An ethnography of indifference. Writing prayers intentions in Saint Anthony’s Church in Istanbul
By Benoît Fliche
English
Why, in Istanbul, do Muslims attend a church and write prayer intentions? This article explores a kind of religious poaching through three levels of observation: divine otherness, the otherness of the place represented by the church, and family and social otherness. It appears that a single, discrete operation occurs: an alteration of difference. Far from being linked to “irenicist” dynamics, hospitality, syncretism or, conversely, intolerance, it is in fact about evading difference, enjoying it without recognizing it. Religious poaching is based on a practice of indifference.
Keywords
- exopraxy
- Istanbul
- difference
- poaching
- Turkey