Religion in a Secular Age. The Case of Tunisia

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Chapter I: A Critique of the Universal Rational Modernity
• Chapter II: Secular Modernization and the Middle Eastern Elite
• Chapter III: Modern Secular Tunisia and the "Pre-modern" Religious Veil

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the tension between secular modernity and religious tradition in postcolonial Tunisia, focusing on the controversial ban on the Islamic veil. It critiques the notion of a universal secular paradigm, arguing that it fails to account for the diverse experiences and realities of non-Western societies.

• The relationship between secular modernity and religious tradition in Tunisia
• The critique of the universal secular paradigm
• The suppression of religious expression in the name of secular modernization
• The role of the Islamic veil in contemporary Tunisian society
• The impact of Western modernity on non-Western cultures

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the paper's focus on the controversial ban on the Islamic veil in Tunisia, highlighting the tension between secular modernization and religious practice. It uses the case of Saida Adali, a school teacher who was suspended for wearing a headscarf, to illustrate the suppression of religious expression in the name of secularism.
• Chapter I: A Critique of the Universal Rational Modernity: This chapter delves into the theoretical framework of the paper, critiquing the notion of a universal secular paradigm. It draws on both neo-secular and postmodern thought to argue that religion has not disappeared from modern societies and that a singular model of modernity cannot be applied to all cultures.
• Chapter II: Secular Modernization and the Middle Eastern Elite: This chapter examines the historical context of secular modernization in Tunisia, focusing on the role of the elite in promoting a secular agenda. It analyzes the ways in which secularization was used as a tool to undermine religious authority and to establish a modern state.
• Chapter III: Modern Secular Tunisia and the "Pre-modern" Religious Veil: This chapter explores the specific case of the Islamic veil in Tunisia, arguing that the ban on the headscarf reflects a broader effort to suppress religious expression and to impose a Western model of modernity on Tunisian society.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the key themes of secular modernity, religious tradition, Islam, Tunisia, the Islamic veil, postcolonialism, neo-secularism, postmodernism, and the critique of universalism. It explores the impact of Western modernity on non-Western cultures and the challenges of navigating a secular age in a religiously diverse world.