Diversity among Muslims
Owing to current political debates about extremists who commit crimes in the name of their faith, people continue to assume the homogeneity of all Muslims. Especially in countries with a relatively small Muslim population, little is known about the differences that may exist between Islamic believers. Levi Geir Eidhamar, a theologian at the University of Agder, published an article in the Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations journal in 2018 that illuminated on intra-Muslim diversity. Awareness of diversity among Muslims is critical for psychologists to provide appropriate patient treatment and care for their Islamic clients.
Eidhamar’s main argument is that Islamic religious norms may vary geographically since they are a product of human interpretation which is influenced by the values and culture of their surrounding societies. The study used interviews in Norway and Indonesia to gauge attitudes towardsIlswife- beating and specific gender roles for spouses. Norwegian Muslims constitute a minority of the population and have an increased awareness of gender equality issues. Indonesia, on the other hand, comprises the most extensive global Muslim population and still holds traditional views about gender roles, such as prioritizing patriarchal attitudes (Eidhamar, 2018). The study findings revealed that despite all the interviewees being Islamic believers, Norwegians opposed wife-beating and advocated for gender equality. Contrastingly, most Indonesians believed that their faith allowed husbands to beat their wives in case of disobedience (Eidhamar, 2018). These findings demonstrate a contrast in the interpretation of religious norms and subsequent attitudes, despite allegiance to the same faith.
Even though Islam faith has a unified set of pillars and principles, interpretation may vary from one person to another, thus bringing intra-religious differences in practices, norms and attitudes among them. Psychologists should acknowledge these differences to avoid assumptions about the homogeneity of Islam. Through frequent research, training and networking with Muslim colleagues, psychologists can learn how to offer well-informed, accommodative and sensitive care for patients without holding stereotypes about their faith.