Conversion to Islam: Between syncretism and symbolic battle

Journal/Book: Soc Compass. 1999; 46: 6 Bonhill Street, London EC2a 4Pu, England. Sage Publications Ltd. 351-362.

Abstract: With reference to a study on conversion to Islam in Germany and the USA, the author argues that conversion in the West is structurally relevant because of its double frame: the religion and culture people turn away from, but stay related to, and Islam as the newly chosen world view, with which they cannot completely identify. ''Syncretism'' and ''symbolic battle'' are distinguished as two different modes of adopting Islam and of relating to one's original frame of reference. Referring to three case studies which represent different expressions of symbolic battle, the author argues that adopting Islam becomes a means of articulating problems of disintegration in one's own social context and enables the symbolization of maximal distance within this context.

Note: Article Wohlrab-Sahr M, Univ Leipzig, Fac Theol, Dept Sociol Relig, Emil Fuchs Str 1, D-04105 Leipzig, GERMANY

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