At a time when the world is facing unprecedented upheavals, societies find themselves confronting not only the familiar challenges of geopolitical instability, economic volatility, and ecological crisis, but also a more insidious threat – religious populism.
While populism itself is not new, its religious variant has emerged as particularly pernicious, dangerously intertwining faith with politics and exploiting spiritual devotion for ideological ends. Left unchecked, religious populism threatens not only religious authenticity but also global security, communal harmony, and democratic stability.
Unlike genuine spiritual revival, which is typically grounded in deep scholarship, ethical reflection, and introspective spirituality, religious populism thrives on oversimplified interpretations and emotional manipulation. Its proponents reduce complex theological doctrines into binary narratives – believers versus non-believers, righteous against infidels, allies against enemies.
This deliberate distortion fosters exclusion, division, and ultimately extremism. It erodes intellectual rigour, undermines traditional religious authorities, and manipulates genuine spiritual aspirations, turning them into political weaponry.
The destructive reach of religious populism manifests itself vividly in multiple contemporary societies. From the violent extremism of groups like the Islamic State group (IS) to the divisive political rhetoric employed by far-right movements around the world, the hallmarks of religious populism – exclusionary doctrines, the delegitimisation of institutions, and a pervasive conspiratorial mindset – are alarmingly similar.
Across the different continents, populists exploit religious sentiment to gain power, inflaming grievances, amplifying social divisions, and undermining democratic norms in the process.
One of the defining characteristics of religious populism is its rejection of pluralism and diversity. While genuine religious traditions historically embrace scholarly debate and diversity of interpretation as enriching, populist actors portray theological disagreement as an existential threat. In doing so, they foster sectarian polarisation, fuelling violence and social fragmentation, from sectarian conflict in the Middle East to communal tensions in Europe and Asia.
Furthermore, religious populists exploit economic and social grievances to propagate their ideology, framing issues of poverty, unemployment, or social injustice through a narrow ideological lens. Rather than genuinely addressing these challenges, they weaponise despair, channelling frustration into hostility against minorities, democratic institutions, and perceived external enemies. Economic hardship becomes fertile ground for radicalisation, as populist narratives promise simplistic, religiously framed solutions to complex socioeconomic problems.
The systematic misuse of religious symbols and concepts is another dangerous hallmark of religious populism. Concepts such as jihad, which is rich with ethical and spiritual meaning, are distorted to justify violence and terror. Similarly, populists selectively employ historical narratives, deliberately misrepresenting Islamic history to legitimise contemporary political aims. This selective reading of history feeds extremist ideologies and corrodes authentic historical understanding, deepening mistrust and hostility between communities.
In the face of such a pervasive threat, communities must proactively reclaim an authentic religious discourse. Central to this effort is the reinforcement of robust and scholarly religious education grounded in the higher objectives of religious law – justice, compassion, and human dignity. Religious institutions with global credibility, such as Egypt’s Al-Azhar and Dar Al-Iftaa, play critical roles in this by offering authoritative interpretations that emphasise intellectual humility, pluralism, and coexistence. Their voices are indispensable resources in countering populist distortions and reclaiming religious authenticity.
Moreover, promoting theological diversity through interfaith and intra-faith dialogue offers powerful antidotes to populism’s divisive narratives. Communities and religious institutions must champion respectful scholarly debate, affirming that the authentic understanding and practice of religion inherently embraces intellectual openness and ethical nuance rather than ideological rigidity. Similarly, targeted education programmes that emphasise historical literacy, critical thinking, and media literacy can equip communities to identify, challenge, and ultimately reject extremist narratives.
Civic and religious engagement rooted in authentic spiritual ethics further counters the divisive influence of religious populism. Encouraging religious communities to actively participate in civic life by addressing poverty, human rights abuses, social injustice, and environmental concerns can reinforce religion’s role as a transformative force for good rather than division. Active citizenship informed by religious ethics can significantly weaken populist narratives, restoring public trust in institutions, reinforcing democratic accountability, and promoting societal harmony.
The stakes could not be higher. Religious populism, far from representing an authentic religious revival, poses a profound existential threat not merely to religious integrity but also to global peace and social stability. Only through a collective commitment to genuine religious scholarship, critical education, ethical civic engagement, and respect for diversity can communities effectively resist this growing menace.
The time to act decisively is now. Reclaiming the rich legacy of religious traditions that are grounded in wisdom, compassion, and justice represents not only an ethical imperative but also an urgent global necessity.
* The writer is a senior adviser to the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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