 p.m.; the program itself will begin at 7:30 and end at 9 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call 725-5342.

Church forum

WHAT: “The Rise of Radical
Islam in Central Asia/the
Caucasus: What Is Our
Christian Response?”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, Pleasant and Union
streets.