Paper short abstract:

Secularism is often perceived as beneficial. Yet, there is no single way to approach the concept. I will present how three Muslim groups in Scotland have formed their own idea of secularism; how they think it differs from that of non-Muslims; and how this has shaped their understanding of Islam.

Paper long abstract:

Secularism is usually considered a central feature of Western democratic states. The idea that religion should not interfere in the public sphere is often accepted by many European governments as a means of ensuring social equality and tolerance. However, there is no single way to approach the concept. Instead, there is a multiplicity of perspectives; all depending on the surrounding cultural, historical, political, ethical, and religious contexts. Hence, in some environments where religion is still considered to be a social agent of great importance, secularism is viewed as destructive.

This is the case for the first generation Muslim migrants living in the Scottish city of Dundee. Their perception of secularism, far from being a constructive ideology, is that of a 'dehumanizing force'. In this paper, based on my recent fieldwork in Scotland, I shall expose how three different Muslim groups in Dundee have formed their own idea of secularism; how they believe their perception of the secular differs from the rest of non-Muslim Europe; and how has their rejection of secularism affected their understanding of Islam.

At a time when Muslims continue to establish multifaceted Islamic presences in Western Europe, it becomes fundamental to pay attention to how different communities structure the individual, religion and God. This work intends to expose the multiple negotiation processes that are inherent to this reality and how the everyday lives of both the European Muslims and non-Muslims, may be affected.