Religious revival and secularism in post-Soviet Azerbaijan / Dobroslawa Wiktor-Mach.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wiktor-Mach, Dobrosława, author.

Series:

Religion and society (Hague, Netherlands) ; Volume 71.

Religion and Society, 1437-5370 ; Volume 71

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islam--Azerbaijan.

Islam.

Sunnites--Relations--Shīʻah.

Sunnites.

Shīʻah--Relations--Sunnites.

Shīʻah.

Islamic modernism--Azerbaijan.

Islamic modernism.

Islamic fundamentalism--Azerbaijan.

Islamic fundamentalism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (228 pages) : illustrations, tables.

Place of Publication:

Berlin, [Germany] ; Boston, [Massachusetts] : De Gruyter, 2017.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

The book explores the complex world of Islam from the perspective of its adherents and activists in Azerbaijan. Baku, the most secular Muslim capital city, is a battlefield for the minds and souls of „ethnic Muslims.” Visiting pirs was till now the typical expression of religiosity among Azerbaijani Muslims. Sunni-Shia division was blurred. Nowadays, Shia and Sunni Muslim movements propose new distinctive identities. Foreign and local preachers took advantage of liberal religious policies of the 1990s to promote their ideas. Salafis stress the „pristine” Islam and the idea of universalism, while Shias underline rationality in their faith tradition. Turkish model of Islam is more inclusive towards local customs. Sufism, although not as powerful as before, also finds a committed audience. Finally, independent charismatic local leaders gain supporters. The book investigates how this pluralism affects both religious groups and believers. Competitive environment requires effective strategies and flexibility. In this process, the traditional dominance of Shiism is challenged by Sunni movements. Shiism, however, is not giving up and adapts its concepts and practices to contemporary contexts.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Acknowledgements

Contents

List of Tables and Figures

Note on Transliteration

Introduction

Chapter 1. Religion as a Field of Competition

Chapter 2. Islam in the Caucasus: Historical Contexts of Religious Pluralism

Chapter 3. Islamic Modernism and Secularism

Chapter 4. The Lived Islam

Chapter 5. Religious Revival and the Plurality of Choices

Chapter 6. Choosing Religion: Strategies and Discourses

Chapter 7. Religious Competition

Chapter 8. State control: Heretic-Hunting

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9783110534634

3110534630

9783110536461

3110536463

OCLC:

999354939