"About 65% of those interviewed pray on a regular basis and a significant portion of Moroccans practise their religion in an individual manner, rather than collectively."
The online journal Magharebia is carrying an interesting story about the diminishing role of religious institutions in Morocco.
A soon to be released survey of religious practices in Morocco will show that the majority of Moroccans prefer to pray alone, and use audiovisual media and the internet for information on their religion, Magharebia has learned.
The role of traditional religious learning institutions in forming religious knowledge is diminishing, according to the study.
The survey results, which will be made public in February 2007, come from three months of survey work sponsored by Prologues magazine and the King Abdelaziz Foundation for Islamic studies and human sciences. The poll comprised 135 questions put to a sample of 1,250 people from different age groups and backgrounds. The questions covered all forms of religious practice across Moroccan society, including men, women, youth, elderly, urban and rural residents.
The results show how Moroccans' religious practices have evolved. About 65% of those interviewed pray on a regular basis and a significant portion of Moroccans practise their religion in an individual manner, rather than collectively. As for sources of religious knowledge, the survey has demonstrated the ever-growing role of satellite channels, audiovisual media in general, cassettes and the Internet. These channels have become essential sources, taking the place of traditional written sources, to the level of 85%.
The survey also picks up on the shrinking role of institutions providing religious teaching in the acquisition of religious knowledge. These institutions, such as the family, the mosque, the school, the brotherhood etc., do not play the role they used to play in giving Moroccan people a grounding in religion.
As for the status of women, the survey highlights the ever-growing role of women in the field of religion.
The full story is at MagharebiaTags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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