Twelfth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Islam has been present in Cuba since the beginning of Spanish colonization, but it was not practiced in an organized way until the 1990s when a religious revival took place in the country. Subsequently, the practice of Islam has expanded on the island and its presence has become increasingly noticeable in the Cuban religious scene despite the unfavorable view of some people about Muslims. Hence, there is a great need to investigate the different views on Islam in order to contribute to peaceful coexistence in society. For this reason, the objective of this study was to analyze the significance of Islam for both Muslims and nonpractitioners of this religion in Cuba. In line with this purpose, techniques such as Semantic Differential, Drawing, and Free Association of Words were applied to non-Muslim Cubans in addition to an interview and questionnaire given to Cuban Muslims. The methods used with non-Muslims showed the existence of prejudices and stereotypes, which were based on a distorted knowledge of the realities of Islam. While interviews with Muslims revealed that Islam is the center of life for them as well as it constitutes a way of life, affecting their future prospects. This research, which is based on a qualitative methodology, allows us to analyze the differences between various perspectives about Islam. Also, it was made possible to explore an understudied social issue in Cuban society.