The French government's 2004 decision to ban Islamic headscarves and other religious signs from public schools puzzled many observers, both because it seemed to infringe needlessly on religious freedom, and because it was hailed by many in France as an answer to a surprisingly wide range of social ills, from violence against females in poor suburbs to anti-Semitism. Why the French Don't Like Headscarves explains why headscarves on schoolgirls caused such a furor, and why the furor...

In this powerful, but accessible new study, John Bowen draws on a full range of work in social anthropology to present Islam in ways that emphasise its constitutive practices, from praying and learning to judging and political organising. Starting at the heart of Islam - revelation and learning in Arabic lands - Bowen shows how Muslims have adapted Islamic texts and traditions to ideas and conditions in the societies in which they live. Returning to key case studies in Asia, Africa and Wes...

In this rich account of a Muslim society in highland Sumatra, Indonesia, John Bowen describes how men and women debate among themselves ideas of what Islam is and should be--as it pertains to all areas of their lives, from work to worship. Whereas many previous anthropological studies have concentrated on the purely local aspects of culture, this book captures and analyzes the tension between the local and universal in everyday life. Current religious differences among the Gayo stem from d...

Why fears about Muslim integration into Western society—propagated opportunistically by some on the right—misread history and misunderstand multiculturalism.In the United States and in Europe, politicians, activists, and even some scholars argue that Islam is incompatible with Western values and that we put ourselves at risk if we believe that Muslim immigrants can integrate into our society. Norway's Anders Behring Breivik took this argument to its extreme and mur...

On British Islam examines the history and everyday workings of Islamic institutions in Britain, with a focus on shariʿa councils. These councils concern themselves with religious matters, especially divorce. They have a higher profile in Britain than in other Western nations. Why? Taking a historical and ethnographic look at British Islam, John Bowen examines how Muslims have created distinctive religious institutions in Britain and how shariʿa councils interpret and apply Islamic...

Can Islam Be French? is an anthropological examination of how Muslims are responding to the conditions of life in France. Following up on his book Why the French Don't Like Headscarves, John Bowen turns his attention away from the perspectives of French non-Muslims to focus on those of the country's Muslims themselves. Bowen asks not the usual question--how well are Muslims integrating in France?--but, rather, how do French Muslims think about Islam? In particular, Bowen ...

Religions in Practice provides a comprehensive and primarily theme-based overview for students of the anthropology of religion. Whilst covering traditional topics such as magic, witchcraft, and spiritual healing, the book addresses key contemporary subjects including migration, transnationalism, nationalism, secularism, and law. It offers an issues-oriented perspective on everyday religious behaviors and examines small-scale societies as well as major, established religions. Throu...

**'Such great dialogue and action...a frisky murder story and terrific reading' - John Self, The TimesTwo women. One baby. And a man in the sceptic tank.**In their lovely Cotswolds village, Janet and Susan are known simply as ‘the girls’. Partners in love and work, proprietors of a picturesque shop, they lead an enviably peaceful life.But after one moment of surprising passion, the girls’ lives take a deeply unsettling turn.Part-dark comedy, part-cr...

A wry, macape tale of simple country living, putal murder, and a reasonably happy couple, from our “most startlingly offbeat suspense novelist” (Gore Vidal).In their lovely old Cotswolds village, Janet and Susan are known to all the other villagers as “the girls”—a fixture. Partners in love and work, co-proprietors of a picturesque shop specializing in the work of local artisans and farmers, they lead an enviable, enviably settled life.So it’s no catastrophe when Sue, the y...

A strategic blueprint for elite and rising entrepreneurs to achieve 100x growth, build legacy, and engineer 25 years of exponential success.This bold and visionary guide delivers a 25-year strategic roadmap for elite and rising entrepreneurs to achieve exponential success, freedom, and legacy. Grounded in real-time research and 40+ years of coaching industry-defining leaders, Building Your Greater Future 2026 introduces the 10 Greater Measurements Framewor...

The warning signs are obvious. Our freedoms and our nation itself are under siege. We face unprecedented circumstances. Russia and China’s expansionist ambitions pose an existential foreign military threat. At the same time, we are facing a significant internal challenge as every fissure from social media to election integrity to our national borders are being exploited.The backbone of our Republic, ensuring our American freedoms, is our military. The Calvert Task Group sounds the ...

What is Political Science?Within human society, it is customary to distinguish between the following spheres: economic, political, social, and spiritual.The political sphere is important in that it involves and determines the interactions of different political powers. This understanding lies at the foundation of any political analysis of public life.Politics as a specific sector within human society is as old as it is modern. Many famous statesmen and scientists are c...