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Unity in Diversity: Muslim and Christian Perspectives on Secularism in Lebanon
Abstract by Dr. Ekrem Karakoc
Coauthors: Sevinç Özcan
On Session VI-17  (Sectarian and Counter-Sectarian Identities in Lebanon)

On Wednesday, November 13 at 2:30 pm

2024 Annual Meeting

Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between religious identity and attitudes towards secularism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a specific focus on Lebanon. It challenges the prevalent assumption that high levels of religiosity in Muslim-majority countries correspond with a lack of support for secular governance. This assumption often leads to a reductionist view, suggesting that Islamic theology and historical precedents predispose Muslim societies towards merging state and religion, which could favor authoritarian regimes. However, this perspective tends to overlook the diversity within Muslim-majority societies and the suppression of political liberties by authoritarian regimes, thereby failing to accurately assess Muslim support for the separation of state and religion. Addressing these gaps, our study conducts an empirical examination of whether Christians and Muslims in Lebanon display differing attitudes towards the relationship between state and religion. Lebanon, known for its religious diversity and multi-confessional system, serves as an ideal case study to explore the impact of religious identity on political secularization attitudes. Utilizing a novel nationwide representative public opinion survey of about 1200 persons from October 2016, our findings challenge the conventional wisdom that religious doctrine is a barrier to secularization. We reveal a surprising similarity in attitudes towards state-religion relationships between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon, across all religious affiliations, including Sunni and Shia Muslims, Druzes, Maronites, Catholics, and Orthodox denominations. Support for a secular state and criticism toward sectarian political system is high across all Muslim and Christian denomination. This consistency suggests that religious identity is a less significant predictor of one's stance on secularization than previously thought. This study contributes to the literature on state-religion relations in the MENA region by questioning the dominant narrative that theological factors lead Muslims to oppose secular politics, distinguishing them from Christians. It underscores the importance of considering socio-economic and political influences over religious theology in determining attitudes towards secular governance, particularly in a uniquely pluralistic context like Lebanon.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
Lebanon
Sub Area
None