Science and belief among Sufis: The Nordic frontier
Summary: This qualitative research project probes the views about science and religion among Muslim mystics in the Nordic countries. The project team will interview 12 Sufis or students in Sufi circles in Finland, Denmark and Sweden about how they negotiate or imagine the boundary between science and belief. It also investigates how these views are shaped by the Nordic context, a predominantly Lutheran Christian one where Islam remains a relatively minor numerical yet a prominent public and political presence. Recent tensions around Muslims in the Nordic countries have spilled over into broader cultural debates about Islam and science. Yet, mystical doctrines or teachings remain outside these discussions, tilting them in certain directions. This is a major distortion, given the fact that the mystical dimension of Islam plays such a major role in the tradition. By studying how contemporary Sufis in the Nordics view science and belief, this research project will