Republic Unsettled, The
Book Description
In the heart of France, a profound spiritual and political awakening unfolds as Muslim communities navigate the complex terrain between faith and citizenship. Mayanthi L. Fernando presents a decade-long exploration into how French Muslims are forging innovative pathways that honor both their Islamic heritage and their place within a secular republic.
This compelling anthropological study reveals how young Muslims are creating entirely new forms of spiritual and civic engagement, drawing wisdom from both Islamic teachings and French republican values. Rather than seeing these traditions as incompatible, Fernando demonstrates how communities are weaving them together to envision fresh possibilities for their nation's future.
The work illuminates the deeper tensions within secularism itself, showing how these challenges extend far beyond religious differences. Through careful observation and analysis, Fernando uncovers how political institutions and laws shape religious practice, while religious communities simultaneously transform the very meaning of citizenship and moral life.
For readers interested in spiritual growth within diverse societies, this book offers profound insights into how faith communities adapt and thrive while maintaining their core values. It reveals the creative potential that emerges when different wisdom traditions encounter one another, and how individuals can forge authentic spiritual paths even within complex political landscapes.
The Republic Unsettled ultimately demonstrates that questions of faith and belonging touch the very foundations of how we organize society and understand ourselves as moral beings.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 328 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore France
- ✓ Explore General
- ✓ Explore Social sciences -> anthropology -> cultural anthropology
- ✓ Explore Muslims
- ✓ Explore Secularism
- ✓ Explore Cultural
- ✓ Explore Social sciences -> history -> european history
- ✓ Explore Islam
