Nonreligious Lifeworlds in Egypt : Sense-Making, Emotion, and Embodiment.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

van Nieuwkerk, Karin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Coptic Church--Social aspects--Egypt.

Coptic Church.

Atheism--Egypt.

Atheism.

Identity (Psychology)--Egypt.

Identity (Psychology).

Emotions--Religious aspects.

Emotions.

Social change--Egypt.

Social change.

Social media--Egypt.

Social media.

Mass media--Egypt.

Mass media.

College graduates--Egypt.

College graduates.

Intellectuals--Egypt.

Intellectuals.

Middle class--Egypt.

Middle class.

Christianity and culture--Egypt.

Christianity and culture.

Islam--Social aspects--Egypt.

Islam.

Secularism--Egypt.

Secularism.

Youth--Religious life--Egypt.

Youth.

Irreligion--Egypt.

Irreligion.

Egypt--Religion--21st century.

Egypt.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (325 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, 2026.

Summary:

"In Egypt, a growing number of young individuals have begun to question Islam and Orthodox Christianity. Despite the widely asserted "failure" of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution in a political context, a segment of well-educated and predominantly upper-middle class young adults are forging novel patterns of thought and existence. Poised to become future leaders, this segment of the population have begun to develop a different outlook on life, while maintaining a sense of continuity with their past identities and upbringing. As a result of this wave of religious questioning, religion and nonreligion in Egypt have become subjects of intense debate. The polarization evident on Egyptian television and social media regarding the issue of "atheism" reveals the different sensibilities at play. Nonbelievers are often perceived to have "lost their senses" or to have embarked on the path of unbelief solely to indulge in their "sensual desires." The increasing visibility of nonbelief among young people has triggered a moral panic and sparked fierce debates on religion and atheism in Egyptian media. Drawing from almost a decade of fieldwork, numerous interviews, and in-depth analysis of social media content, Karin van Nieuwkerk unveils voices that are usually silenced. van Nieuwkerk engages with these current debates but provides a much needed ethnographic and narrative approach. The first part of the book sets the stage and provides the social and political context and highlights the polarized debates about religion and atheism in Egypt. The second part deals with the affective trajectories of the study's interlocutors. Using a practice theory of emotions it analyzes their emotional experiences. Part three deals with various aspects of their new outlook on life and embodiment of nonreligion covering themes such as food and drinking, unveiling, sexuality and the body, gender relations, "mixed" (Muslim-Christian and religious-nonreligious) partnerships, and outlooks on life and death, as well as morality"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Intro

Half-Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Introduction

Part I: Sensibilities and Polarization Around Nonreligion

Chapter 1: A Recent Spread of Atheism?

Chapter 2: The Revolution and Beyond

Chapter 3: What are Nonreligion and Atheism in the Egyptian Context?

Chapter 4: Representing the "Other

Chapter 5: Ambivalent Self-Identifications and Shifting (Non)religious Positions

Part II: Affective Trajectories Toward Nonreligion

Chapter 6: Divine Love and Fear Shifting Emotional Attachments to God

Chapter 7: Doubt, Confusion, and Anxiety

Chapter 8: Anger and Regret

Chapter 9: Letting Go of Religion and the Relief of Laughter

Chapter 10: Articulations of Individuality

Chapter 11: Emotional Responses of Significant Others

Part III: Lived Nonreligion

Chapter 12: Tactics of Hiding and Revealing Nonreligion

Chapter 13: Embodying Nonreligion

Chapter 14: Sexuality and the Body

Chapter 15: "Mixed" Partnerships and Gender Relations

Chapter 16: Nonreligious Outlooks on Life Ordinary Ethics, Life, and Death

Chapter 17: Lifeworlds

Notes

References

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4773-3336-3

1-4773-3337-1

9781477333365

OCLC:

1569121752