He specializes in Islamic history and religion and Islamic law in the formative period (seventh-10th centuries) and is particularly interested in the literary remains of early Islam, including the Quran, Hadith, legal and theological texts. Other research interests include comparative religious ethics. He edited Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War and Euthanasia (University of South Carolina Press, 2003) and in March 2006 organized an international conference, “Islam and Bioethics: Concerns, Challenges and Responses.” Contact 814-863-1338 (office), 814-865-1367 (department), brockopp@psu.edu.