Casual Devotion

In Lebanon religion is a lifestyle. One’s religious sect doesn’t just form the basis of their governmental identity, although that can be an incredibly important part of how one moves through society here. Rather, religious practices are embodied, routine, everyday. Considering this is the Holy Land from which the three Abrahamic religions sprung, among other features of import the first miracle Jesus performed was in Qana, Lebanon, it is not surprising that religion is embodied for Lebanon’s people.1 Whereas in the States and in other communities of diaspora there forms a kind of militant religiosity that is moralistic, sectarian, and unforgiving, Lebanon has always been a pluralistic society and there is a recognition and respect for the shared God between religions.2 I think this comes from the understanding that religion, here, is lived every day, it is not an abstract o…