Lang, Jeffery

Jeffrey Lang is an American mathematician and Islamic scholar who has made significant contributions to contemporary Muslim thought on faith and reason. Born in 1954, Lang converted to Islam in the 1980s while pursuing his academic career in mathematics at the University of Kansas. His work "Struggling to Surrender" (1994) offers a unique perspective on the God question from the viewpoint of a Western convert to Islam, combining rigorous intellectual inquiry with personal spiritual narrative. Lang explores how rational investigation led him to Islamic monotheism, addressing common Western skepticism about God's existence and the coherence of religious belief. His subsequent works, including "Even Angels Ask" (1997) and "Losing My Religion" (2004), continue to examine the relationship between reason, faith, and divine revelation, particularly focusing on Quranic hermeneutics and the challenges facing Muslims in secular societies. Lang's writings bridge Western philosophical traditions with Islamic theology, offering insights into how mathematical thinking can complement rather than contradict religious faith.