The Case for Studying Non-Muslim Islams
(2023) In Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 35(2-3). p.241-259- Abstract
- In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not... (More)
- In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not understand Muslim Islams without a clear understanding of non-Muslim Islams; 3) It is a way of insisting on an etic research epistemology. The article ends with a discussion of ethical and strategic benefits of adopting this approach. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/f4cefe9c-3938-4ed8-8945-2d1cf1d2c92f
- author
- Petersen, Jesper LU and Ackfeldt, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- non-Muslim Islam, non-Muslim Islamic authority, non-Muslim tradition of Islam interpretation, Islamic semiotic resources, social semiotics, ethics
- in
- Method and Theory in the Study of Religion
- volume
- 35
- issue
- 2-3
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- Brill
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85143851861
- ISSN
- 1570-0682
- DOI
- 10.1163/15700682-bja10095
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f4cefe9c-3938-4ed8-8945-2d1cf1d2c92f
- date added to LUP
- 2022-12-12 20:12:52
- date last changed
- 2023-10-08 17:58:52
@article{f4cefe9c-3938-4ed8-8945-2d1cf1d2c92f, abstract = {{In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not understand Muslim Islams without a clear understanding of non-Muslim Islams; 3) It is a way of insisting on an etic research epistemology. The article ends with a discussion of ethical and strategic benefits of adopting this approach.}}, author = {{Petersen, Jesper and Ackfeldt, Anders}}, issn = {{1570-0682}}, keywords = {{non-Muslim Islam; non-Muslim Islamic authority; non-Muslim tradition of Islam interpretation; Islamic semiotic resources; social semiotics; ethics}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{2-3}}, pages = {{241--259}}, publisher = {{Brill}}, series = {{Method and Theory in the Study of Religion}}, title = {{The Case for Studying Non-Muslim Islams}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700682-bja10095}}, doi = {{10.1163/15700682-bja10095}}, volume = {{35}}, year = {{2023}}, }