Spiritual but Not Religious? French Muslim Discourses on Spirituality

Bibliographic Data

ID3318706
AuthorsAbdessamad Belhaj (0009-0003-2584-0532, Ludovika University of Public Service, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume14
Issue10
Pages1222
Publication date2023-09-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel14101222
OpenAlexW4386995609
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited16

This article explores the possibility of a spiritual Islam in the West as a viable alternative to traditionalist and political Islam. It looks at the capabilities and limitations of two French Muslim voices, Abdennour Bidar and Éric Geoffroy, who are the most vocal Muslim intellectuals in favor of spiritual Islam in France. A careful examination of their writings reveals that post-modernism, French secularism, and religious freedom all support the spread of spiritual Islam. However, because of its elitism, overemphasis on individualism, and lack of formal religious institutions for knowledge and practice, spiritual Islam struggles. Overall, spiritual Islam flourishes in a secular society, but it is too intellectual to truly oppose political and conservative Islam

Aesthetics · Elitism · Individualism · Islam · Political science · Politics · Secularism · Sociology · Spirituality · Theology · Gender Studies · Law · Multiculturalism, Politics, Migration, Gender · Philosophy · Political and Social Issues · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies

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