Secular Sensibilities

Romance, Marriage, and Contemporary Algerian Immigration to France and Québec

By Jennifer A. Selby | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

How do secular politics work to manage the emotional, affective, and embodied nature of religion in the public sphere? Drawing on an expansive transnational ethnography in France and Canada and assessing contemporary French and Québécois governmental legislation on secularism and immigration, Jennifer Selby considers expectations for secular bodies and sensibilities among men and women of Algerian origin. In her subjects' evocative narratives of longing and belonging, Selby charts how secular sensibilities emerge in marriage partner preferences, family relationships, rituals, dress, and more. Selby reveals how these sensibilities develop and respond to legal and other forms of state authority, with legacies of colonialism in France and Québec playing a substantial role.

In demonstrating how secularism is expressed and experienced around intimate relationships and civil marriage, Selby persuasively argues that romance is a crucial contact zone for the politics of secularism. Her study invites readers to wrestle with their own entanglements in state and cultural expectations of secular bodies and the liberal fictions of separation between the religious and public spheres.

Editions of Secular Sensibilities

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469685854
Paperback
ISBN 9781469685823
EBook
ISBN 9781469685830
PDF
ISBN 9781469687698

Read an Excerpt

How do secular politics work to manage the emotional, affective, and embodied nature of religion in the public sphere? Drawing on an expansive transnational ethnography in France and Canada and assessing contemporary French and Québécois governmental legislation on secularism and immigration, Jennifer Selby considers expectations for secular bodies and sensibilities among men and women of Algerian origin. In her subjects' evocative narratives of longing and belonging, Selby charts how secular sensibilities emerge in marriage partner preferences, family relationships, rituals, dress, and more. Selby reveals how these sensibilities develop and respond to legal and other forms of state authority, with legacies of colonialism in France and Québec playing a substantial role.

In demonstrating how secularism is expressed and experienced around intimate relationships and civil marriage, Selby persuasively argues that romance is a crucial contact zone for the politics of secularism. Her study invites readers to wrestle with their own entanglements in state and cultural expectations of secular bodies and the liberal fictions of separation between the religious and public spheres.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Secular Sensibilities about?

How do secular politics work to manage the emotional, affective, and embodied nature of religion in the public sphere? Drawing on an expansive transnational ethnography in France and Canada and assessing contemporary French and Québécois governmental legislation on secularism and immigration, Jennifer Selby considers expectations for secular bodies and sensibilities among men and women of Algerian origin. In her subjects' evocative narratives of longing and belonging, Selby charts how secular sensibilities emerge in marriage partner preferences, family relationships, rituals, dress, and more. Selby reveals how these sensibilities develop and respond to legal and other forms of state authority, with legacies of colonialism in France and Québec playing a substantial role.

In demonstrating how secularism is expressed and experienced around intimate relationships and civil marriage, Selby persuasively argues that romance is a crucial contact zone for the politics of secularism. Her study invites readers to wrestle with their own entanglements in state and cultural expectations of secular bodies and the liberal fictions of separation between the religious and public spheres.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Secular Sensibilities?

Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Islam

Where can I read a sample of Secular Sensibilities?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469685854

How long is Secular Sensibilities and how many pages does it have?

Secular Sensibilities has 294 page(s)

Is Secular Sensibilities part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Where Religion Lives

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Secular Sensibilities?

Jennifer A. Selby

Who is the Publisher of the book Secular Sensibilities?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Secular Sensibilities is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469685854) and paperback(ISBN 9781469685823) and ebook(ISBN 9781469685830) and pdf(ISBN 9781469687698)

Where can I buy Secular Sensibilities online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Secular Sensibilities from below

Where can I buy Secular Sensibilities?