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Today there is a substantial and rapidly growing Muslim population in Europe and North America. Here, as elsewhere, many of the Muslims are Sufis. This book focuses mainly on issues of inculturation or contextualization of Sufism in the West. It shows that, while more traditional forms of Sufism exist, many radical changes have taken place in this part of the world. For instance, in some groups there are female sheikhs and a far-reaching pluralistic attitude to other religions. Hence Sufism is sometimes seen as something that transcends the boundaries of Islam.
List of contents
Preface Introduction: Inculturating and Transcending Islam 1.
The Contextualization of Sufism in Europe
2. What's American about American Sufi Movements?
3. Sufism in Russia: Nostalgia for Revelation
4. Sufism Bridging East and West: The Case of the Bektashis
5. Sufi Charisma on Internet
6. Sufism for Westerners
7. Sufism in Glastonbury: Alternative Spiritualities and Adaptations
About the author
David Westerlund is Professor of Religious Studies at Södertörn University College in Stockholm and teaches also at the Universities of Uppsala and Gavle. His main interests are Islam in Africa and Europe, African indigenous religions and Christian-Muslim relations. He is currently the director of a multi-disciplinary project entitled 'Conflict or Peaceful Co-existence? Contemporary Christian-Muslim Relations'.
Summary
This book focuses mainly on issues of inculturation or contextualization of Sufism in the West.
