Ive always got the feeling that American muslims are far more conservative than their European counterparts. Why is this?
Is it the same for other faiths too? Is America quite fundo generally?
I appreciate you get people from all shades of the spectrum everywhere - but in the spirit of debate, lets talk about generalities.
Re: americans
I think American Muslims are more liberal than British Muslims in terms of religion.
Re: americans
The lack of other desis to get loco with is the cause of our conservatism
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never encountered european muslims but while living in North America i do feel tat there are quite conservative pakistanis/muslims. My argument to support conservatism in North American muslims is that while we live in pakistan/home country we develop as the whole country develops including we become more liberal as along with our society/community. But once we move abroad, the fear of losing our culture, our religion, our language overcomes us. Since with the move abroad, we lose touch with our backhome self and our friends/communities there, we don't realize that people backhome are still becoming liberal and that if we were to be a little bit more lenient with ourselves, it would be okay. I feel this seclusion and "lost in touch" with backhome is the main contributor to us remaining more conservative.
We don't develop any further than how much we have when we leave back home in terms of being liberal/conservative.
I think American Muslims are more liberal than British Muslims in terms of religion.
if we're generalising, i agree with hareem.
all the muslim families i know who live in america (and also canada) are a lot more liberal than nearly all those we know here. i mean they go well beyond the ones that we personally consider liberal in the UK.
also a big difference is, the most of the liberal ones here do it in secret. like they are falling into line with the rest of the family/community when at home or around those people, when their private lives are actually very different. whereas the ones living in america, they don't hide their lifestyles and don't seem to be judged.
Re: americans
as a whole, Muslims in America are more liberal than the ones in UK/Europe, and tend to have far less attachment with their cultural roots as well. (i.e. Pakistanis not knowing Urdu or having much knowledge/interest in Pakistani things) of course that is just a generalization, but it's the majority trend as many just want to be "American".
On the flip side, those who do happen to be religious have a tendency to "over-correct" the trend and become a bit extreme on that end of the spectrum. I wish most people could just be practicing Muslims and be moderate.
But I've also noted that Muslims/Desis in Canada are more in tune with religion and culture than the ones in the U.S.
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Hey don't forget us Dubai muslims. In tune but liberal at the same time.
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I don't know about Muslims in general, but as far as north Americans are concerned in general, weare more conservative than europeans. Just look at our fashions.
Ann Taylor - sweetheart American designer
vs all that glittery multicolored candy striped tights you euros wear.
never encountered european muslims but while living in North America i do feel tat there are quite conservative pakistanis/muslims. My argument to support conservatism in North American muslims is that while we live in pakistan/home country we develop as the whole country develops including we become more liberal as along with our society/community. But once we move abroad, the fear of losing our culture, our religion, our language overcomes us. Since with the move abroad, we lose touch with our backhome self and our friends/communities there, we don't realize that people backhome are still becoming liberal and that if we were to be a little bit more lenient with ourselves, it would be okay. I feel this seclusion and "lost in touch" with backhome is the main contributor to us remaining more conservative.
We don't develop any further than how much we have when we leave back home in terms of being liberal/conservative.
^totally agree, all the desis i've met here are far more conservative overall and even more in some cases than some of my pakistani friends, people here that i know try not to lose that sense of Islam and pakistani culture so they hold onto it longer while some of the pakistani people i know are really getting into the whole western/party/clubbing/drinking scene. i think it all comes down to you wanting what you don't have so people over there want to be like westerners and people here in the west want to be like the easterners. This is all my opinion and I'm of course saying this all while generalizing.
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if we're gonna generalize i'd say i see more variety of people from the UK, from super conservative/traditional to liberal etc.
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i think both. in certain sections of the socio-economic slice of the society in the UK, people are more religious than their counter-part in North America. However, there are a whole lot of people who are very liberal. i think its because they have been in th UK much longer than in we have been in North America. newer generation here too are getting away from religion and culture. it all depends what kinda upringing one has. parents play a crucial role.
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wat is a conservative muslim or a liberal muslim?i never understand this classification.
i think its a "try to b muslim" vs " b muslim by name only".
i think ppl in calgary esp try to hold with islamic values more than those in toronto. Then those in America r even more modern.
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I think US Muslims are more liberal as compared to UK and I think part of it has to do with UK Muslims being more culturally inclined than Muslims in US, we just follow the religion and don't care much about the culture.
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ive seen the child brides. Dont lie to me.
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From Eastern Europe, you mean?
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ive seen the child brides. Dont lie to me.
That's north of England and south of America.
I usually enjoy hitchki’s tongue-in-cheek comments so I am little surprised at this thread. American Muslims, despite the fact that about two-thirds were born abroad, are very much mainstream, assimilated and successful in all walks of life. And we are very very proud Americans who think of ourselves as Americans first.
Many European Muslims, to say the least, should take a leaf out of our book.
Time for a reality check:
Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream - Pew Research Center
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^^^ I have never been to America, I only know a handful of American Europeans (And a handful of British muslims at that) so, suffice to say there was no judgement here.