excellent short article on the relationship between religion and culture : http://www.equinoxpub.com/blog/2014/04/mirror-reflections-some-thoughts-on-the-relationship-between-religion-and-culture/
A great article on what is at stake in the (academic) study of Islam. http://www.equinoxpub.com/blog/2014/05/ode-to-islamic-studies-its-allure-its-danger-its-power-reflections-on-islamic-studies/