Question

Becoming Muslim in Europe
MIKAELA ROGOZEN-SOLTAR
Increased globalization has brought people of different backgrounds in contact with one another more than ever before. In "Becoming Muslim in Europe," Mikaela Rogozen-Soltar argues that this has created conflict, mutual influence, and increased intercultural and interreligious marriages. These marriages, particularly in countries such as Spain, where religion and national identity are deeply entwined, can be very difficult to navigate and highlight basic cultural differences. Rogozen-Soltar identifies and discusses one of the biggest cultural differences that exists today, that of Muslim and non-Muslim marriage partners. Her article illustrates the unique challenges faced by Muslim converts in Spanish culture, where Catholicism is seen as part of one's "Spanishness."
Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion based on new births and converts to the faith. Spain has a rich, 800-year-old Muslim history, easily found in historic landmarks like the Alhambra, and in Spanish dance, music, and cuisine. However, over several hundred years since the Spanish Inquisition, and Francisco Franco's enforcement of Catholicism as the national religion from 1939 until 1975, most Spaniards equate "being Spanish" with being Catholic. Additionally, many Spaniards view Islam as a threat to Spanish identity and fear its resurgence in Spain.
In recent years, as Muslims have migrated to Spain and married Spanish women, some Spaniards have been forced to reexamine their understanding of what it means to be Spanish. Rogozen-Soltar recounts the experience of Maria Martinez and her evolution from a Spanish woman with stereotypical views of Islam, to someone in love with a Muslim man, to one who chooses to convert to Islam. Her experience illustrates the judgment she and other converts to Islam face in Spain.
The experiences of Maria and other converts to Islam highlight how importantand how entrenchedcultural identities and memberships in social groups can be. Even though Maria initially could not imagine how she, a Spanish woman, could become a Muslim, her growing knowledge of Islam eventually allowed her to shift her view of her cultural identity. This led to a different perspective of Spain's Muslim history than that of the majority of her countrymen. Now she tries to educate others about her changed views by reminding Catholic and secular Spaniards of Spain's Muslim heritage, while reinforcing the normalcy of Islam. She is careful not to try to convert friends, but instead focuses on creating understanding by drawing parallels between the two religions. For example, she equates Insh"alla (God willing) with si Dios lo quiere (God willing), a phrase commonly heard in Spain.
In "Becoming Muslim in Europe," Rogozen-Soltar states that in order to convert to the Muslim faith, would-be converts must enroll in religion classes and receive official acceptance from religious authorities.

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