Former Muslims in Europe: Between Secularity and Belonging (Routledge Studies in Religion)

Within contemporary Western European academic, media, and socio-political spheres, Muslims are predominantly seen through the lens of increased religiosity. This religiosity is often seen as problematic, especially in the context of securitised discourses of Islamist terrorism. Yet, there are clear indications that a growing number of people who grew up in Muslim families no longer subscribe to Islam or call themselves religious at all. Drawing on fieldwork in the UK and the Netherlands, this study examines the experiences of people moving out of Islam. It rigorously questions the antagonistic nature of the debate between ‘the religious’ and ‘the secular’, or who is in and who is out, and argues for recognition of the ambiguity that most of us live in. Revealing many complex forms of moving out, this study adds much-needed nuance to understandings of secularity and Muslim identities in Europe. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 7 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 12 1. Religion, secularism, and the production of discourse 39 2. ‘We are the tsunami that is coming’ 90 3. ‘When I finally heard my own voice’ 114 4. ‘It’s not just about faith’ 133 5. ‘Oh no! I can’t eat that!’ 159 6. ‘Speaking out would be a step beyond just not believing’ 181 Conclusion 207 Index 215 Introduction; "1 Religion,secularism,and the production of discourse"; 2 ‘We are the tsunami that is coming’; 3 ‘When I finally heard my own voice’; 4 ‘It’s not just about faith’; 5 ‘Oh no! I can’t eat that!’; 6 ‘Speaking out would be a step beyond just not believing’; Conclusion Introduction,1 Religion, secularism, and the production of discourse,2 ‘We are the tsunami that is coming’,3 ‘When I finally heard my own voice’,4 ‘It’s not just about faith’,5 ‘Oh no! I can’t eat that!’,6 ‘Speaking out would be a step beyond just not believing’,Conclusion "Within contemporary Western European academic, media, and socio-political spheres, Muslims are predominantly seen through the lens of increased religiosity. This religiosity is often seen as problematic, especially in the contexts of the securitised discourses of Islamist terrorism. Yet, there are clear indications that there is a growing number of people who grew up in Muslim families, but who no longer subscribe to Islam, nor call themselves religious at all. Drawing on fieldwork in the UK and the Netherlands, this study examines those experiences of people moving out of Islam. It rigorously questions the antagonist nature of the debate between 'the religious' and 'the secular', of who is in and who is out, and argues for the recognition of the ambiguity that most of us live in. Revealing many complex forms of moving out, this study adds much-needed nuance to understandings of secularity and Muslim identities in Europe"-- Provided by publisher