Research on Muslim communities in Europe has recently shifted focus from labor and social policy concerns to issues of 'religion' and 'culture'. In particular, there has been a growing interest in... Show moreResearch on Muslim communities in Europe has recently shifted focus from labor and social policy concerns to issues of 'religion' and 'culture'. In particular, there has been a growing interest in the possible emergence of a specifically 'European Islam'. Through examining the religious attitudes and practices of Muslim girls in Belgium, the author investigates the viability of a 'European Islam' and in so doing poses questions about the nature of secularization, free will and individualization of religious practice and belief. Show less
After 25 years of equivocation, the matter concerning the representation of secular affairs of the Muslim community is finally on the verge of finding a resolution acceptable to both the Muslim... Show moreAfter 25 years of equivocation, the matter concerning the representation of secular affairs of the Muslim community is finally on the verge of finding a resolution acceptable to both the Muslim communities and public authorities. In Belgium, the State recognizes and financially supports various faiths: Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, Jewish, and Muslim. Even secularism is supported. Unlike the other recognized faiths, Islam does not fully benefit from the advantages that are conferred theoretically to its followers. Until now, the absence of a representative body, unanimously recognized by all Muslim groups, has been used in discourse to justify this discriminatory situation. Show less
In the core countries of the European Union, Muslims, today, are counted in the millions and Islam is engaged in a process of institutionalization in the midst of secularized societies. Whereas... Show moreIn the core countries of the European Union, Muslims, today, are counted in the millions and Islam is engaged in a process of institutionalization in the midst of secularized societies. Whereas Christianity is receding to the countryside, Western Islam is manifesting itself as an urban phenomenon: Muslim populations are concentrated in towns and the symbolic attributes of Islamic faith and culture are becoming more and more conspicuous in this urban environment. In these closing years of the twentieth century, Europe is more than ever before becoming a space were Islamic, Christian, Jewish and secular traditions come together 'to fight, support, and fertilize each other'. Show less
