The Idea
The idea suggests that the murābiṭūn were not merely devout individuals, but mediators who possessed a religious aura within Kabyle society. This means that their social presence was tied to a mediating function between people and a sacred meaning or spiritual reference. The value here lies not in the individual alone, but in the role granted to him by society and in the symbol that surrounds him.
Concise Formulation
The murābiṭūn: they are mediators endowed with a religious aura in Kabyle society
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This idea serves the argument that interprets religious phenomena within their social and historical context, rather than as fixed or isolated givens. It shows how religiosity takes local forms linked to social structure and to the need for mediation. In this way, it supports a reading that connects religion, society, symbol, and history together.
Why It Matters
This idea helps us understand Arkoun when he links religion to society through its concrete forms, not only through abstract definitions. It also reveals that symbolic authority may be embodied in a person or a group that performs a specific social role. This is important for understanding the relations between local religiosity, meaning, and authority.
Brief Evidence
The text offers an anthropological-historical interpretation of the murābiṭūn and saints in Kabyle society. They are not merely pious individuals, but mediators who acquire a religious aura within society. Their value derives from the role people grant them and from the symbol that surrounds them.
Reading Questions
- What does it mean for a murābiṭ to have a religious aura that exceeds his individual person?
- How does a social perspective change our understanding of religious mediation within the group?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.