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 offer one correction to the debate. Moreover, mystical voices have generally been absent in the discussion around science and belief. Given that academic presumptions about how mystics are no longer part of religion have been roundly critiqued, this research may offer innovative solutions to the boundary-making debate. The research project will produce one article submission to an international, scientific journal and one further article draft. The project will be led by Dr. Ali Qadir, Sociology Professor at Tampere University in Finland, member of the Steering Committee of Templeton Religion Trust and currently leading a project to plan for a program of research in the study of mysticism. The PI coordinates the Tampere research seminar on Religion & Society, where this project is hosted, and has previously led a project on science and religion in northern Europe. The lead researcher, Ahsan Qureshi, is completing his doctorate under the PI’s supervision and has extensive experience in interviewing as well as independent research and publication. The project will last five months and will also be publicly reported on a website.