A former evangelical chaplain in the U.S. Navy hopes that a Muslim, who was recently hired to teach at the U.S Naval Academy, will not use his position to proselytize midshipmen to Islam.
Akbar Ahmed is a cultural anthropologist and former Pakistani official who will fill a new chair for Middle East Studies at Annapolis. He will teach courses, advise midshipmen and faculty, and assist in research projects.
Gordon James Klingenschmitt, a former naval chaplain who attended the Air Force Academy, hopes the Muslim’s role will be limited.
“I would hope that he would be teaching classes to bring cultural awareness about Islam and not specifically teaching the Islamic religion to our midshipmen,” Klingenschmitt says. “I certainly hope he is not teaching the Muslim faith; or if he is -- in a cultural sense -- I hope the Naval Academy offers equal opportunity for Christian professors to teach about the Christian faith.”
According to Klingenschmitt, an Islamic professor could be useful in teaching the Arabic language and culture, which would come in handy for future naval officers.
