For Church or Nation? Islamism, Secular-Nationalism, and the Transformation ofChristian Identities in Palestine

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Author: Loren D. Lybarger

Publisher/Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Religion

Volume/Issue: 75(4)

DOI/ISBN: 10.1093/jaarel/lfm066

This article examines the identity formation process of Palestinian Christians that became of age around the time of the first intifada. It recognizes three separate Palestinian Christian identities: traditional secular-nationalism, religio-communal revivalism and apolitical piety, providing various examples in each category based on field research. It argues that these divisions are synchronous to those within the Muslim Palestinian community, although in the case of Palestinian Christians they emerged as a result of the sharp demographic decline, the failure of the peace process and the acceleration of the Israeli annexation, as well as the rise of Islamist movements, particularly Hamas, forcing Christians to increasingly look inwards.