1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910808465603321

Autore

Wiktor-Mach Dobrosława

Titolo

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

Pubbl/distr/stampa

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

©2017

ISBN

3-11-053463-0

3-11-053646-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (228 pages) : illustrations, tables

Collana

Religion and Society, , 1437-5370 ; ; Volume 71

Classificazione

REL037000REL037010LIT008000

Disciplina

297.094754/09051

Soggetti

Islam - Azerbaijan

Sunnites - Relations - Shīʻah

Shīʻah - Relations - Sunnites

Islamic modernism - Azerbaijan

Islamic fundamentalism - Azerbaijan

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

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

Sommario/riassunto

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.